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7TH JAPAN - U.S. CONFERENCE ON DRINKING WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND WASTEWATER CONTROL
Citation:
GUTIERREZ, S. C. 7TH JAPAN - U.S. CONFERENCE ON DRINKING WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND WASTEWATER CONTROL. Presented at 7th Japan - U.S. Conference on Drinking Water Quality Management and Wastewarer Control, Honolulu, HI, July 12 - 16, 2004.
Description:
Update on U.S. Drinking Water and Water Quality Research
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (U.S. EPA) Office of Research and development continues to conduct drinking water and water quality related research to address high priority environmental problems. Current priority research issues include drinking water distribution systems and their management, management of drinking water source waters, microbial source tracking and treatment of ship ballast water. Drinking water distribution system research includes management of lead resulting from leaching of lead pipe in the drinking water system of Washington, D. C., understanding the underlying factors leading to perforation of distribution system piping, characterization of distribution system biolfilms, and accumulation of arsenic in distribution system pipes. Control of harmful contaminants in drinking water source waters is an emerging research area that may offer a more cost-effective alternative to treatment. Research to evaluate the effectiveness of non-point source pollution abatement programs is being conducted in the vicinity of Columbus, Ohio. Waters of the nation that are determined to be impacted by fecal pollution present complex challenges to try and determine appropriate management actions and the origins of the pollution. Research is being undertaken to evaluate microbial source tracking methods and to determine appropriate methodologies to address this problem. The introduction of invasive species through discharge of ballast water is a global concern. Through U.S. EPA's Environmental Technology Verification Program, ship board ballast water treatment technologies are being evaluated. The information provided through the verification process will be used to determine the effectiveness of commercially ready technologies.