2026-10-12T09:32:40Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/34034824 2026-09-30T17:28:11Z category_7 category_21 category_272 category_873 category_39 category_46 category_734 category_134 portal_5 item_type_3 month_year_09_2026

<p>Participant demographic data.</p> Cameron Smith (244750) Emily M. H. Woerner (21492030) Alan Leslie (25145104) Benjamin Beale (25145107) Kelly Nichols (25145110) Shannon Dill (25145113) Sarah Hirsh (25145116) Jeff Semler (25145119) Andrew Kness (25145122) Jack Keane (25145125) Marina Costa (5073269) Julie Yang (76481) Raul Cruz-Cano (3751321) Andrew Lazur (25145128) Rachel Rosenberg Goldstein (25145131) Medicine Biotechnology Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified Ecology Immunology Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified Virology farm animal waste epa method 1604 bacterial contamination risk 43 million individuals sampling increased (< well maintained system supply drinking water actual well conditions div >< p four water samples multivariable logistic regression excellent condition (< 03 ), suggesting total coliforms compared unmaintained private wells significantly lower odds total coliform presence collected water samples farms across maryland 79 private wells drinking water logistic regression total coliforms region (< private wells fair condition county (< 03 ). significantly associated 04 ), 01 ), well properties p </ three percent significant decrease seven regions sampled wells <div><p>Over 43 million individuals in the United States use private wells for drinking water, but these wells are not regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act. Unmaintained private wells on farms could become contaminated from pathogens from various potential sources including on-farm animal waste. Microbial contaminants in private wells could increase infectious disease risks among well users, therefore it is important to conduct well water testing and keep a well maintained system. We distributed surveys and collected water samples from private wells that supply drinking water on farms from all seven regions of Maryland. Our objective was to evaluate the presence of total coliforms and <i>E. coli</i> in private wells and the impact of well, geographic, and precipitation factors on the bacterial contamination risk. Eighty-four water samples were collected from 79 private wells on farms across Maryland. Samples were analyzed for total coliforms and <i>E. coli</i> with U.S. EPA Method 1604. Data were analyzed using Fisher’s Exact test and logistic regression. Forty-three percent (34/79) of the sampled wells were positive for total coliforms and 10% (8/79) were positive for <i>E. coli</i>. Total coliform presence was significantly associated with county (<i>p</i> = 0.02), region (<i>p</i> < 0.01), and well condition description (<i>p</i> = 0.02). <i>E. coli</i> presence was significantly associated with region (<i>p</i> < 0.01), geological province type (<i>p</i> < 0.01), county (<i>p</i> = 0.04), and wellhead cover type (<i>p</i> = 0.03). Based on the multivariable logistic regression, wells that were described as being in okay or fair condition had significantly lower odds of total coliforms compared to wells described as being in good or excellent condition (<i>p</i> = 0.03), suggesting a lack of understanding about actual well conditions. There was a significant decrease in the odds of <i>E. coli</i> presence as precipitation levels 14 days prior to sampling increased (<i>p</i> = 0.02)<i>.</i> These results emphasize the importance of private well water testing, particularly for farmers.</p></div> 2026-09-30T17:28:03Z Dataset Dataset 10.1371/journal.pwat.0000636.t001 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/_p_Participant_demographic_data_p_/34034824 CC BY 4.0