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 ------- 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 ------- |