A quantitative consideration of sociodemographic factors in water
quality research prioritization
Abstract
Water availability depends on water quantity and quality. Geogenic
contaminants, including non-metals, metals, and metalloids from geologic
sources, are among the most prevalent contaminants limiting water
availability in the U.S. and globally. Typical geologic materials have
geogenic concentrations such that dissolution of very small fractions
can cause concentrations exceeding drinking water, ecological, and other
water use thresholds. Geogenic contaminants often occur in groundwater
due to subsurface water-rock interactions, but their distribution and
concentration can also be affected by human activities such as mining,
energy production, irrigation, and pumping practices. Many hydrogeologic
and biogeochemical factors contribute to causing geogenic contamination
that limits water availability. However, sociodemographic features,
including drinking water source and missing water quality information,
are often overlooked when evaluating, determining, and ranking the merit
and benefit of research. Sociodemographic features, data gaps resulting
from historical data collection disparities, social vulnerability
indices, socioeconomic status, and infrastructure condition/age are
examples of environmental justice (EJ) factors. To avoid perpetuating
knowledge gaps while setting research priorities, EJ factors can be
considered when developing ranking schemes to prioritize water
availability research activities. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is
working to quantitatively incorporate and prioritize EJ factors in
ranking regional-scale, geogenic-related water availability research
priorities. USGS ranking schemes incorporate typical physical and
geochemical factors such as existing data, climate variables, and water
use. Missing and sociodemographic information will also be incorporated
to begin addressing EJ inequities. EJ factors include, for example,
sparse information about water quality in lower income and minority
areas, and unknowns about water quality in areas of substantial cultural
or subsistence hunting, fishing, or gathering. By considering both EJ
and hydrogeological/biogeochemical factors, decision makers will have a
more diverse, interdisciplinary toolbox to increase equity and reduce
bias in prioritizing future water availability studies.