Investigating the impact of untreated well water on gastrointestinal illnesses in children.

Wells and Enteric Disease Transmission: A randomized trial of children supplied drinking water from private wells (WET-Trial)

NIH-funded research Temple Univ of the Commonwealth · NIH-10898866

This study is looking at how drinking water from untreated private wells might affect the health of young children under 5, by comparing those who drink treated water to those who drink untreated water to see if it makes a difference in stomach illnesses.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionTemple Univ of the Commonwealth NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Philadelphia, United States)
Project IDNIH-10898866 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on understanding how drinking water from untreated private wells affects the health of children under the age of 5. By conducting a randomized controlled trial, the study will compare the incidence of gastrointestinal illnesses in children who consume treated well water using ultraviolet light versus those who receive a placebo treatment. The goal is to gather robust epidemiological data on the health risks associated with untreated well water and to identify effective interventions to reduce these risks. The study aims to address a significant public health concern, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for participation are children under the age of 5 who consume water from private wells.

Not a fit: Patients who do not consume water from private wells or are older than 5 years may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved health outcomes for children by reducing the incidence of gastrointestinal illnesses linked to untreated well water.

How similar studies have performed: This research is novel as there have been no prior randomized controlled trials specifically linking gastrointestinal illnesses to untreated well water consumption.

Where this research is happening

Philadelphia, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.