Wells and Enteric Disease Transmission

Description

Approximately 40 million people in the US are served by private, and frequently untreated, wells. Our best estimate is that 1.3 million cases of gastrointestinal illnesses (GI) per year are attributed to consuming water from untreated private wells in the US, but in reality, there are no robust epidemiological data that can be used to estimate cases of GI attributable to these sources. We propose the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) to estimate the burden of GI associated with private well water. We will test if household treatment of private well water by ultraviolet light (UV) vs. sham (inactive UV device) decreases the incidence of GI in children under 5. We will also examine the presence of viral, bacterial, and protozoan pathogens in stool and well water from participants. These data will fill a knowledge gap on sporadic GI associated with federally-unregulated private water supplies in the US.

Conditions

Diarrhea, Gastrointestinal Infection, Respiratory Viral Infection, Waterborne Diseases

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

Approximately 40 million people in the US are served by private, and frequently untreated, wells. Our best estimate is that 1.3 million cases of gastrointestinal illnesses (GI) per year are attributed to consuming water from untreated private wells in the US, but in reality, there are no robust epidemiological data that can be used to estimate cases of GI attributable to these sources. We propose the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) to estimate the burden of GI associated with private well water. We will test if household treatment of private well water by ultraviolet light (UV) vs. sham (inactive UV device) decreases the incidence of GI in children under 5. We will also examine the presence of viral, bacterial, and protozoan pathogens in stool and well water from participants. These data will fill a knowledge gap on sporadic GI associated with federally-unregulated private water supplies in the US.

Wells and Enteric Disease Transmission - A Randomized Trial of Children Supplied Drinking Water From Private Wells (WET-Trial)

Wells and Enteric Disease Transmission

Condition
Diarrhea
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Philadelphia

Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19122

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Child resides in Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Northampton, Montgomery, Monroe, Pike and Schuylkill County in Pennsylvania
  • * Household is served by a private well
  • * Participant child is under the age of 5 (under 4 at time of enrollment), who is a full-time resident of the home and drinks untreated well water
  • * Parent/guardian has access to a phone with texting capabilities
  • * Child participant is immunocompromised
  • * Child participant has a chronic gastrointestinal condition
  • * Child takes daily oral steroids
  • * Household treats water for microbiological contamination before consumption
  • * Child exclusively drinks bottled water

Ages Eligible for Study

6 Months to 59 Months

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

Temple University,

Heather M Murphy, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Temple University

Study Record Dates

2025-05-31