Rapid Analytical Techniques for Drinking Water Security Investigations

Abstract

The events of Sept. 11, 2001, forever changed the climate of the United States and exposed the nation's vulnerabilities. In response, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) prepared detailed guidance for drinking water utilities to follow in cases of suspected or actual incidents of intentional contamination of public water systems. Under the USEPA protocol, water utility personnel, as the authority onsite, would conduct an initial investigation or site characterization. Key to this preliminary assessment is the use of rapid analytical techniques for field screening. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Water and Sewer Authority and the University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering evaluated a number of analytical methods that utility staff or emergency response teams could use to generate preliminary data during the site characterization phase. The technologies included rapid immunoassays, rapid enzyme tests, rapid polymerase chain reaction methods, field‐deployable gas chromatography‐ mass spectrometry, and acute toxicity screening. Research results indicated that, although analytical capabilities are rapidly improving, field‐screening technologies are not a substitute for standard laboratory analyses and the data such technologies provide should be considered presumptive. The rapid analytical techniques currently available can aid in assessing hazards and directing appropriate operational and public health responses. However, additional studies are needed to determine matrix effects, the influence of interferences, the incidence of inaccurate results, and the limitations of detection capabilities.