Full-Scale Drinking Water System Decontamination at the Water Security Test Bed

Journal Article · 01 December 2017 · Journal - American Water Works Association

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5942/jawwa.2017.109.0141 · OSTI ID:1411733

Szabo, Jeffrey ^[1]; Hall, John ^[1]; Reese, Stephen ^[2]; Goodrich, Jim ^[1]; Panguluri, Sri ^[3]; Meiners, Greg ^[3]; Ernst, Hiba ^[1]

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1. US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Cincinnati, OH (United States)
2. Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
3. CB&I Federal Services LLC, Cincinnati, OH (United States)

The US Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA's) Water Security Test Bed (WSTB) facility is a full-scale representation of a drinking water distribution system. In collaboration with the Idaho National Laboratory, USEPA designed the WSTB facility to support full-scale evaluations of water infrastructure, premise plumbing, and appliance decontamination. Thus far, USEPA's research has focused on decontamination of Bacillus globigii (BG) spores, a nonpathogenic surrogate for Bacillus anthracis, and Bakken crude oil. Flushing and disinfection effectively removed 7–8 log₁₀ BG spores from the bulk water, but only 2–3 log₁₀ from the pipe wall coupons. Bakken crude oil components were then removed from distribution pipe and premise plumbing water by flushing, although 55% of the injected oil components persisted in the dishwasher and refrigerator water dispenser. Using the WSTB facility allows USEPA to test contaminants without any human health or ecological risk and to inform water systems on effective methodologies for responding to contamination incidents.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States); CB&I Federal Services LLC, Cincinnati, OH (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE); USEPA Office of Research and Development (ORD) National Homeland Security Research Center (NHSRC)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC07-05ID14517; DW‐89‐92381801; EP‐C‐14‐012
• OSTI ID: 1411733
• Report Number(s): INL/JOU-17-42028
• Journal Information: Journal - American Water Works Association, Vol. 109, Issue 12; ISSN 1551-8833
• Publisher: American Water Works AssociationCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English