(389b) Measuring Contaminant Accumulation in Water Distribution Systems

This paper describes the development and application of methodologies for detecting and measuring chemical and biological contaminants within water supply systems, including piping, fittings and fixtures. A particular emphasis is on measuring the accumulation of contaminants in water, on substrates in contact with the water, the interactions between the water/contaminant fluid and the piping system materials, deposits and biofilms, and verifying the effectiveness of decontamination procedures. Some of the measurement methods investigated include fluorescence intensity and imaging, dispersive Raman, gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer, and ion-selective electrodes. The implications of the capabilities of these measurement methodologies on the development of potential in situ sensors are discussed.