Recorded presentation

Rafael Guerrero-Preston, DrPH(c) MPH¹, Mario H. Rodriguez, PhD, MPH², Lydia Santiago, PhD³, José Norat, PhD, JD¹, and Erick Suárez, MS, PhD⁴. (1) Environmental Health Department, University of Puerto Rico, School of Public Health, PO Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00936-5067, (787) 630-7881, viram2001@hotmail.com, (2) Puerto Rico Health Services Research Institute, Health Services Administration Department, University of Puerto Rico, School of Public Health, PO Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00936-5067, (3) Social Sciences Department, University of Puerto Rico, School of Public Health, PO Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00936-5067, (4) Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Puerto Rico, School of Public Health, Recinto de Ciencias Medicas, San Juan, PR 00732

Statement of the problem: Approximately 90,000 residents of economically disadvantaged communities in Puerto Rico are at risk for acute and chronic waterborne illness due to non-compliance of community drinking water systems with water quality standards.

Objective: To identify the determinants of compliance with drinking water standards by small community systems located in environmental justice communities.

Procedure: A random coefficient for longitudinal data model was developed to predict compliance with drinking water standards by small community systems in Puerto Rico between 1996 and 2000. Compliance was defined as a dichotomous variable measuring adherence to total coliform (TC) and turbidity standards for drinking water. Data was obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency’ Safe Drinking Water Information System and the Puerto Rico Health Department drinking water database for 231 systems serving approximately 90,000 people.

Results: During the study period there was an 11% increase in compliance (1996=4%; 2000=15%), a decrease of 13,634 people served by non-compliant systems (1996=86,169; 2000=72,535) and a 6% decrease in the number of non-compliant systems which had installed treatment equipment (1996=93%; 2000=87%). A multi-level analysis revealed a compliance OR of 2.19 (95% CI, 1.40, 3.44) among those systems that had installed treatment equipment, compared to those that did not have any treatment method installed (p< .001).

Conclusion: These results underline the need to implement effective public policy to ensure that small drinking water systems in Puerto Rico comply with existing regulations. System specific determinants may be utilized in developing evidence based interventions within an appropriate strategic plan framework.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify compliance patterns with drinking water quality standards by small community systems
• Recognize differences in compliance with drinking water quality standards considering water source, population served, drinking water system's capacity and neighborhood characteristics.
• Discuss disparities in environmental health risks associated to drinking water quality utilizing a social epidemiology framework.

Keywords: Epidemiology, Water Quality

Related Web page: es.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/fellow/00/guerrero-preston.html

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation