Since 9/11
and there are still holes in the security of the nation’s infrastructure,
particularly for drinking water. This
security deficit is currently being addressed in some community water systems
with water monitoring instruments.
Detecting Radiation in drinking water |
In the 90s
the EPA developed a wish list for monitoring contaminants in drinking
water. Since that time biological and
chemical contaminants have been identified and monitoring sensors developed.
Radiological contaminants were also on the EPA list for detection but until now
real-time continuous monitoring has eluded water quality professionals.
Typically
testing for radiation in drinking water was performed every one to three years
with sample water extracted from the source and sent into a lab for evaluation.
This has been a lengthy process with significant lag time between the sample
extraction and evaluation test results.
If there should be a contamination event such as illegal dumping, a
transportation accident, or even a terrorist act, the entire city water
infrastructure would be irreparably contaminated long before it was discovered.
This process simply does not adequately protect the citizens or the water
infrastructure.
Voss
Associates recently tested a continuous real-time water monitor that detects
radionuclides. The instrument was found
to be able to identify isotope contamination at surprisingly low levels. Levels that not only met the EPA’s Protective
Action Guidelines (PAG) but detected levels down to clean drinking water
requirements which are much lower than the EPA’s PAG levels. This breakthrough instrumentation, the
NexGen-SSS is currently being put into service in Washington DC to protect its
citizens and the heart of our government.
By Penelope
Randall
Los Angeles
Comments
Post a Comment