lA/riT NEWSLETTER q CDA
If if I WATER CONTAMINANT INFORMATION TOOL, Summer 2022 l^mU
WCIT Modernization
The new and modernized WCIT is now live! The
user interface has been redesigned to improve
navigation and allow for access from mobile
devices. The core functions of WCIT that users
rely on will continue alongside additional
enhancements, including customizable print
reports, expanded profile comparison capabilities,
and an improved "Other Resources" module.
Further enhancements are expected in the
upcoming months and users are encouraged to
explore the new database and submit any
feedback to the WCIT team.
v>ERA
United Stales
Environmental Protection
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WCIT
Water Contaminant Information Tool
A one-stop reference tool on contaminants of concern for the Water Sector
About WCIT
EPA's water Contaminant Information tool (WCIT) is a secure database
of information on priority contaminants (or dunking water and
wastewater security. It contains data that will assist in planning lot and
responding to drinking water contamination threats and incidents. As a
planning tool, WCIT is meant to support vulnerability assessments,
emergency response plans, and site-specific response guidelines. As a
ie tool, WCII is designed to provkic real-time information on
ct contaminants to Worm resposne decisions.
WCIT may help some users narrow the potential candidates (or a
speefk contaminant that has been identified or is suspected, but is not
designed to be a reliable, definitive means of identifying an unknown
substance.
WCIT is intended for use by water utilities. EPA Program Offices and
Regions, other Federal organisations. State drinking water programs,
public health officials, environmental laboratories, emergency first
respondcrs, and technical assistance providers. Data are for official use
only. Please do not cite, quote or distribute.
What's New?
o The Summer 2021 WCI t newsletter has bt
posted on the EPA website:
erconl
I informalkin toai-wciL
i A new full profile has been added to the
WCIT database, for tenia nyl.
> State and Local emergency response
agencies arc now eligblo for access to WCIT!
¦ Check out the updated list of external
resources (under Tools in the main menu).
> EPA periodically offers WCIf training
sessions. Visit
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Inside
the
Database
Information Officer Report
Need to quickly gather pertinent information on a
contaminant for a media report or to prepare a briefing
for response partners? Consider using WCIT's
Information Officer Reports, which are provided in
every comprehensive profile.
The Information Officer Report presents basic
information about a contaminant and relevant
considerations for the Water Sector. The report is
intended for use as a reference when communicating
with the public, media, administrators, and response
partners during emergency response.
How can you access this report? At the top of each
comprehensive profile, you will find three links that
allow users to access additional features within the
profile. The Information Officer Report can be
accessed through the second of the three links.
E ViA United States
kVupMZl Environmental Protection
X^L.1 Agency
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CONTACT WCIT | CONTACT CD:
Office of Water (4608T) • EPA 817-N-22-002 • Summer 2022
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WCIT Newsletter Summer 2022
New Profile in the Database:
Pathogenic Leptospira
In July 2022, the comprehensive profile Pathogenic
Leptospira was added to WCIT. Pathogenic Leptospira are
responsible for leptospirosis, a waterborne disease in animals
and humans that is an emerging public health threat.
Symptoms of leptospirosis range from mild flu-like
symptoms to meningitis and meningoencephalitis. Globally,
there are an estimated 350,000-500,000 severe cases each
year. Leptospirosis can be transmitted via contaminated
drinking water, recreational water, and animal vectors. The
risk of exposure increases significantly after heavy rainfall
events, which can mobilize the pathogen, and droughts,
which can concentrate the pathogen in limited water supplies.
The Pathogenic Leptospira profile contains information on a
wide range of topics, including medical information, early
warning indicators, drinking water and wastewater treatment,
and much more. EPA will continue developing WCIT
profiles, and we value your input on which contaminants
are of greatest concern. Please reach out to the WCIT
team at WCIT@epa.gov with your contaminant
nominations!
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.
> Learning the Basics - provides an introductory
overview of WCIT.
> Becoming an Advanced User - provides in-depth
training on features within WCIT, 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-22-002 • Summer 2022
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WCIT Newsletter Summer 2022
"A Powerful Tool for Any Event"
Wilbur (Willie) Frehner is the Principal
Laboratory Scientist in the Microbiology
section at the Southern Nevada Water
Authority (SNWA). He leverages a strong
relationship with the EPA Water Laboratory
Alliance (WLA) to help ensure that the
SNWA is prepared to provide uninterrupted
service to its 2.2 million water and
wastewater customers. Mr. Frehner has been
an active WCIT user since 2019 and has used
WCIT in the context of both full-scale
exercises and real contamination incidents.
In early 2019, the SNWA used the WLA's Analytical Preparedness
Full-Scale Exercise toolkit to conduct a practice incident. WCIT was
used as a reference in the planning of the exercise, and it was also
used by participants during the exercise to support decontamination,
medical treatment, and communications with the public. In October
of 2019, shortly after conducting the exercise, there was a
legionellosis outbreak at the nearby Rawson-Neal Psychiatric
Hospital. The hospital shut off their water internally to deal with the
problem. Although the problem did not originate in the public water
system, the news media contacted the SNWA for comment. The
SNWA Public Information Department quickly needed talking points
about Legionella, and Mr. Frehner was able to help by downloading
and sharing with his communications colleagues the WCIT
Information Officer Report for Legionella. The Information Officer
Report is designed to provide concise and consistent information that
can be used to brief administrators, the media, and the public.
In his experience with WCIT, Mr. Frehner has seen that people
sometimes do not realize they are eligible to use the tool. He
encourages lab personnel in particular to apply. "| WC IT' | really is a
powerful tool for any event . . . don't wait to get access." And Mr.
Frehner recommends taking full advantage of WCIT by staying
current with new WCIT trainings. "Become familiar and utilize the
features,55 he urges.
WCIT Challenge
Read the scenario below and use
WCIT to answer the questions. (Log
in at https://cdx.epa.gov/)
There has been an outbreak of
leptospirosis in your community.
Log into WCIT and use the
Information Officer Report for
Pathogenic Leptospira to
compose a briefing that answers
the following questions:
1. How is leptospirosis
spread?
2. Can Leptospira survive in
water for an extended
period of time?
3. How serious is the
disease?
4. How soon do symptoms
start after exposure?
5. Can boiling be effective
for preventing spread by
drinking water?
Send your answers to
WClT@epa.gov!
Congratulations to those readers who
successfully completed the Winter
2022 challenge.
Office of Water (4608T) • EPA 817-N-22-002 • Summer 2022
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