Table-Top Water Pitcher to Reduce Arsenic Exposure Among Well Users in New Hampshire

Developing a Hybrid Type 1 Effectiveness-Implementation Randomized Controlled Trial to Test a Table-Top Water Pitcher to Reduce Arsenic Exposure in Northern New England

The goals of this clinical trial are to:

1. gather preliminary data on the effectiveness of a table-top water pitcher filtration system in reducing arsenic exposure among individuals using private wells with elevated (>5 μg/L) arsenic concentrations, and
2. identify the factors influencing implementation of the filter intervention (uptake and sustainability) and barriers and facilitators to its use.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Do water and urinary arsenic concentrations change from baseline to Week 4 of the water pitcher intervention?

Are changes in arsenic concentrations maintained during the eight-week sustainability period?

• Which factors facilitate or impede uptake, use, and sustainability of the intervention?
• Are household income and/or home ownership associated with sustained filter use?

Participants will:

• Receive a free 12-cup water filter pitcher and cartridge replacements
• Use the pitcher filtration system, including replacement of filter cartridges, per manufacturer recommendations
• Collect and mail water and urine samples at baseline, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks
• Complete online questionnaires at baseline, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 years or older
• NH resident living in Merrimack or Belknap county
• Use a private water system as primary drinking water source
• Water arsenic >5 micrograms/L upon testing
• Confirm would be primary person in home maintaining the provided pitcher filter

Exclusion Criteria:

• Use or plan to use a mitigation strategy to reduce exposure to arsenic-contaminated drinking water in the next 12 weeks