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RESPONDING TO WATER CONTAMINATION THREATS
Citation:
Magnuson*, M L., S. C. Allgeier, B. Koch, R. DeLeon, AND R. Hunsinger. RESPONDING TO WATER CONTAMINATION THREATS. A. Newman (ed.), ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 39(7):153A-159A, (2005).
Impact/Purpose:
To inform public
Description:
Drinking water safety has traditionally been linked to water quality. The possibility of terrorism directed against the drinking water supply has emphasized the link between water safety and water security. The traditional paradigm in solving water quality problems is to develop or adapt technology, whether for prevention, remediation, control, analysis, or other goals. This technology-based approach has worked well, arguably because many water quality problems have been a result of technological advances in other arenas. For instance, the formation of industrialized cities, along with the agriculture/livestock production practices needed to sustain them, have contributed to water quality concerns and the development of drinking water treatment technologies. These technologies are being refined to confront emerging water quality issues, as well as address problems with existing treatment technologies, such as the formation of disinfection byproducts, e.g. trihalomethanes produced from chlorination. Thus, combined with advances in other environmental technologies such as those for analysis and control, water quality technology has proven capable of mitigating the effects of other technology. The continual success in addressing drinking water safety concerns through the use of environmental technology naturally leads to the question: "With the shift towards linking drinking water safety to water security, can environmental technology be used to counter the technology of water terrorism?" At first glance, the very reasonable answer to this question would be a resounding "Yes." The purpose of this article, however, is to delve more deeply into some of the issues involved in defining the role of environmental technology in responding to security problems related to water contamination terrorism. For this reason, we will consider some lessons learned from a recently published consensus document that discusses the response of water utilities to water security threats and incidents. To set the stage, it is helpful to take a broad overview of the role of technology in water contamination terror and also the role of environmental technology in responding to it.
