The importance of land use on public health. Case studies from the Rivanna River Watershed.

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dc.contributor.advisorKearney, Gregory
dc.contributor.authorPotter, Emily Jane
dc.contributor.departmentPublic Health
dc.date.accessioned2024-01-16T17:51:34Z
dc.date.created2023-12
dc.date.issued2023-12-11
dc.date.submittedDecember 2023
dc.date.updated2024-01-11T18:54:27Z
dc.degree.departmentPublic Health
dc.degree.disciplineDrPh-Doctor of Public Health
dc.degree.grantorEast Carolina University
dc.degree.levelDoctoral
dc.degree.nameDrPh
dc.description.abstractIntroduction: Safe and reliable water is vital to sustaining the environment and human health. However, factors including an expanding population, aging infrastructure, climate change, emerging contaminants, nonpoint source pollutants, and outdated regulations pose serious threats to water qualiry and public health. The overall purpose of this research was to examine the land use patterns and potential risk factors impacting the Rivanna River Watershed surrounding Charlottesville, Virginia, with respect to water quality and public health. The ecological model was selected as the overarching framework for examining three case studies. The primary research aims for each case study were to, i) examine statistical associations between deforestation and urban development on the drinking water treatment process in the Rivanna River Watershed; ii) assess the relationship between increased chemical use in public drinking water and associated economic costs, and iii) investigate disparities and equitable communication of recreational water impairment among different populations. Methods: Secondary data for this project were obtained from multiple governmental sources including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, Virginia Department of Health, and Rivanna Service Authority. Linear regression and correlation analysis were used to identify relationships between land use, water quality, and public health. Results: The decrease of forested land cover and the increase of impervious surface have negative impact on watershed health and surface water quality, increasing the risk of negative health outcomes. Raw water turbidity levels increased 13.59%, requiring increased treatment chemical use ranging from 7.59% to 107.87%. Rising treatment costs of 33% per MG of water treated resulted in a 20.28% increase in wholesale water rates, and 14-32% increases in customer water utility rates. Despite increasing numbers of biologically impaired waters, recreational use of the James and Rivanna Rivers increased, indicating ineffective water quality communication. Conclusion: An integrated view of water resource management involving collaboration between land owners, public health and land managers to increase source water protection can promote equitable access to safe water.
dc.embargo.lift2025-12-01
dc.embargo.terms2025-12-01
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10342/13280
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherEast Carolina University
dc.subjectland use
dc.subjectforestry
dc.subjectwatersheds
dc.subjectwater quality
dc.subjectpublic health
dc.subjectbiological water quality
dc.subjectequitable health
dc.subjectwater treatment
dc.subjectwater treatment costs
dc.subjectenvironmental health
dc.titleThe importance of land use on public health. Case studies from the Rivanna River Watershed.
dc.typeDoctoral Dissertation
dc.type.materialtext

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