CAMAL Net California Mutual Aid Laboratory Network Cliff Bowen Joseph Crisologo California Department of Public Health Drinking Water Program

What we will go through… What is it?What is it? What is its purpose?What is its purpose? How is it activated?How is it activated? What will it address?What will it address? What are its status and limitations?What are its status and limitations?

What it is Since 2002, consortium of state, federal, and local public water utility laboratoriesSince 2002, consortium of state, federal, and local public water utility laboratories –Public Water System Drinking Water Laboratories –USEPA Region 9 Laboratory –CA Dept. of Water Resources Laboratory –CDPH Sanitation and Radiation Laboratory Patterned after Water and Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN)Patterned after Water and Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN) Recognizing laboratory capabilities is a resource.Recognizing laboratory capabilities is a resource.

Public Water System Labs MWDMWD LADWPLADWP EBMUDEBMUD SFPUCSFPUC ACWDACWD Alameda County Zone 7Alameda County Zone 7 San DiegoSan Diego Long Beach CCWD Santa Clara Valley WD LACSD MMWD OCWD

Purpose Provide for laboratory surge capacity - a high priority during water quality emergencies to characterize fate and transport and clearance.Provide for laboratory surge capacity - a high priority during water quality emergencies to characterize fate and transport and clearance. PWS Labs, USEPA Region 9 Lab & CA DWR Lab to provide a network of mutual aid assistance to CDPH Sanitation and Radiation Lab to analyze non-WMD public health drinking water samples - result of a terrorist attack on a PWS.PWS Labs, USEPA Region 9 Lab & CA DWR Lab to provide a network of mutual aid assistance to CDPH Sanitation and Radiation Lab to analyze non-WMD public health drinking water samples - result of a terrorist attack on a PWS.

Purpose Develop a list of laboratory contact names and phone numbers.Develop a list of laboratory contact names and phone numbers. Develop sampling kits and sampling protocols to identify unknown contaminants (EWQSK).Develop sampling kits and sampling protocols to identify unknown contaminants (EWQSK).

Purpose Develop testing protocols and screening methods.Develop testing protocols and screening methods. Validate screening methods among participating labs.Validate screening methods among participating labs. Conduct table top exercises to test the response network and fix as needed.Conduct table top exercises to test the response network and fix as needed.

How Does It Happen? Surge capacity needed during major water quality emergencySurge capacity needed during major water quality emergency If Contaminant Unknown – use Emergency Water Quality Sampling Kit (EWQSK)If Contaminant Unknown – use Emergency Water Quality Sampling Kit (EWQSK) EWQSKs sent to SRL for initial determinationEWQSKs sent to SRL for initial determination Surge capacity needed after EWQSK.Surge capacity needed after EWQSK.

How Does It Happen? CDPH District Engineer coordinating through the HQs notifies SRL of need for sampling resources due to a terrorism incident.CDPH District Engineer coordinating through the HQs notifies SRL of need for sampling resources due to a terrorism incident. Can be activated by public water system through CDPH District Engineer and the CDPH Sanitation and Radiation Laboratory (SRL)Can be activated by public water system through CDPH District Engineer and the CDPH Sanitation and Radiation Laboratory (SRL) SRL gathers staff and notifies CAMAL Net Labs of incident and requests analytical capabilities and capacities of each lab.SRL gathers staff and notifies CAMAL Net Labs of incident and requests analytical capabilities and capacities of each lab.

How Does It Happen? CDPH SRL contacts and coordinates with CAMAL Net membersCDPH SRL contacts and coordinates with CAMAL Net members SRL triages all samples and then sends samples to CAMAL Net Labs based on analytical capability and capacity.SRL triages all samples and then sends samples to CAMAL Net Labs based on analytical capability and capacity.

Surge in Public Health Samples Public health samples to be taken for known contaminantsPublic health samples to be taken for known contaminants Distribution samples to determine extent of contamination.Distribution samples to determine extent of contamination. Numerous samples to be taken.Numerous samples to be taken. Sampling may continue for several days.Sampling may continue for several days.

Surge in Remediation Samples Samples taken to determine if system is safe to return to service.Samples taken to determine if system is safe to return to service. Numerous samples must be taken throughout distribution system.Numerous samples must be taken throughout distribution system. Sampling may continue for several days.Sampling may continue for several days.

What Are Capabilities & Capacities/Limitations? CapabilitiesCapabilities –Level 1 – Regulated Chemicals –Level 2 – Unknowns – 5 screening methods (VOCs, SVOC, Metals, Anions, High MW) Capacities – Laboratory ability to analyze samples at that time.Capacities – Laboratory ability to analyze samples at that time. Need to work out microbial testing capabilityNeed to work out microbial testing capability Need to develop Biotoxin testing capabilityNeed to develop Biotoxin testing capability

CAMAL Net Tested during Golden Guardian exercise 2007 in San JoseTested during Golden Guardian exercise 2007 in San Jose Used CAHAN alert to activateUsed CAHAN alert to activate More work and coordination is needed for it to be come reliable and functionalMore work and coordination is needed for it to be come reliable and functional Need to exerciseNeed to exercise

Miracle Occurs Here!

What we went through… What it is – not a Network of Camels.What it is – not a Network of Camels. What its purpose is – not transportation in deserts.What its purpose is – not transportation in deserts. How it is activated – you don’t call it and ride it.How it is activated – you don’t call it and ride it. What it addresses – not getting from here to there.What it addresses – not getting from here to there. What its status and limitations are – not that it needs more water.What its status and limitations are – not that it needs more water.

The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. “To a Mouse,” by Robert Burns Plan, Plan, Plan Action, Action, Action Practice, Practice, Practice

Questions? Clifford L. Bowen, P.E. Senior Homeland Security Engineer NCDWFOB 850 Marina Bay Parkway Richmond, CA (510) Joseph Crisologo, P.E., R.E.A. Senior Homeland Security Engineer SCDWFOB 1449 Temple Street Los Angeles, CA (213) Marvin Young Senior Homeland Security Scientist TPB 850 Marina Bay Parkway Richmond, CA (510)