Water Laboratory Alliance - Response Plan
Introductory Lesson

Welcome
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# Welcome to
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's
Water Laboratory Alliance Response Plan Module sample image

WLA seal
Select the "NEXT" button to continue.

Module Overview
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This module is sponsored by the Water Laboratory Alliance Training Center (WLA Training Center) and is divided into two sections (Communication and Coordination, and Operations and Procedures). Each section includes topics that support it. Click on the tabs to view the goals, objectives, and intended audience for the module. Goals Objectives Audience Goals The goals of the Water Laboratory Alliance Response Plan (WLA-RP) Module are: Introduce the purpose and scope of the WLA-RP Describe the benefits of using the WLA-RP processes and procedures to coordinate laboratory response during an event Present resources available to support analytical responses during an event Objectives Upon completion of this module you will be able to: Identify the purpose and scope of the WLA-RP Describe the responsibilities of the three main roles listed in the WLA-RP: Analytical Services Requester (ASR), Primary Responding Laboratory (PRL), and Mutual Support Laboratory (MSL) Describe coordination between the three main WLA-RP roles and how this integrates with the Incident Command System (ICS) Describe how communication and notifications during an event should be handled List resources that can be used to identify support laboratories Discuss factors that influence the types of methods selected for analysis and the level of Quality Assurance (QA)/Quality Control (QC) performed Audience The target audience for this module includes: Water utilities Laboratories First responders Emergency managers Public information officers (PIOs) State drinking water administrators Other government officials EPA regions | wla seal (small version)

Module Overview
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Welcome to the Water Laboratory Alliance - Response Plan (WLA-RP) module. This module is sponsored by the Water Laboratory Alliance Training Center.

- Goals
- Objectives
- Audience

Goals

The goals of the WLA-RP Module are to:

1. Introduce the purpose and scope of the WLA-RP
2. Describe the benefits of using the WLA-RP processes and procedures to coordinate laboratory responses during an event
3. Present resources available to support analytical responses during an event

Objectives

Upon completion of this module you will be able to:

1. Identify the purpose and the scope of the WLA-RP
2. Describe the responsibilities of the three main roles listed in the WLA-RP: Analytical Services Requester (ASR), Primary Responding Laboratory (PRL), and Mutual Support Laboratory (MSL)
3. Describe coordination between the three main WLA-RP roles and how this integrates with the Incident Command System (ICS)
4. Describe how communication and notifications during an event should be handled
5. List resources that can be used to identify support laboratories
6. Discuss factors that influence the types of methods selected for analysis and the level of QA/QC performed

Audience

The target audience for this module includes the following:

- Water utilities
- Laboratories
- First responders
- Emergency managers
- Public information officers
- State drinking water administrators
- Other government officials
- EPA regions, etc.

Module Navigation
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Back / Next: These buttons are located in the top and lower right portion of the page and take you to the previous page or next page.

Module Map: This button, located in the upper left portion of the page, allows you navigate to the different topics within the module.

References: This button, located in the top left portion of the page, contains links to important Web sites and other related documents.

Glossary: This button, located in the top left portion of the page, contains terms used in the course and their definitions.

Print Topic: This button, located in the top left portion of the page, allows you to print the current topic.

Top: This button, located in the bottom left portion of the page, allows you to return to the top of the screen on pages that scroll.

WLA-RP
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The WLA-RP establishes a comprehensive, national approach to laboratory response to water contamination incidents across a spectrum of activities including preparedness, response, remediation, and recovery. The scope of the WLA-RP is meant to be broad in order to provide processes and procedures for coordinating laboratory response to all types of water contamination events. The WLA-RP is characterized by the following: The plan is applicable to all types of laboratories including federal and state laboratories, commercial laboratories, and water utility laboratories. The plan can be used for smaller incidents involving a few laboratories and larger multi-regional incidents involving many laboratories Many aspects of the plan, such as sample tracking and data review, can also be applied to single-laboratory responses. | WLA-RP Front Page Click here for the WLA-RP

Main Roles of the WLA-RP
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Coordination of laboratory support under this WLA-RP in response to a water contamination incident involves the following roles:

- Analytical Services Requester
- Primary Responding Laboratory
- Mutual Support Laboratory

Analytical Services Requester (ASR) The primary point of contact who requests analytical assistance for a water contamination incident from a laboratory. The role of the ASR may be played by the following: First responder (e.g., police officer) Hazmat team leader Utility manager State regulatory authority affected by the incident State drinking water agency | asr

Primary Responding Laboratory (PRL) The initial laboratory contacted by the ASR that agrees to provide support. | prl

Mutual Support Laboratory(MSL) Laboratory that may be engaged by the PRL, should the PRL’s resources be insufficient at any point in the process to meet the analytical needs of the incident. | msl

Responsibilities of the Analytical Services Requester
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The ASR has the following responsibilities: Contact the laboratory that will serve as the PRL The ASR should provide information to the PRL on the incident including site characterizations, potential hazards, and any field screening information. Act as the primary decision maker Act as the primary decision maker concerning the type, quality, and timeliness of the analytical data required for the response. The ASR may consult with the PRL regarding the various analytical options available to provide the type of data requested. Direct sample collection and distribution Communicate any information from the support laboratories to the samplers regarding requirements for sample volumes, preservation, shipping and storage, need for personal protective equipment, etc. Coordinate with other organizations Coordinate with other organizations that may have information relevant to the incident, such as clinical laboratories and public health departments, and ensure that this information is communicated to the PRL. Inform the PRL Inform the PRL of requirements for data turnaround, data format, sample and record retention, and sample storage. | jjj

Coordination
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The Incident Command System (ICS) is a flexible and scalable system that provides a common structure and terminology that facilitates coordination during an emergency response.

For smaller scale incidents and during the initial phases of large incidents, management functions may be handled by one person, the incident commander (IC). In this case, the IC will serve as the ASR (see blue).

As an incident escalates, the ICS structure may expand and the responsibilities of the ASR and PRL may be transitioned into the Environmental Unit (EU) (see yellow).

Scenario
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Derailed train

Please review the scenario below and answer the two related questions on the following pages.

The utility emergency manager at the Clear Valley Water Treatment Plant receives notification a tanker car spill upstream of the drinking water treatment plant intake, the drinking water intake is shut down.

The utility emergency manager needs to find out if the water is safe or a "do not use" order should be issued. He considers the following information:

- The water utility laboratory is undergoing renovations and canÂ’t perform chemical analyses.
- Good Chemistry, Inc., where the utility normally sends their compliance samples, is short-staffed and will be unable to process a large number of samples.
- The drinking water utility has received analytical support from their state laboratory in the past.

Review 1
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The Utility Emergency Manager contacts the state laboratory for support. The state laboratory agrees to take the lead on providing support with backup from Good Chemistry, Inc.

According to the Water Laboratory Alliance Response Plan, which roles will each of the following persons/organizations be playing during the response to the train derailment?

- Utility Emergency Manager
- State Laboratory
- Good Chemistry, Inc.

Please enter your response below, then select Submit to compare your answer.

| Please compare your answer to the feedback below. The Utility Emergency Manager is the Analytical Services Requester. The State Laboratory is the Primary Responding Laboratory. The Good Chemistry, Inc. is the Mutual Support Laboratory.

Review 2
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Which of the following activities are the responsibility of the ASR?
Arrange for a laboratory to serve as the PRL
Act as the primary decision maker regarding laboratory analyses
Direct sample collection and distribution to the PRL and MSL
Inform the PRL of requirements for data turnaround, sample disposal, etc.
Analyze samples
Coordinate collection and compilation of data from the MSLs

Module Summary
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Module summary points will go on this page