EPA Expands Online Database On Water Contaminants
On Dec. 6, EPA announced the expansion of the Water Contaminant Information Tool (WCIT), a secure, online database profiling chemical, biological and radiological contaminants of concern for drinking water and wastewater utilities. This tool assists water utilities, public health officials and federal, state and local agencies to better plan for and respond to intentional or accidental contamination events.
Launched in November 2005, WCIT includes both regulated and non-regulated contaminants and provides current, reliable data from peer-reviewed reports and research. The system includes general information for 93 contaminants and now has additional information in four new data categories: drinking water treatment, wastewater treatment, environmental impacts and infrastructure decontamination.
As a planning tool, WCIT supports vulnerability assessments, emergency response plans and site-specific response guidelines. As a response tool, WCIT provides contaminant data to help responders (including utilities) make appropriate response decisions. WCIT also helps EPA to identify gaps in contaminant data, which will, in turn, help inform future research efforts.
Access to WCIT data is password protected, and qualified individuals must apply to EPA and undergo screening before being granted access. Currently eligible for access are drinking water and wastewater utilities, state drinking water primacy agencies and laboratories, drinking water and wastewater associations partnering with EPA, state and local public health officials, and federal officials.
To apply for access to WCIT, visit http://www.epa.gov/wcit.