Microbial Contamination of Drinking Water Supplied by Private Wells after Hurricane Harvey

Hurricane Harvey made landfall on the Texas Gulf Coast August 25, 2017, as a Category 4 hurricane and caused widespread flooding. We explored spatial temporal distributions of well testing contamination rates; relationships between system characteristics recovery behaviors; efficacy mitigation strategies. estimated that over 500 000 users (?130 to 260 wells) may have been affected, but only around 15 (?3800 7500 had inundated systems based inundation maps. Local health departments our team sampled 8822 wells in 44 counties 10 months followed. Total coliform occurrence was 1.5 times Escherichia coli 2.8 higher after compared baseline levels. Microbial more likely (1.7–2.5 higher) when were and/or residents felt their water unsafe. Although urban E. rates rural counties. Disinfection did not always eliminate contamination, highlighting concerns about implementation chlorination procedures. Despite this extensive conducted Harvey, we estimate 4.1% potentially affected tested, underscoring magnitude assistance needed assist flooding events.