Description:
<jats:p>This article discusses sustaining a utility's extensive response plan as a stand‐alone program beginning with strengthening a utility's laboratory practices, including routine sampling, data handling, and management of water quality and customer complaints. The article discusses setting a high standard, identifying capabilities and limitations, expanding safety programs, and sampling and monitoring. The article provides two sidebars, one addressing three modules within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toolbox pertaining to water quality sampling and analyses, and the other describing a Laboratory Response Network established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to organize a national network of about 150 labs that can respond to biological and chemical terrorism and other public health emergencies.</jats:p>