Detecting and Responding to Distribution System Contamination

Detecting and Responding to Distribution System Contamination Incidents
May 13, 2015, at the EPA Region 2 Training Building, Building 205, 2890 Woodbridge Ave. (MS-100), Edison, NJ 08837.
Registration opens at 7:30 am, Workshop begins promptly at 8:00 am and ends at 4:15 pm.
Certified by the NJ Water Association for 7.0 Training Contact Hours for NJ-Licensed Water Operators.
TCH Course Number #04-021501-10.
Continuing Education for NJ Certified Public Works Managers
CPWM Course # DLGS-NJWA-73, (1.0 Government, 4.0 Management, 2.0 Technical Credits)
Registration is required. For details, visit: www.njwater.org
Background: Recent incidents have highlighted the vulnerability of drinking water distribution systems to contamination.
Regardless of whether the source of contamination is natural, accidental, or intentional, the consequences of contamination can be
severe. Fortunately there are steps utilities can take to improve their ability to detect and effectively respond to contamination
incidents.
Training Objectives:
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Discuss lessons learned from recent distribution system contamination incidents.
Present a systematic framework for improving a utility’s ability to detect and respond to distribution system contamination
incidents.
Describe simple, low-cost steps utilities can take to improve their ability to monitor distribution system conditions and
respond effectively to undesirable water quality incidents.
Describe how EPA tools and guidance and other resources can be used to improve surveillance and response capabilities.
Demonstrate practical applications of these resources through an exercise.
7:30 AM – 8:00 AM - Registration
8:00 AM – 8:15 AM - Welcome and Introductions
OVERVIEW (8:15 am to 9:30 am)
This session will provide an overview of contamination threats and a framework for detecting and responding to
contamination.
8:15 AM – 9:00 AM - Distribution System Contamination … How Would you Respond? Steve Allgeier, USEPA
 Risks, vulnerabilities, and consequences of distribution system contamination
 Lessons learned from the contamination incident in Charleston, WV
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM - Detecting and Responding to Distribution Contamination Incidents Steve Allgeier, USEPA
 Methods for real-time detection of distribution system contamination incidents
 Planning for response to distribution system contamination
DETECTING CONTAMINATION INCIDENTS (9:30 am to 11:45 am)
This session will describe four surveillance components for early detection of distribution system contamination incidents. For each
component, the following information will be presented:
 Basic attributes of the surveillance technique
 Methods for setting alerting criteria
 Procedures for investigating alerts
 Case studies demonstrating the applicability of the surveillance technique
 Low-cost approaches for enhancing detection capabilities
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM Customer Complaint Surveillance ................................................. Nelson Mix, USEPA
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM: Break
10:15 AM – 10:45 AM Online Water Quality Monitoring ............................................Matt Umberg, USEPA
10:45 AM – 11:15 AM Enhanced Security Monitoring ................................................... Nelson Mix, USEPA
11:15 AM – 11:45 AM Public Health Surveillance ...................................................... Steve Allgeier, USEPA
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM: Working Lunch. Pizza offered for a nominal fee, or bring your own lunch.
Lunch presentation: Contaminant Information Resources used During Response, Including Demonstration of the Water
Contaminant Information Tool.................Elizabeth Hedrick, USEPA
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RESPONDING TO CONTAMINATION INCIDENTS (12:45 pm to 4:00 pm)
This session will describe planning activities that can help utilities prepare for responding to distribution system
contamination incidents, including:
 Pre-establishing field and laboratory capabilities for responding to a wide variety of contaminant classes.
 Development of plans for consequence management, risk communication, and remediation and recovery.
An exercise will demonstrate the application of these plans during a simulated contamination incident.
12:45 PM – 1:15 PM - Sampling & Analysis ............................................................Elizabeth Hedrick, USEPA
1:15 PM – 2:00 PM - Responding to a Contamination Incident .........................................Jeff Fencil, USEPA
2:00 PM – 2:15 PM: Break
2:15 PM – 4:00 PM - Responding to a Contamination Incident (continued) ......................Jeff Fencil, USEPA
4:00 PM – 4:15 PM: Final remarks, course evaluation, and wrap-up.
Instructor Bios:
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Jeff Fencil; U.S. EPA: Jeff Fencil is an Environmental Scientist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water/Water Security Division. Since joining the Water Security Division in
2006, he has served as the lead for Consequence Management under the Water Quality Surveillance and
Response System program. Prior to joining the EPA, Mr. Fencil worked for the New England Water Works
Association as a technical instructor and grants manager. Education: B.A. degree in biology from Providence
College and a Master of Science degree in Environmental Science from the University of New Haven.
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Elizabeth Hedrick; U.S. EPA: Elizabeth Hedrick is a chemist in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office
of Ground Water and Drinking Water/Water Security Division where she serves as the technical lead for the
Sampling and Analysis component under the Water Quality Surveillance and Response System program. Prior to
joining the Water Security Division, Elizabeth worked in private sector labs followed by 15 years in EPA’s Office
of Research and Development where she led the development of analytical methods and manuals for EPA
regulatory and non-regulatory programs. Education: B.S. Chemistry, University of Louisville; M.S.
Environmental Science, University of Cincinnati.
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Steve Allgeier; U.S. EPA: Steve Allgeier is an Environmental Engineer and Team Leader with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water/Water Security Division. Steve
joined USEPA in 1996 where he has worked on a variety of regulatory, security, and technical assistance
programs supporting the drinking water sector. Currently Steve is the program manager for USEPA’s Water
Quality Surveillance and Response System program. Steve is a member of the American Water Works
Association. Education: B.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati; M.S. Environmental
Engineering, University of Cincinnati.
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Nelson Mix; U.S. EPA: Nelson Mix is an Environmental Engineer in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water/Water Security Division. Nelson joined USEPA in 1997 where he has
worked on a variety of emergency response, security, and technical assistance programs. Currently Nelson is
the leader for the Enhanced Security Monitoring and Customer Complaint Surveillance Components for USEPA’s
Water Quality Surveillance and Response System program. Nelson is also a US Public Health Service
commissioned officer. Education: B.S. Civil Engineering, Brigham Young University of Cincinnati; M.S. Civil
Engineering, University of New Mexico.
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Matt Umberg; U.S. EPA: Matt Umberg is an Environmental Engineer with the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water/Water Security Division. Since joining USEPA in 2010,
Matt has been a task lead for the Online Water Quality Monitoring component under the Water Quality
Surveillance and Response System program. Education: B.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of
Cincinnati; Master of Engineering degree in Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati.
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