AWWA JAW64266

At a time when the safety and security of services we have typically taken for granted are under question, a real-time or near real-time method of monitoring changes in water quality parameters could provide a critical line of defense in protecting public health. This study was undertaken to determine the feasibility of using water quality sensors as part of a contaminant warning system. Commercially available water quality sensors are capable of triggering a contamination warning system using standard water quality parameters. When contaminants are injected into a water line, they cause the water quality parameters such as chlorine and total organic carbon to change. These changes are the mechanism that can be used to detect the presence of contaminants. The result of this research supports the dual benefit of adding on-line water quality monitoring to the distribution system, thereby improving both security and water quality. Includes 18 references, tables, figures.