Emergency Sampling Kits and Reservoir Samplers

Drinking water and wastewater systems may become targets for terrorists and other potential criminals wanting to interrupt and cause harm to the community’s water supplies and wastewater facilities. The WDNR along with the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene have provided 206 Emergency Sampling kits and 21 reservoir samplers located through out the state. The kits and samplers are to be used in emergency events only. Below are instructions on how to use the kits and samplers as well as a map that indicates the kit locations.

Sampler instructions

Collection kit instructions

Purpose of the Kit

• Use for emergency drinking water sampling events only
• Use after a “credible” threat has been determined by local partners
• Collect water to test for “unknown” biological, chemical and radiological agents
• Designed to be simple and safe to use by sample collectors who may include water utility operators, staff from local health departments or state agencies, regional HazMat teams, or the Wisconsin Civil Support Team
• Provide quality data
• Require little work to maintain

Kit contents

• Water collection instructions
• Limited personal protective equipment
• Containers for biological, chemical and radiological water analysis
• Sample submittal/chain of custody form
• Markers and pens
• Evidence tape

Kit Locations

• 206 kits located throughout the state
• Locations include the water utilities of the county seats and/or water utilities serving > 3300 people, tribal offices, some local health departments and offices of the Wisconsin Rural Water Association
• Locations also include regional offices of the Wisconsin departments of Natural Resources, Emergency Management, and Health and Family Services; and the 54th Civil Support Team

Prepared by the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene in collaboration with the following partners:
Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources, Health and Family Services, Emergency Management, Justice-Crime Lab, UW Vet Diagnostics, and Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Milwaukee Water Utility, Milwaukee Health Department, the Wisconsin Rural Water Association, and regional HazMat teams

For more information on this topic contact:

Gabrielle Petersen, Water Infrastructure Security Specialist
or
David Degenhardt