Western Kentucky University
Working With Kentucky Amish and Mennonite Communities to Develop Solutions to Contaminated Drinking Water Sources
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Environmental, Sustainability, and Geographic Studies
Minor
American Sign Language
Institution 23-24
Western Kentucky University
KY House District #
2
KY Senate District #
32
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Dr. Chris Groves; Mrs. Lee Anne Bledsoe
Department
Department of Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences
Abstract
Groundwater within the limestone karst areas of Southcentral Kentucky is highly susceptible to groundwater pollution due to water’s ability to move quickly through the limestone bedrock. Most is contaminated by agriculture. Though almost all people in this area drink treated water that has been made safe to drink, some Amish and Mennonite communities forgo certain technologies, in some cases including electricity. Communities that lack water treatment must rely on contaminated karst groundwater. The purpose of our study was to identify where such communities are getting their drinking water and their current treatment methods, as well as to identify potential nonelectric filtration devices that could be used in the future. During this research, we identified the drinking water sources to be surface streams, wells, and karst springs. The ways that these communities were treating this water depended on the availability of electricity within each community. Some families used reverse osmosis filtering, others used a device known as “The Water Solution”, and some do not treat their water at all. Of these options, reverse osmosis is the only one that ensures clean drinking water; however, it requires a level of pressure that is hard to achieve without electricity. We have also tested another device called the Madi Drop which is currently being used in places such as rural Dominican Republic, and it does not require electricity. With the results of this research, we have started to educate these communities on the dangers of contaminated groundwater and filtration methods that can remove those risks. There are Mennonite and Amish families that are becoming sick due to drinking contaminated karst groundwater, and education about these dangers is important in ensuring the safety of these communities.
Working With Kentucky Amish and Mennonite Communities to Develop Solutions to Contaminated Drinking Water Sources
Groundwater within the limestone karst areas of Southcentral Kentucky is highly susceptible to groundwater pollution due to water’s ability to move quickly through the limestone bedrock. Most is contaminated by agriculture. Though almost all people in this area drink treated water that has been made safe to drink, some Amish and Mennonite communities forgo certain technologies, in some cases including electricity. Communities that lack water treatment must rely on contaminated karst groundwater. The purpose of our study was to identify where such communities are getting their drinking water and their current treatment methods, as well as to identify potential nonelectric filtration devices that could be used in the future. During this research, we identified the drinking water sources to be surface streams, wells, and karst springs. The ways that these communities were treating this water depended on the availability of electricity within each community. Some families used reverse osmosis filtering, others used a device known as “The Water Solution”, and some do not treat their water at all. Of these options, reverse osmosis is the only one that ensures clean drinking water; however, it requires a level of pressure that is hard to achieve without electricity. We have also tested another device called the Madi Drop which is currently being used in places such as rural Dominican Republic, and it does not require electricity. With the results of this research, we have started to educate these communities on the dangers of contaminated groundwater and filtration methods that can remove those risks. There are Mennonite and Amish families that are becoming sick due to drinking contaminated karst groundwater, and education about these dangers is important in ensuring the safety of these communities.