Water Research Project
Purpose of the Project
Water Modeling & Community Survey
The purpose of the water research project is to address community concerns that water contamination may have occurred outside the locations or timeframes previously tested and to better understand where, when, and how water contamination may have occurred after the East Palestine train derailment.
This research has two components. The primary component is a water modeling study. The model is designed to predict how chemicals released during the derailment and “controlled burn” could have moved through surface water and/or groundwater over time. This allows researchers to evaluate the potential for water contamination across a larger space and time rather than relying only on measurements, which are taken at a smaller number of locations or time points.
The second component is a community survey. The survey gathers information about community concerns and priorities related to water quality so that the model is guided by real-world conditions and questions of residents.
Who can take the survey?
Adults age 18 or older who live in East Palestine or within approximately 50 miles of the derailment site, including parts of eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and northern West Virginia, are eligible to participate. This 50-mile radius is based on the study area designated by the National Institutes of Health and should not be interpreted as evidence that potential impacts either extended to that distance or did not exceed it. The study is intended to help evaluate this question.
What does the survey involve?
Completing a 10–15 minute questionnaire about water use, water quality concerns, and experiences since the derailment. The survey is available online or on paper and participation is completely voluntary. The survey does not collect medical or health information, and no compensation is provided.
Is my participation confidential?
Yes. Providing contact information is optional and is used only if you wish to receive study updates, survey results, or information about future related studies. Survey responses are de-identified, and any contact information provided is stored separately and is not linked to survey responses. Your information will not be shared publicly, with industry, rail companies or agencies.
Why is this research needed?
After the derailment, environmental testing was conducted, but many residents expressed concerns that testing was incomplete, difficult to interpret, and limited to specific locations or short time periods. A scientifically-based water model can help fill these gaps.
What does the water model do?
The water model uses existing environmental data, including information on geology, groundwater flow, surface water networks, precipitation, and chemical properties, to simulate how derailment-related contaminants could move through water systems. The model is used to identify areas that may be more vulnerable to contamination to help guide future water testing, health research, and response planning.
What does the survey do?
The survey collects information about community concerns related to water quality, including which water sources and locations are of concern, which contaminants residents are most worried about, and where residents believe gaps exist between official testing and lived experience. This information helps ensure that the modeling work is guided by community priorities.
Water Research Project
The Water Research Project is led by Yale University and in partnership with Ohio Valley Allies, as part of the broader East Palestine Train Derailment Health Research Program. The study is funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Study findings will be shared with the community through public summaries, periodic meetings, and our website with an emphasis on plain-language communication. Public results will describe overall patterns and not individual responses.
Questions about the water research?
EMAIL: waterstudy@yale.edu
CALL: (203) 737-6229
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