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Water and Wastewater Analysis Following Catastrophic Events
Oral Presentation
Prepared by M. Magnuson, R. Campisano, E. Silvestri, S. Willison
USEPA NHSRC, 26 W. Martin Luther King, Cincinnati, OH, 45268
Contact Information: magnuson.matthew@epa.gov; 513-569-7321
ABSTRACT
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the lead federal agency for clean-up after catastrophes, regardless of their cause. Whether the releases are intentional (e.g. terrorist attack or criminal activity) or unintentional (e.g. natural disaster or industrial accident), analysis of water and wastewater samples will be an integral part of EPA’s activities. There are several ways water can become contaminated. For example, any point in a drinking water distribution systems may be contaminated. A wide area contamination release could affect open water sources. Further, water can become contaminated not only from the initial release, but also as a result of decontamination activities. Billions of gallons of water may be used when decontaminating wide areas. Much of the contaminated water may enter the storm or wastewater collection system, ultimately impacting the wastewater treatment plant and waters receiving the effluent. Thus, analysis of many types of water samples, each presenting distinct analytical challenges, will be necessary.
This presentation will discuss the technical aspects of some of the US EPA’s Homeland Security Research Program’s efforts to meet the many analytical challenges for water samples related to catastrophic events, including the potential need to analyze thousands of samples in a short period of time while maintaining analytical quality. Analytical method development for drinking water samples for contaminants such as chemical warfare agents (e.g. VX), biotoxins (e.g., botulinum toxin and ricin), and unregulated toxic industrial chemicals (e.g. pesticides and their degradates) will be presented. Examples of methods for the analysis of wastewater and wastewater treatment plant sludge will also be included.
Oral Presentation
Prepared by M. Magnuson, R. Campisano, E. Silvestri, S. Willison
USEPA NHSRC, 26 W. Martin Luther King, Cincinnati, OH, 45268
Contact Information: magnuson.matthew@epa.gov; 513-569-7321
ABSTRACT
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the lead federal agency for clean-up after catastrophes, regardless of their cause. Whether the releases are intentional (e.g. terrorist attack or criminal activity) or unintentional (e.g. natural disaster or industrial accident), analysis of water and wastewater samples will be an integral part of EPA’s activities. There are several ways water can become contaminated. For example, any point in a drinking water distribution systems may be contaminated. A wide area contamination release could affect open water sources. Further, water can become contaminated not only from the initial release, but also as a result of decontamination activities. Billions of gallons of water may be used when decontaminating wide areas. Much of the contaminated water may enter the storm or wastewater collection system, ultimately impacting the wastewater treatment plant and waters receiving the effluent. Thus, analysis of many types of water samples, each presenting distinct analytical challenges, will be necessary.
This presentation will discuss the technical aspects of some of the US EPA’s Homeland Security Research Program’s efforts to meet the many analytical challenges for water samples related to catastrophic events, including the potential need to analyze thousands of samples in a short period of time while maintaining analytical quality. Analytical method development for drinking water samples for contaminants such as chemical warfare agents (e.g. VX), biotoxins (e.g., botulinum toxin and ricin), and unregulated toxic industrial chemicals (e.g. pesticides and their degradates) will be presented. Examples of methods for the analysis of wastewater and wastewater treatment plant sludge will also be included.