NEWSLETTER SEPA

WATER CONTAMINANT INFORMATION TOOL, Winter 2022

Nominate a Contaminant

EPA continues to add content to WCIT. Several factors are
considered when determining which contaminants to add,
such as recent water contamination incidents and
suggestions from our stakeholders.

The WCIT team wants to hear from you! Which
contaminants do yon recommend to be added to WCIT?
Are there existing lab methods profiles you would like to
see expanded?

To make your voice heard, please email your
contaminant suggestion(s) with a short justification to
WCIT@epa.gov by April 30, 2022, with "nominate a
contaminant" in the subject line. Of course, you are
also welcome to email us at any time to offer other
suggestions or ask questions. Thank you for being a part
of the WCIT community!

WOT

HOMC | HHP | LM OUT

WATER CONTAMINANT INFORMATION TOOL

CONTAMINANT INDEX DATA

| Data module | Toon [ Feedback |

Compare Contaminants - Report

The contaminants you have selected are compared below. To remove a contaminant from this display, click the "X" above the
contaminant name. To select new criteria, click "MODIFY REPORT." To compare new contaminants, select "SELECT NEW
CONTAMINANTS." To view a printer-friendly version of this report, click "PRINT REPORT."

MODIFY REPORT

SELECT NEW CONTAMINANTS

PRINT REPORT

Data Element

X

X

X

Contaminant A

Contaminant B

Contaminant C

General Contaminant Information

Category

Organic

Biotoxin

Biotoxin

Subcategory(ies)

Non-volatile, Carbamate - urea

Biotoxin - Fungal

Biotoxin - Plant

Color of Pure Contaminant

White

colorless to pale yellow

Yellowish-white

Odor of Pure Contaminant

Sulfur-like

No data found

No data found

Threat Category(ies)

Environmental, Public Health

Environmental, Public Health

Environmental, Public Health,
Infrastructure

Physical Properties of Contaminants

Density

1.20 g/mL

No data found

No data found

Vapor Pressure

5.33 x 10"5 mm Hg

1.25 x 10~10 mm Hg

Negligible

Physical Form

Solid - crystal

Solid - crystal

Solid - powder

Inside
the

Database

Profile Comparison

Did you know that after you perform a
search in WCIT, you can compare
information from multiple contaminant
profiles on a single screen?

On the page that displays search results,
you'll see a checkbox to the left of each
contaminant name. Select between two
and four contaminants using these
checkboxes, and press "Compare
Contaminants." You can decide which
data elements you would like to include
in the comparison on the next screen.

Select "Generate Report," and the
information you requested will be
displayed in a tabular format. The
controls make it easy to drop
contaminants, select new contaminants,
show a different selection of data
elements (choose "Modify Report"),
and even print the results. You can also
jump directly to the complete profile of
any of the selected contaminants.

Whether you are researching an unknown
or known contaminant or developing an
exercise scenario, the ability to have a
side by side comparison of select
contaminants can be very helpful.

Now that you know about this
functionality, give it a try in your
next search.

Office of Water (4608T) • EPA 817-N-22-001 • Winter 2022


-------
WCIT Newsletter Winter 2022

/	WCIT, "One of the Most Powerful Tools"

in Tucson Water's Toolbox

The City of Tucson Water Department (TWD) oversees treatment at multiple drinking
water and wastewater facilities. This 723,000-customer utility has a state-certified
laboratory and monitors water quality at 200 wells, 61 reservoirs, 266 sampling
stations in the distribution system, and 125 selected homes throughout its service area.
Project Manager Dan Quintanar has been with Tucson Water for more than 17 years.
During that time, he has fostered a deep and collaborative relationship with the Water
Laboratory Alliance (WLA) Program. In 2016 he supported the WLA by piloting the
Analytical Preparedness Full-Scale Exercise Toolkit and in 2020 he hosted the WLA
Water Sector Emergency Response Planning workshop for Arizona.

According to Mr. Quintanar, "WCIT is one of the most powerful tools in our toolbox." He particularly
appreciates the easy navigation, the comprehensive information contained in the contaminant index, and the
additional features of the tool, such as the risk calculator, which he uses to aid in preparedness and response
exercises. He regularly uses WCIT for Tucson Water's annual training workshops and exercises and
references it as a resource. "Some other key uses for WCIT are the ability to determine sampling needs and
decide if outside laboratory support is needed, linking information used in determining the credibility of a
contamination incident, and as an after-incident resource."

As a veteran WCIT user, Mr. Quintanar offers two pieces of advice for new and long-time users:

•	Ensure your WCIT login information is current. Passwords need updating every 90 days. In an
emergency, you do not want to be waiting for a confirmation email to access the information you need.

•	Stay up to date with training. "It is important to incorporate WCIT training as a staple component in
emergency preparedness training and exercise in a utility's emergency preparedness program. Knowing
how to navigate WCIT and use the information . . . can become critically important during a response."

41"%

Dan Quintanar

BKiia

Behind the Scenes Work

Technology has changed significantly since WCIT was first
deployed in 2005. EPA has initiated a process to modernize the
WCIT interface. What does this mean for the WCIT community?
An updated interface will be compatible with smartphones and
tablets as well as laptops and desktops. Hence, users will be better
able to access the database in the field. Also, WCIT will have an
updated "look and feel" while still containing all current data and
allowing for future data updates.

As work progresses, the WCIT community will be kept informed.

Office of Water (4608T) • EPA 817-N-22-001 • Winter 2022


-------
WCIT Newsletter Winter 2022

WCIT Challenge

Read the scenario below and use WCIT to answer
the questions. (Log in at https://cdx.epa.gov/)

As the manager of a Public Water System
(PWS) that relies on a lake as the source
of your water, you learn that a potentially
Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) has been
observed in the lake. You are concerned
about the possible presence of the biotoxin
cylindrospennopsin.

1.	What USEPA-developed analytical
methods are available for the analysis
of cylindrospennopsin?

2.	Are these methods applicable to source
water, finished drinking water, or both?

3.	Can a laboratory obtain results within
a day of initiating the analysis using
these methods?

Send your answers to WCIT@epa.gov!
Congratulations to those who successfully completed
the Summer 2021 challenge.

WCIT Online Training

Whether you are new to WCIT, in need of a refresher,
or an experienced user who wants to learn how to get
more out of the resource, EPA has a training for you!

EPA offers two live webinar-based trainings every
quarter, each one hour long. "WCIT: Learning the
Basics" is an introductory training. Each session of
"WCIT: Becoming an Advanced User" goes into some
depth on one or two features of the application, to help
users develop their capabilities in a hands-on way.

To learn more or sign up for live trainings, visit the
WLA Learning Center website.



Office of Water (4608T) • EPA 817-N-22-001 • Winter 2022


-------