Strengthening Collaboration and Coordination for Effective Water Contamination Incident Support

Collaborative Efforts to Improve Environmental Monitoring
Oral Presentation

Prepared by P. Roumeliotis, V. Aponte-Morales
United States Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Mail Code 4608T, Washington, DC, 20460, United States


Contact Information: [email protected]; 202-564-1991

ABSTRACT

Around the nation, water utilities are seeing an increased need for emergency preparedness to all-hazards water contamination. Having a collaborative network of support can make or break a utility’s response to a water contamination incident. Laboratories play a key role in responding to drinking water emergencies, with effective and sustainable sampling and analysis programs critical to a successful response. To foster a collaborative, nationwide network of laboratories to assist utilities large and small with emergency water testing, the Water Laboratory Alliance (WLA) was formed. Its aim is to build connections between utilities and water laboratories that can assist in chemical, biological, or radiological water testing that a utility doesn’t otherwise have the capacity to test. However, mutual aid of all forms can benefit from the expansive network of WLA including emergency managers, on-scene coordinators, first responders, state and local government officials, and public health officials.

This presentation will give an overview of EPA’s WLA program, including information about the benefits it brings to laboratories and other network members, available resources and technical support, and our collaborations with other organizations such as the Integrated Consortium of Laboratory Networks. These opportunities for collaboration take many forms, including developing best practice guidance, working together to develop capabilities, and testing emergency protocols. By joining the WLA, members gain visibility and increased credibility as part of a nationwide laboratory network. Members benefit from building relationships that are essential for effective emergency response and from opportunities that identify potential improvements to their internal standard operating procedures.