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Improving Water Utilities' Access to Source Water Protection and Emergency Response Data
Author(s) -
Benjamin Jennifer,
Smith Emily,
Kearns Margaret,
Rosen Jeffrey,
Stevens Kristyn
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.5942/jawwa.2018.110.0018
Subject(s) - water source , business , clean water act , water infrastructure , water resources , water utility , cloud computing , data access , data source , water security , water supply , environmental planning , environmental science , computer science , environmental resource management , computer security , water resource management , water quality , database , environmental engineering , ecology , biology , operating system
Many data critical for the development of source water protection and emergency planning are currently unusable from a lack of data standards, poor data management, and misguided regulatory interpretation related to data access for water utilities. In an effort to enable drinking water utilities to develop more responsive source water protection plans and emergency response programs, relevant data were mined and integrated into a live, cloud‐based geographic information system called WaterSuite. More than 457 data sets and contaminant information for 1,347 chemicals and mixtures were successfully acquired for use in WaterSuite and contributed to source water protection efforts of 102 US water systems. Given their role as the primary stewards of drinking water for their respective communities, water utilities and those acting on their behalf should have access to these data. Significant barriers to these data and recommendations for improvement through setting of standards and regulatory reform are discussed.