&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
About Us
Our mission: The Distribution System Research
Consortium (DSRC) is dedicated to the advancement of
science, technology and research to protect drinking water dis-
tribution systems from terrorist threats.
The DSRC is an EPA-led, national organization made up of member federal partners (e.g. U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Defense, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
Department of Energy) and non-governmental groups such as the American Water Works Association
Research Foundation. DSRC interacts with academia and industry through its Technical Working
Groups.
Rationale
Safe water for drinking, bathing, and industrial use is essentialto our quality of life. In 1998, Presidential
Decision Directive 63 designated EPA as the lead federal agency for protecting the nation's water sup-
ply from intentional attacks. The President's 2002 National Strategy for Homeland Security reiterated
this charge, and the Agency responded with its Strategic Plan for Homeland Security (September, 2002),
addressing homeland security needs through research, technology verification, and guidance for water
systems.
In 2002, EPA began work on its Research and Technical Support Action Plan for Water Security by
convening two meetings to identify the security needs of our nation's water utilities. Federal partners,
water utilities, emergency responders, public health officials, law enforcement, and local public officials
participated in the meetings. These meetings highlighted the water community's interest in better under-
standing potential threats to water distribution systems.
While the federal responsibility for water security rests with EPA, numerous organizations, both gov-
ernment and private, are directly involved in addressing water security issues or have special expertise
that can be utilized. EPA asked a number of these organizations to join in forming the DSRC. The DSRC
will address important research and technology issues in water security. The DSRC provides a central
point of contact for the Department of Homeland Security regarding water security research issues
focused on distribution systems.
The DSRC member organizations bring together expertise in water contaminant monitoring and sensing,
water systems engineering, distribution systems modeling, decontamination technology, contaminant
fate and transport, and waterborne diseases. By working as a team, the DSRC will leverage the broad
expertise and unique facilities of its member organizations, addressing water security research needs
and ensuring the safety and security of the nation's water distribution systems.
Q
DC
Q
Z
Q
LU
I —
LT
O
CO
LU
DC
LU
U- <
*&
LU
POSTAG
co
6
6
Z
H
DC
LU
Q.
O
° w E
-* Q
2= -0
-5 c s
m — c
s», 3 M t: *
A ~w O 0 ffi
J? "5 £ E.g
o en eg =: ^~
§•§ •£ M O
Illll
il{8.|
|l |g H
CC Q. o.m Q.
tf
S §
i ?
O o
CO J3
^ B
LU O
-------
Research Activities '• Organizational Structure Technical Work Groups Member Organizations and Contacts
and Products
O Providing solutions and technical support
across five focus areas relevant to drinking
water distribution systems:
- Monitoring and Detection
- Early Alert and Warning Systems
- Systems Modeling
- Water Treatment Systems
- Decontamination
O Developing short- and long-term solutions to
help safeguard water distribution systems.
O Communicating and transferring information
to assist drinking water utilities, states,
researchers, policy makers, risk assessors,
the public health community, and others
needing guidance or research on protecting
water distribution systems.
Operating Principles
Exchange knowledge and information
among members.
^r Obtain support through sharing expertise,
laboratory facilities, computing capabilities,
equipment, and data.
Deliver targeted products to water
security customers.
v',
Maximize use of unique facilities of
member organizations.
Minimize duplication of effort.
Coordinate complementary work.
Guide research to meet the needs of
water utilities.
The Distribution System Research Consortium
(DSRC) is composed of a Steering Committee;
a Science, Technology, and Research
Committee; and Technical Work Groups.
The Steering Committee consists of one
individual from each member organization. The
Steering Committee is in charge of the
efficient administration of the Consortium,
including representing the Consortium to, and
coordinating with, the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS).
The Steering Committee is chaired by the Water
Security Team Leader within EPA's National
Homeland Security Research Center and co-
chaired by a representative from the Water
Security Division of EPA's Office of Water.
Additional member organizations will be added to
the Consortium as appropriate.
The Science, Technology, and Research
Committee is composed of the leads and
co-leads of each Technical Work Group, plus one
representative from the Steering Committee. The
Science, Technology, and Research Committee
is charged with setting broad research goals and
coordinating research across the Technical Work
Groups.
Technical Work Groups
Composed of consortium members and repre-
sentatives from academia and industry, Technical
Work Groups coordinate research and develop-
ment in five focus areas:
O Monitoring and Detection - Investigates dis-
tribution system sensors that detect a broad
spectrum or specific chemical and biological
contaminants. Improves field and laboratory
procedures and response protocols to confirm
the presence or absence of contamination in
distribution systems.
O Early Alert and Warning Systems -
Develops and evaluates real-time hardware
and software systems and procedures that
provide early warning of drinking water distri-
bution system contamination.
O Systems Modeling - Improves models for
hydraulics and water quality monitoring in
water distribution systems to assess their vul-
nerability. Develops early warning systems,
improves utility operations, and supports
decontamination efforts.
O Water Treatment - Explores conventional and
innovative treatment techniques for chemical
and biological contaminants to safeguard
drinking water quality and address water dis-
posal concerns.
O Decontamination - Identifies and develops
effective techniques and protocols for decon-
taminating piping systems that contain chemi-
cal and biological contaminants.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, (U.S. EPA) \
National Homeland Security
Research Center \
Jonathan Herrmann, herrmann.jonathan@epa.gov
Robert Janke, janke.robert@epa.gov
U.S. EPA, Water Security Division
Grace Robiou, robiou.grace@epa.gov
U.S. EPA, Standards and Risk Management Division
Kenneth Rotert, rotert.kenneth@epa.gov
U.S. EPA, Health and Ecological Criteria Division
Jafrul Hasan, hasan.jafrul@epa.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC)
National Center for Infectious Diseases
Dennis Juranek, djuranek@cdc.gov
CDC, National Center for Environmental Health
Rick Gelling, rug7@cdc.gov
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineering Research
and Development Center
Kirankumar Topudurti, K-topudurti@cecer.army.mil
Department of Homeland Security
Lance Brooks, lance.brooks@dhs.gov
U.S. Air Force, Wright Patterson AFB
Scott Hall, scott.hall@wpafb.af.mil
U.S. Army, Edgewood Chemical
Biological Center \
Irv Baumel, irwin.baumel@us.army.mil
U.S. Geological Survey \
Eric Vowinkel, vowinkel@usgs.gov
U.S. Navy, Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center \
Ernest Lory, ernie.lory@navy.mil
Awwa Research Foundation
Rick Karlin, rkarlin@awwarf.org
Department of Energy, (DOE)
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Nina Rosenberg, rosenberg4@llnl.gov
DOE, Los Alamos National Laboratory \
Penny Hitchcock, pennyh@lanl.gov
DOE, Sandia National Laboratories
Ray Finley, refinle@sandia.gov
For More Information, Please Contact:
Jonathan Herrmann or Robert Janke
National Homeland Security Research Center
Office of Research and Development
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
26 W. Martin Luther King Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45268
------- |