|
DWSP Partnership Home
Pathogens
New Contaminants
Disinfection By-products
Early Warning/Emergency Response
Calendar of Events
How You Can Help
Contact DWSP Partnership
About the Logo
|
Pathogens
Pathogens are microbes such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa
that cause disease. Pathogens may enter sources of drinking
water from fecal matter in sewage treatment plant discharges,
leaking septic systems, and storm water runoff from animal
feedlots and other areas.
The protozoa, cryptosporidium (“crypto”)
may be found in drinking water and recreational water in every
region of the US and throughout the world. Crypto
was identified as a contaminant of concern in all of the Source
Water Assessments of the Washington , DC metropolitan area
water suppliers. Cryptosporidium oocysts (infectious
stage of the organism) are resistant to disinfection by chlorination
and cause severe diarrhea in healthy individuals –and
potentially life-threatening problems for people with compromised
immune systems. The Partnership is investigating improvements
in sampling, detection, and control of crypto in
the Potomac basin.
Partnership
activities
Related
activities by Partnership members and participating organizations
-
Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin
(ICPRB) provides quick information to water utilities
on how and when a contaminant release may have an impact
on their source water . When notified by local or state
authorities of a contaminant spill into the Potomac River
or one of its tributaries, ICPRB uses the RiverSpill computer
simulation model to estimate the times at which downstream
water supply intakes may be affected, and informs affected
water utilities.
-
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
(MWCOG) has developed a Regional Emergency Coordination
Plan, which includes a Public Works and Engineering component
(R-ESF #3) [http://www.mwcog.org/security/security/plan.asp#3]
to facilitate communication and coordination among jurisdictions
concerning regional water supply, wastewater, and solid
waste during and after a potential or actual regional
emergency.
More
information about emergency response/early warning systems:
Contamination
Warning Systems for Water , by J.A. Roberson and K.M.
Morley, American Water Works Association, 2005.
RiverSpill:
A National Application for Drinking Water Protection
For more information about the DWSP Partnership, please contact
Cherie Schultz at
(301) 984-1908 ext.120.
|
