Do home water filters improve health for people with private wells in rural Central Appalachia
Official title: Expanding Safe Water Access to Improve Health Outcomes in Appalachia: The Rural Water Filtration and Health (RWELL) Trial
Run by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · NCT07818902 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether providing point-of-use water filters to households using well or spring water in rural Central Appalachia can reduce acute gastrointestinal illness.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 6 Months and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 1584 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Johnson City, Tennessee and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 2026 |
| Main results expected | March 2030 |
| Study ends | May 2030 |
| Registry record updated | November 9, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07818902 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults 18+ living in eligible rural counties of southwest Virginia or northeast Tennessee who rely on private wells or springs and have limited or no utility water access.
✕Probably not a fit
Participants in areas where water quality improves independently of filtration or where usage is inconsistent may see little to no benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This cluster-randomized trial enrolled about 480 households (roughly 1,600 people) in southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee to see if household water filters reduce GI illness and lower pathogen presence in biospecimens. Households without utility water and with low income were included, and clusters were assigned to receive filters or continue usual practice. Researchers will track reported acute GI illness and analyze saliva and stool samples for bacterial, protozoal, and viral pathogens, as well as fecal indicators. The study aims to provide evidence on whether point-of-use filtration can improve health outcomes in rural, low-income, private-water settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, households could experience fewer GI illnesses and improved overall health due to cleaner drinking water.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests point-of-use filtration can reduce GI illness in some settings, but evidence in rural private-water populations is limited and context-specific.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Home is located in a study county in southwest Virginia or northeast Tennessee * There is at least one adult (aged 18 or older) who regularly (\>6 months per year) resides in the household * Household does not have utility-supplied water (and \<33% of household members regularly drink bottled water) * Reported household income is \<80% of the county median income (based on US Department of Housing and Urban Development thresholds by household population) Exclusion Criteria: * None (no exclusion criterion based on gender, race, ethnicity, language, or literacy)
Where it's running
-
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia, United States Recruiting -
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, Tennessee, United States Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Alasdair Cohen, PhD — Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Study coordinator: Kelsey Lane Warmbrod, PhD
- Email: wlane@vt.edu
- Phone: 540-231-1816
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.