vxEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Water Laboratory Alliance
A Drinking Water Utility Perspective
Overview The EPA Water Laboratory Alliance (WLA)
provides the Water Sector, including drinking water
utilities, with an integrated, nationwide network of
laboratories. The WLA provides the capability to analyze
water samples in the event of water supply contamination
involving chemical, biological, or radiochemical (CBR)
contaminants. The WLA focuses solely on water and is
an integral part of the EPA's Environmental Response
Laboratory Network (ERLN).
The WLA is composed
of public health,
environmental, find
select commercial
laboratories, f
Benefits to Water Utilities
Water utilities that become members of the WLA will be
provided with critical analytical support before, during,
and after a potential contamination incident. The WLA
affords many benefits to water utilities, such as:
• Improved preparedness for emergency response
• Improved communications with support laboratories
to help address emerging analytical and logistical
challenges
In addition, WLA members have priority access to:
• Emergency response exercises
• Water security-related training opportunities
• Laboratory support for contaminant analyses exceed-
ing in-house capabilities or capacity
• Access to validated analytical methods for unregulat-
ed contaminants of concern to Water Sector utilities
WLA Launch & Membership
WLA launched the first phase of membership solicita-
tion in Fall 2009. The WLA launch coincides with the
second phase roll-out of the ERLN. During this phase,
laboratories that are accepted as ERLN members and
also are certified to analyze water samples will be con-
sidered for membership in the WLA. For more informa-
tion on becoming an ERLN/WLA member please see
http://www.epa.gov/oamsrpod/ersc/ERLN2/index.htm.
EPA Laboratory-Related
Tools, Resources, &
Projects
EPA Compendium of Environmen-
tal Testing Laboratories (CETL or
Laboratory Compendium)
TheLaboratoryCompendium (http://epa.
gov/compendium) is a secure, Web-
based tool that provides users, with real-
time data related to laboratory contact,
capability, and capacity information.
National Environmental Methods
Index for Chemical, Biological &
Radiological Methods (NEMI-CBR)
NEMI-CBR (http://cfpub.epa.gov/safe
water/watersecurity/nemi-cbr.cfm) is a
secure Web-based tool that displays,
summarizes, and allows easy compari-
son of methods for contaminants of con-
cern. NEMI-CBR is an excellent resource
for drinking water utilities, emergency
responders, and laboratories and can be
used for training, as well as facilitating
the immediate rapid and comprehensive
response required during a water con-
tamination event.
Office of Water (4608-T) | EPA 817-F-09-007 | October 2009 | www.epa.gov/safewater
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Water Laboratory Alliance A Drinking Water Utility Perspective
WLA Response Plan
(WLA-RP), Exercises, and
Training
The WLA-Response Plan (WLA-RP) establishes a
comprehensive, national laboratory response approach
to water contamination events that covers a spectrum of
activities including utility and laboratory preparedness.
response, remediation, and recovery. In an effort to sup-
port Water Sector preparedness, the WLA and its part-
ners conduct full-scale exercises (FSEs) that test emer-
gency response procedures and provide opportunities to
practice multi-regional coordination during large-scale
incidents involving drinking water utilities.
FSEs generally include participants from:
• Drinking water utilities
• EPA Regions
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• State public health and environmental laboratories
• First responders
• Law enforcement
These multi-regional FSEs allow participants to prac-
tice procedures to support incidents including initial
response, communication and coordination, sampling
and analysis strategies, actual sample analyses and data
reporting.
In addition, EPA provides training to support utility and
laboratory preparedness on an ongoing basis (e.g., Lab-
oratory Chain of Custody and Evidence Preservation).
CONTACT US:
For additional information on the Water
Laboratory Alliance, please contact
WLA@epa.gov or see http://cfpub.epa.
gov/saf ewater/watersecu rity/wla .cf m.
• Water Contamination Information
Tool (WCIT)
WCIT (http://www.epa.gov/wcit) is a pass-
word-protected online database with infor-
mation on 93 CBR contaminants of concern
that may pose serious threats if introduced
into drinking water and wastewater systems.
WCIT provides drinking water-specific data
compiled in a single location that can be ac-
cessed and used by the Water Sector to plan
for and respond to drinking water contami-
nation incidents.
• Sampling Guidance for Unknown
Contaminants in Drinking Water
The EPASampling Guidance document (http:
//cf pub, epa.gov/safewater/watersecurity/
wla.cfm) provides utilities with comprehen-
sive guidance that integrates sample collec-
tion, preservation, and transport procedures
to support multiple analytical approaches
for the detection and identification of po-
tential contaminants in drinking water.
• Large Volume Sample
Concentration for Select Biological
Agent and Toxin Analyses
The WLA currently relies on CDC's Labora-
tory Response Network (LRN) for concen-
tration and analysis of select agents and
toxins from large volumes (10-100 liters)
of drinking water using an LRN ultrafiltra-
tion protocol, which requires transport of
large-volume samples from the utility to
the laboratory. EPA and CDC are devel-
oping Quality Control (QC) criteria for the
ultrafiltration portion of this LRN protocol.
These criteria will enhance capacity for se-
lect agent and toxin analyses in water and
help ensure the Water Sector's ability to re-
spond to potential drinking water contami-
nation events.
In addition, EPA's National Homeland Secu-
rity Research Center (NHSRC) and CDC are
evaluating a field-portable ultrafiltration
device to assist utilities in on-site sample
concentration, which will permit transport
of small volume retentates (1 liter or less)
for laboratory analyses.
Office of Water (4608-T) | EPA 817-F-09-007 | October 2009 | www.epa.gov/safewater
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