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Track: Environmental Management
Lisa Phillips
Division of Public Health
2 Peachtree Street
2nd Floor Annex - Room 2.509
Atlanta, GA 30303-3816
Telephone: 404-657-0601
Fax: 404-657-0602
E-mail: ldp0600@ph.dhr.state.ga.us
Statistical Evaluation of Flooding and Physical Well Characteristics on Wells Failing Chlorination
Defining Issue: In order to determine the impact of the 1994 Tropical Storm Alberto flooding in southwest Georgia on the failure of contaminated wells to be successfully chlorinated (disinfected), confounding well characteristics must be analyzed. GIS Solution: The Flood Recovery Program is conducting a GIS and statistical analysis of private drinking water wells to provide an evaluation relative to chlorination failure. Methodology: Private drinking water wells are located by GPS during a physical well survey. Their position relative to the flood extent is used in a statistical analysis to quantify the relative importance of physical factors of the well versus the well being in the flood area. This is used in evaluating the failure of a contaminated well to be disinfected by chlorination. Software: ArcView Version 3.0 and SAS 6.11 Purpose of Paper: This paper highlights the use of ArcView in conjunction with statistical analyses in SAS to show how the 1994 flooding in southwestern Georgia was
associated with the failure of contaminated wells to be disinfected by chlorination while controlling as well as evaluating the impact of physical well characteristics and physical surface characteristics. Little data exist on contamination of private wells, in particular with regard to how disasters, such as floods, are associated with prolonged bacterial contamination. This is of great importance to public health as many households in rural areas depend on clean water supply for hygiene and consumption.
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