AWWA WQTC71656

Linking quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) with drinking water system risk management provides a means to highlight research needs. Such an approach is argued here to be required before U.S. water agencies can fully develop a proactive approach to ensuring microbiologically safe drinking water. Various system QMRA examples are presented that illustrate deficiencies in the current reactive approach. Further, health-based targets and scenario testing is suggested to identify key management elements and relative risks for prioritizing future research to reduce information gaps. Includes 25 references, figures.