THE MIDWESTERN LANDSCAPE IS AMONG THE MOST ALTERED AND INTENSIVELY MANAGED ECOSYSTEMS IN THE WORLD. A PERENNIAL CHALLENGE ASSOCIATED WITH ANNUAL ROW CROP PRODUCTION IS ITS IMPACTS ON WATER QUALITY. PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE DEDICATED TREMENDOUS RESOURCES TO IMPROVE ON-FARM PRACTICES, RETIRE LAND, AND RESTORE WETLANDS. DESPITE THESE EFFORTS, HEALTH-BASED DRINKING WATER QUALITY VIOLATIONS CONTINUE TO AFFECT MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ANNUALLY. LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT THE DEGREE TO WHICH THESE VIOLATIONS EXPOSE RURAL RESIDENTS TO UNSAFE DRINKING WATER, WHAT EFFORTS RURAL RESIDENTS TAKE TO AVOID POSSIBLE EXPOSURE, AND HOW INFORMATION PROVISION MIGHT IMPROVE THE WELFARE OF RURAL RESIDENTS. WE AIM TO FILL IN THIS KNOWLEDGE GAP. IN THIS PROJECT, WE PROPOSE TO STUDY RURAL HOUSEHOLDS' DRINKING WATER PATTERNS, POLLUTION AVOIDANCE BEHAVIOR, AND WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR POLLUTION INFORMATION. SPECIFICALLY, WE PROPOSE TO (I) FIELD A LARGE-SCALE, LONGITUDINAL SURVEY OF RURAL HOUSEHOLDS'DRINKING WATER SOURCES AND BOTTLED WATER/FILTER PURCHASES; (II) STUDY THE IMPACTS OF PROVIDING HOUSEHOLDS WITH IN-HOME NITRATE TEST KITS ON THESE PURCHASES; (III) ELICIT HOUSEHOLDS' WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR IN-HOME NITRATE POLLUTION TEST KITS, COMPARING STATED VERSUS REVEALED PREFERENCE ELICITATION METHODS; AND (IV) ENGAGE RURAL COMMUNITIES AND CREATE MULTI-FACETED EXTENSION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMMING TO IMPROVE KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF DRINKING WATER CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS. RESULTS WILL BE USED TO GUIDE EFFECTIVE POLICY-MAKING FOR WATER QUALITY PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.