1. Workshop on Advanced Technologies in Real-time Monitoring and Modeling for Drinking Water Safety and Security Dr. David Lipsky Acting Director Drinking Water Quality Control New York City Dept. Env. Protection

2. What Are Water Safety Concerns Inadequate and too broad statement of issue. Lots of constituents and threat scenarios to consider. Cannot quantify “safety.” Laundry list of technologies. No guidance for decision makers.

3. Example of Problem Recent article in ES&T on water quality security….”Several reports have detailed the need for developing monitoring technologies and research to address future water quality concerns, which can then be incorporated into a risk assessment framework.”

4. Risk Management Framework Reverse the above. Apply risk management framework first. –What constituents present a credible risk to water and then evaluate the availability, effectiveness, cost, and level of risk reduction provided by the monitoring technologies. Separate into risk bins. –High-probability high consequence events vs. Low-probability-low consequence events.

5. Cont’d Evaluate both screening and broad brush approach (e.g. Bioassays) versus chemical or microbial specific technologies. Risk to water should arguably be greater than other routes of exposure (air, food).

6. Technology Goals A system to reliably identify medium to high consequence contamination events in source water or distribution systems in time to allow an effective local response (that will prevent, mitigate, or reduce risk to the greatest extent practicable).

7. Goals Cont’d Decision support tools to turn monitoring/modeling data into information for risk managers. Affordability. Meets DQO and QA objectives for accuracy, reliability, reproducibility, and timeliness. Remotely operated.

8. Goals Cont’d Maintainable. Functions year around. Not overly sensitive to flow changes, treatment changes or differences in background water quality.

9. Decision Support Tools Decision support tools, response actions, contingency plans, and data interpretation guidelines need to be coordinated with local health, state and federal oversight agencies, in advance. If measure surrogate parameters or gross indicators (e.g. Bioassays)-need to establish a network of local/regional centers of analytical (chemical and microbiological) excellence to quickly quantify and assess actual risk.

10. Other Helpful Non-water Quality Technologies Syndromic surveillance-may be important in identifying waterborne versus airborne exposures. Robust complaint center. –Tying in water complaints to robust GIS grid and Syndromic surveillance may be most cost- effective approach towards early detection of many acute chemical threats.

11. Other Safety Issues Risk managers have to make difficult and complex decisions, quickly, often with inadequate information. Complex monitoring and modeling technologies need to provide appropriate and targeted answers for risk managers. Need to understand and fill data gaps and improve risk assessments. Technology good but no substitute for sound, experienced judgment.

12. Water Quality Monitoring Sampling Stations Located throughout NYC Locations for the stations were chosen based on the need to gather representative samples of the water quality in all distribution areas

13. Water Quality Monitoring Water samples are analyzed for: Bacteria Chlorine levels pH Inorganic and organic pollutants Turbidity Odor Other water quality indicators Substantive No. Samples each week

14. Water Quality Monitoring PC/RM A variety of parameters monitored continuously at various locations.

15. Data Usage PC/RM data available on-line and includes alarm indicators and dial-out. Enhancing real-time monitoring within reservoirs.

16. Use of Models DEP has actively supported the development, calibration, and verification of linked terrestrial and reservoir models. These models help provide information for operational, regulatory, and management purposes. Have been used for predictive purposes.