The goal of the Water Quality Monitoring Systems is to demonstrate a prototype system with the ability to monitor the safety and quality for many sources of drinking water (in real time) from a centralized location.

The Water Quality Monitoring project recently completed a successful prototype demonstration on July 28, 2006. The prototype systems most important operational capabilities were evidenced, including automatic network recovery, real-time contaminant detection, and low level contamination detection. The Prototype system will be developed further into a fully operational demonstration, ultimately making it possible to monitor the safety and quality for many sources of drinking water (in real time) from a centralized location.

The project IS funded through CALIFORNIA SPACE AUTHORITY (CSA’s) California Space Infrastructure Program (CSIP), and is being led by CSA member Frontier Technology Incorporated (FTI), in conjunction with the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) and the Los Angeles Metropolitan Water District (MWD). Also contributing to the project is a panel of water safety experts convened by CSA consisting of top level representatives from the USENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, Battelle Laboratories, and the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Department.

This interim demonstration was conducted using sensor arrays that have been installed at locations within CCWD and MWD facilities. These sensor arrays are networked to a centralized data center where data can be monitored for anomalous events using statistical software developed by FTI. The data center is structured to autonomously detect events and notify the appropriate water district, law enforcement, homeland security, or other appropriate personnel. Once notified, the anomalous sample is collected and tested for the presence of harmful contaminants.

By assembling a network of terrestrial and satellite communications technologies, the system is capable of providing a continuous stream of data even in the event that the terrestrial portions of the network are rendered inoperable. It is anticipated that by demonstrating this advanced capability, the project can be replicated at additional sites in order to significantly advance the nation’s capability to protect drinking water from harmful contaminants.