DRI scientists are seeking fifteen Fallon residents with private wells to participate in a water quality study. Participants will receive free water quality results, and some well owners will also receive water filtration systems.
The research aims to identify the spatial extent and potential sources of contaminants like pesticides, microplastics, and flame retardants. It will also evaluate the effectiveness of treatment systems in reducing these contaminants in drinking water. Previous studies have linked such contaminants to agricultural and military land uses, which may enter shallow groundwater aquifers supplying private wells. This study is among the first to investigate these contaminants in the Fallon area, building on prior DRI research that found high arsenic levels in local groundwater.
“We know from our previous research and other studies that much of the groundwater in Fallon is unsuitable for drinking if left untreated due to high levels of arsenic,” said Daniel Saftner, a DRI hydrogeologist and one of the lead researchers on the study. “This study will help us gain a better understanding of the extent and possible sources of contaminants of emerging concern, as well as allow us to evaluate water filtration options for community members.”
Participants will receive a full report comparing their well water quality to EPA standards, along with treatment options and monitoring recommendations. The anonymized data will be publicly available.
The project team includes Monica Arienzo, Associate Professor of Hydrology and lead of DRI’s Microplastics Laboratory, and Yeongkwon Son, Associate Professor of Environmental Health specializing in emerging contaminants. Saftner and Arienzo have spent over three years studying rural well water quality in Nevada with more than 300 well owners.
The research will also contribute to improving water filtration devices targeting microplastics.
For more information on DRI’s Microplastics and Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, visit their website.
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