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Philadelphia Gets $2M For Water Safety System
  
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By John P. Connolly, The Bulletin
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gave Philadelphia a $2 million grant for the city to use in a water security program, serving as a model for other cities.
The money, which will go to a contamination warning system, and to develop a consequence-monitoring program, is the first installment of hat could be larger grants in the future. Philadelphia was one of five cities to receive the EPA grant.
As the city receives additional funding, the scope of the project will expand to include sampling analysis, customer complaint surveillance, enhanced security monitoring and public health surveillance. These five active monitoring and surveillance signal components will enhance contamination warning capabilities and the development of a consequence management plan for responding to potential contamination events. Upon project completion, Philadelphia will model its results for other cities so that they may adopt the best practices developed here.
“We are honored that the EPA has recognized that excellence service of the Philadelphia Water Department and has chosen them to be one of five cities in the nation selected to develop a system that will enhance the protection of our drinking water system,” said Mayor Michael Nutter. “This project is an example of the federal and city governments working together to better protect Philadelphia and its citizens.”
“Philadelphia was selected for this pilot because of its existing water quality protection programs and its commitment to put in place the complex systems needed to increase water security,” said William T. Wisniewski, the EPA’s acting administrator for the mid-Atlantic region.
The Contamination Warning System will focus on detecting and, in some cases preventing, contamination of the drinking water distribution system. Communication and coordination between city and other governmental entities will include the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Office of Emergency Management and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
The other cities selected for the program include New York, San Francisco, Dallas and Cincinnati.
The Water Department received vital support from Philadelphia’s congressional delegation in acquiring this significant grant. It has also received tireless assistance from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.
“We all start our day with drinking water — for brushing teeth, at the breakfast table, in our coffee or tea — and knowing that the water in Philadelphia is safe and contamination-free is nothing to take for granted,” said U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-2nd. “I’m pleased that as a member of the House Appropriations Committee I have been in a position to support and fund EPA as it guards our environment and advances this vital project for protecting our city’s water supply.”
Over 2,000 men and women work for the Philadelphia Water Department to deliver safe drinking water to more than 1.6 million consumers in the City of Philadelphia.
John P. Connolly can be reached at jconnolly@thebulletin.us
The money, which will go to a contamination warning system, and to develop a consequence-monitoring program, is the first installment of hat could be larger grants in the future. Philadelphia was one of five cities to receive the EPA grant.
As the city receives additional funding, the scope of the project will expand to include sampling analysis, customer complaint surveillance, enhanced security monitoring and public health surveillance. These five active monitoring and surveillance signal components will enhance contamination warning capabilities and the development of a consequence management plan for responding to potential contamination events. Upon project completion, Philadelphia will model its results for other cities so that they may adopt the best practices developed here.
“We are honored that the EPA has recognized that excellence service of the Philadelphia Water Department and has chosen them to be one of five cities in the nation selected to develop a system that will enhance the protection of our drinking water system,” said Mayor Michael Nutter. “This project is an example of the federal and city governments working together to better protect Philadelphia and its citizens.”
“Philadelphia was selected for this pilot because of its existing water quality protection programs and its commitment to put in place the complex systems needed to increase water security,” said William T. Wisniewski, the EPA’s acting administrator for the mid-Atlantic region.
The Contamination Warning System will focus on detecting and, in some cases preventing, contamination of the drinking water distribution system. Communication and coordination between city and other governmental entities will include the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Office of Emergency Management and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
The other cities selected for the program include New York, San Francisco, Dallas and Cincinnati.
The Water Department received vital support from Philadelphia’s congressional delegation in acquiring this significant grant. It has also received tireless assistance from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.
“We all start our day with drinking water — for brushing teeth, at the breakfast table, in our coffee or tea — and knowing that the water in Philadelphia is safe and contamination-free is nothing to take for granted,” said U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-2nd. “I’m pleased that as a member of the House Appropriations Committee I have been in a position to support and fund EPA as it guards our environment and advances this vital project for protecting our city’s water supply.”
Over 2,000 men and women work for the Philadelphia Water Department to deliver safe drinking water to more than 1.6 million consumers in the City of Philadelphia.
John P. Connolly can be reached at jconnolly@thebulletin.us
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