American Water Awarded Project With O'Brien & Gere

American Water has partnered with O'Brien & Gere, an engineering and environmental consulting firm, on the American Water Works Association Research Foundation's (AwwaRF) project on "Standard Operating Procedures for Decontamination of Water Infrastructure."

The principal investigator, O'Brien & Gere, sub-contracted with American Water, the largest water resources company in North America, to measure adsorption of various contaminants to different types of water pipe and to evaluate procedures for contaminant removal.

"This important research is part of American Water's efforts to continue improving water utility industry procedures as it relates to potential security concerns," stated Mark W. LeChevallier, Ph.D., American Water's chief scientist of innovation and technology. "We are pleased to partner with O'Brien & Gere on this project, offering our combined expertise to better protect drinking water supplies."

The two-year study will be conducted at American Water's Quality Control and Research Laboratory in Belleville, Illinois. The laboratory, which is staffed by chemists, microbiologists, and other water quality professionals, is certified to perform a variety of water quality analyses with advanced scientific and diagnostic technology.

"The goal for this American Water Works Association Research Foundation project is to develop an operating procedures guide for decontaminating water infrastructure. Having a standardized guide will significantly improve the ability of water utilities to respond to and mitigate any contamination event," stated principal investigator Gregory J. Welter, PE, DEE, O'Brien & Gere.

Source: American Water