In the event of potential intentional contamination of drinking water, the risk to public health must be minimised, requiring confirmation of contamination, and, if possible, identification of the contaminant. A crucial step is to determine in the shortest possible time the type of contaminant.
This review, developed within the framework of guidance for the production of a Water Security Plan (Teixeira et al. 2019), aims to help water utilities, laboratories and other stakeholders improve their analytical capacities to identify unknown contaminants in drinking water. An insight on sampling procedures in emergency situations is followed by a proposed approach for the use of non-targeted technologies to determine both toxicity and ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate). Toxicity analysis quickly detects toxic chemical contaminants, while the measurement of the ATP is a first indicator of a contamination by microorganisms.
The non-target technologies to determine toxicity and ATP in water that comply with the required characteristics for emergency response, i.e. quick, reliable, and easy to operate, are available now in the market, and could be adopted by most drinking water utilities and/or laboratories, in conjunction with the establishment of appropriate sampling capabilities.
The subsequent step of contaminant identification requires the application of rapid analytical targeted technologies, such as immunological based methods, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing technologies, as well as field analysis by gas chromatography (GC/MS). These targeted technologies are based on tests available on the market with the focus on rapidness and reliability of results.
The commercially available analytical tools and methodologies that detect and identify a chemical or biological contaminant are reviewed through a detailed description of the equipment, including the technology, equipment prices, testing cost, expected time to obtain a result, reagents and respective shelf-time and manufacturers. Information is provided on proficiency tests for analysis of unknown contamination events in drinking water that ensure the external quality control of the analytical process.
To assist utilities and laboratories in their consideration of targeted and non-targeted technologies, an approach for identifying water contaminants in emergency situations is proposed comprising a series of steps of analysis to be adapted by each water utility in line with its business goals and risk assessment.
This review of analytical technologies aims at supporting water utilities, laboratories, health authorities and other stakeholders in planning responses to emergency events in drinking water quality, in particular to enhance the rapid identification of unknown water contaminants. Consideration of these technologies, within the framework of a Water Security Plan, along with appropriate planning and protection measures, will enable water utilities to better respond to unexpected drinking water contaminations.
COELHO Maria Rosario;
BATLLE RIBAS Montserrat;
COIMBRA Maria Fátima;
GIANNOPOULOS Georgios;
CARDARILLI Monica;
2020-06-08
Publications Office of the European Union
JRC119994
978-92-76-16407-4 (online),
1831-9424 (online),
EUR 30101 EN,
OP KJ-NA-30101-EN-N (online),
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC119994,
10.2760/71247 (online),
