Open AccessResponding to Threats and Incidents of Intentional Drinking Water Contamination
Author(s) -
Allgeier Steven C.,
Magnuson Matthew L.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of contemporary water research and education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1936-704X
pISSN - 1936-7031
DOI - 10.1111/j.1936-704x.2004.mp129001004.x
Subject(s) - contamination , harm , circumstantial evidence , water contamination , vulnerability (computing) , environmental science , environmental planning , computer security , computer science , geography , psychology , ecology , social psychology , biology , archaeology
Summary All drinking water systems have some degree of vulnerability to contamination, and analysis shows that it is possible to contaminate drinking water at levels causing varying degrees of harm. Furthermore, experience indicates that the threat of contamination, overt or circumstantial, is probable. Thus, there is a clear need to address the contamination threat. While certain steps may be taken to reduce the vulnerabilities and prevent intentional contamination, it is impossible to completely eliminate this vulnerability, although a utility could spend a lot of resources trying to do so. Instead, it may be more effective to plan for responding to contamination threats that do arise.