Working Paper: Door Hanger Outreach and Incentives Did Not Induce Water System Customers to Participate in Lead Water Pipe Inspections
Paper Number: 2024-09
Document Date: 10/2024
Author(s): Ludovica Gazze, Heather Klemick, Bryan Parthum, Ann Wolverton
Subject Area(s): Water Pollution, Toxic Substances, Environmental Policy
JEL Classification:
Q52, Q53, Q58
Keywords: lead exposure, lead pipes, self-inspection, incentives, outreach, drinking water, randomized controlled trial
Abstract: The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized regulations to require water systems to replace millions of lead pipes with safer alternatives for carrying drinking water into U.S. homes. Before replacing them, public water systems must first identify where these lead service lines are located due to incomplete inventories and a lack of historical records. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate an intervention that targeted properties with unknown pipe material in Trenton, New Jersey—a community with older housing stock and a high concentration of people of color, renters, and households experiencing poverty. The intervention included two treatments: door hangers with information about a self-inspection process that allowed residents to submit a photo of their service line; and similar door hangers offering gift card incentives upon submission of a self-inspection photo. These treatments did not motivate residents to participate in a self-inspection of their service lines. Well under 1% of treated addresses participated in a self-inspection, including those offered the highest gift card incentive of $100.
This paper is part of the Environmental Economics Working Paper Series.