Drinking water distribution systems in the U.S. are vulnerable to episodic contamination
events (both unintentional and intentional). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(USEPA) is conducting research to investigate the use of broad-spectrum online toxicity
monitors (OTMs) in distribution systems. This research was conducted at the Early
Warning Systems Laboratory (EWSL) located at the USEPA's Test and Evaluation (T&E)
Facility in Cincinnati, Ohio and is part of ongoing OTM research for source water
monitoring and watershed management. The data collected by the OTMs provides water
quality managers with continuous, time-relevant information regarding water quality
status. For the purposes of this testing, a pilot-scale distribution system simulator (DSS)
available at the USEPA T&E Facility collocated with the EWSL in Cincinnati, Ohio was
used. Contaminants were injected into the distribution system and a sample line from the
distribution system was connected to two OTMs to monitor their responses. Specifically,
this paper presents the responses of luminescence bacteria Vibrio fischeri (as contained in
the microLAN Toxcontrol system) and fish Pimephales promelas (as contained in the bbe
Moldaenke ToxProtect system) to two toxic contaminants: sodium fluoroacetate and
potassium cyanide under field conditions. Includes 10 references, figures.