Abstract

Poor water quality can lead to adverse health effects, and having access to clean water is essential to overall health. There are many possible sources of water contamination, and it is important to properly maintain water to ensure that it is up to standard. Socioeconomic status (SES) may influence drinking water quality, and marginalized populations may be the victims of disparities. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets drinking water standards through the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), and violations can be issued if water standards are not met. Previous research suggests low-income non-white populations may experience higher water violations. Rural Appalachia is another population that may experience poorer water quality due to a lack of proper infrastructure or economic disparities. Appalachian communities may use alternative water sources due to poor perceptions of tap water quality, and these water sources are not regulated by the SDWA. This study looks at SDWA violations in Kentucky, and SES factors to determine if there are correlations between water violations and individual SES factors. Specifically, this study investigated income, employment, rural population, and race. No statistically significant findings were found between SDWA violations and SES factors. Findings suggest individual SES factors do not have a statistically significant relationship with higher SDWA violations.

Semester/Year of Award

Spring 2024

Mentor

Dr. Ashlee Davis

Mentor Department Affiliation

Environmental Health Science

Access Options

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Honors Scholars

Degree Level

Bachelors

Department

Environmental Health Science

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