Data Quality Management for Continuous Source Water Monitoring

Oral Presentation

Prepared by J. McIntyre, J. Heymann
West Virginia American Water, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Charleston, WV, 25302, United States


Contact Information: jeffrey.mcintyre@amwater.com; 304-340-2000


ABSTRACT

West Virginia American Water (WVAW) has developed a source water monitoring program that combines continuous raw water quality monitoring with advanced organics analyses to optimize water treatment operations and to help identify the presence of potential contaminants.

During an EPA workshop held in Morgantown, WV, in August 2014, federal regulators and water industry experts recommended online, multi-panel source water quality monitoring devices as an effective option for detection of source water contamination. Based on these recommendations and a thorough analysis of available technology, WVAW selected and installed monitoring equipment for each of its existing intakes to measure the following parameters on a continuous basis: pH, conductivity, oxidation reduction potential (ORP), temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC).

WVAW is partnering with international experts on an advanced event detection system capable of identifying statistical changes in water characteristics from baseline water quality. The system alerts water plant operators to these changes, spurring further investigative testing for possible contamination.

The effectiveness of the source water monitoring and event detection system relies heavily on the accuracy and reliability of the continuous monitoring data. WVAW has established a program that includes various components to maintain data quality such as routine maintenance, calibration and validation checks, and data review. This presentation will highlight methods, successes, and challenges of implementing a data quality management program for continuous source water monitoring.