The threat of terrorist action targeting water supplies is often overlooked for the more historically obvious threats of an air attack or a dirty bomb. Studies have shown that an attack on water is simple to orchestrate, inexpensive and can result in mass casualties. The twin motivators of the terrorist threat to water along with consumer demands for safe and potable supplies has lead to a sea change in the drinking water industry. From a historical perspective, most monitoring in the distribution system as well as source water has been relegated to the occasional snapshot provided by grab sampling for a few limited parameters or the infrequent regulatory testing required by mandates such as the Total Coliform Rule. New technologies are being deployed to ameliorate the threat from both intentional and accidental water contamination. The threat to water and these new technologies are described as well as needs and requirements for new sensors to improve the monitoring structure.
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