AWWA ACE59853

Much attention has recently been placed on the vulnerability of the U.S. drinking watersupplies to assault by terrorists. That our systems, as they are currently configured, arevulnerable to attack has been widely recognized. While most supply sources are limited intheir vulnerability due to the massive volumes of water involved, the distribution systems remaina vulnerable and tempting target as was clearly stated in a recent GAO report to Congress thatlisted the vulnerability of the distribution system to attack as the largest security risk to watersupplies. Research on a system designed to address the problem of distribution system monitoringis described in this paper. The developed system employs an array of common analyticalinstrumentation, such as pH and chlorine monitors, coupled with advanced interpretivealgorithms to provide detection/identification-response networks that are capable of enhancingsystem security, as has been advocated by several Federal research initiatives. Through the useof laboratory testing in beakers, computer modeling, pilot scale testing on pipe loops and realworld beta site deployment, the system has been shown to be effective in detecting a widediversity of possible threats. The system has been challenged with, and found effective against, avariety of agents including TICs (toxic industrial chemicals), TIMs (toxic industrial materials),and chemical and biological warfare agents. Other possible more obscure classes of threat agentssuch as street drugs, homemade toxins, and commercial agricultural chemicals have also beentested. In addition, the system has been shown to recognize common accidental intrusions such asantifreeze and sewage.The response of these various agents not only detects the presence of acontaminant, but the unique responses elicited from the sensor array allows for the possibility ofidentification. Through the use of a searchable library of agent profiles, the system described iscapable of providing not only an alarm, but also an identification of the likely cause. The profiles of over 60 of the most likely threat agents and common contaminants have been complied. Inaddition, a proprietary baseline estimator dramatically and immediately reduces false warningsdue to regular fluctuations in operational parameters upon start-up. As time since deploymentincreases, the number of false positives is rapidly reduced to near zero by the system'sprogrammed ability to learn what is normal for a given operation. Includes 11 references, tables, figures.

Product Details

Edition:

Vol. - No.

Published:

06/17/2004

Number of Pages:

16

File Size:

1 file , 810 KB