AWWA WSC61400

This slide presentation outlines information on a technology acquisition strategy for the security of water distribution networks. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has tasked a multi-laboratory team to evaluate current and future needs to protect the nation's water distribution infrastructure by supporting an objective evaluation of current and new technologies. The primary deliverables from this Operational Technology Demonstration (OTD) are the following: establishment of an advisory board for review and approval of testing protocols, technology acquisition processes and recommendations for technology test and evaluation in laboratory and field settings; development of a technology acquisition process; creation of laboratory and field testing and evaluation capability; and, testing of candidate technologies for insertion into a water early warning system. The initial phase of this study involves the development of two separate but complementary strategies to be reviewed by the advisory board: a technology acquisition strategy; and, a technology evaluation strategy. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories are tasked with the first strategy, while Los Alamos, Pacific Northwest, and Oak Ridge National Laboratories are tasked with the second strategy. The first goal of the acquisition strategy is the development of a technology survey process that includes a review of current test programs and development of a method to solicit and select existing and emerging sensor technologies for evaluation and testing. The second goal is to implement the acquisition strategy to provide a set of recommendations for candidate technologies for laboratory and field testing.