1 - Evaluating Advocacy Efforts to Support Safe Drinking Water Legislation in Massachusetts

Abstract Information: Davisson, J., Wellman, M., Day, J., Shei, A., & Dash, K. In Massachusetts, an estimated 500,000 people rely on private well water (1). These households are mostly located in rural parts of the state with known and unknown ground water contaminants, and where private well testing and remediation rates are relatively low (2). Reasons for not testing are complex. Evidence from other states shows that residents often do not: know about potential contaminants in their private wells; see themselves as likely to get sick if they drink the water; know how often they should test their well water; and how to access testing (3). Further complicating matters, private well testing regulations vary by town in Massachusetts. Statewide, only 47 (14%) of Massachusetts’ 350 towns have requirements to test private well water quality at time of property sale or transfer (4). To address low rates of private well testing and remediation, RCAP Solutions implemented a multi-pronged approach that culminated in the development of and advocacy for statewide well testing regulations to promote safe drinking water. The evaluation of these advocacy efforts focused on three main questions: What advocacy efforts did RCAP Solutions implement? Did RCAP Solutions engage key audiences via advocacy efforts? Were advocacy efforts successful in promoting policy support and change (i.e., implementation of statewide private well regulations)? We used an instrumental case study method, collecting qualitative and quantitative data from multiple sources: conducting focus groups with private well owners, local boards of health agents; tracking lobbying activities; reviewing bills and bill records; and monitoring project correspondence. Data was synthesized according to an advocacy framework that assumes community and legislative engagement contribute to policy support and change. The evaluation found that advocacy efforts were successful in acquiring support for statewide private well protections from Massachusetts residents, local health departments, influential and constituency-based public health organizations, and Massachusetts legislators. Critical to success was the ability of RCAP Solutions to be nimble and pivot as needed in reaction to changing political contexts. (1). Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. (2023). Private Well Guidelines. Available at: https://www.mass.gov/doc/private-well-guidelines/download. (2). Flanagan, S. V., Procopio, N., Spayd, S. E., Gleason, J. A., & Zheng, Y. (2020). Improve private well testing outreach efficiency by targeting households based on proximity to a high arsenic well. Science of the Total Environment, 738, 139689; SafeWell (2020). Private Well Regulations – By Town in Massachusetts. https://regulations.safewell.us/well-regulations-tool/. (3). Flanagan, S. V., Marvinney, R. G., & Zheng, Y. (2015). Influences on domestic well water testing behavior in a Central Maine area with frequent groundwater arsenic occurrence. Science of the Total Environment, 505, 1274–1281; Imgrund, K., Kreutzwiser, R., & de Loë, R. (2011). Influences on the water testing behaviors of private well owners. Journal of Water and Health, 9, 241–52; Munene, A., Lockyer, J., Checkley, S., & Hall, D. C. (2020). (4). Exploring well water testing behavior through the Health Belief Model. Environmental Health Insights, 14, 1– 10. SafeWell, 2020