Getting More from Your Investment Using Water Security Monitoring Technology for Everyday Operations

Since 9/11 numerous communities have installed multi-parameter monitoring stations in the distribution system as early warning systems for potential water security threats. These systems have recorded large streams of data relevant to water quality in the distribution systems. In this study data streams from a number of communities are analyzed for pertinent information as to the health and operation of the distribution system. Changes in water quality are correlated with known causes attributable to day-to-day operational changes and also anomalous events (pipe bursts, accidental back flows, cross connections, chemical over feeds, treatment plant problems, nitrification events, etc.). Information concerning what action was taken to ameliorate the problem will also be linked to the data for the identified events. We will need to consider databases such as this before we determine the best course of action to ensure our water supplies meet acceptable levels of safety from source to tap.