Assessing private well user’s attitudes towards chlorination of drinking water

Abstract

 In Canada, those who rely on private wells are at approximately 5.2 times greater risk of contracting enteric illness due to contaminated drinking water than those who rely on municipal water systems (4). In recent years, some communities have expressed opposition towards chlorination and distrust towards health authorities mandating its use (5,6). Given that chlorination of drinking water is a widely used and highly effective method of limiting waterborne illness, the purpose of this research aims to determine if there is a relationship in the public between perception of the health risk of microbial contamination in drinking water versus attitudes towards chlorination among those utilising non-municipal water systems and private wells in Canada.