Abstract:
A water-borne hazard detection and notification system deployed between water treatment facilities and water&#39;s points of use can include sensors (e.g., flow rate, microorganism detectors, and chemical detectors) and can be microprocessor controlled. Sensors detect microorganisms and/or chemicals within a water distribution system. Treatment areas can be deployed at various stages along a water distribution system, allowing for protection redundancy. Detector and/or treatment systems can be networked to remote monitoring systems (e.g., networked data/communications equipment located with agencies operating and command and control units) through wired and/or wireless network communication means and devices. Data networked monitoring and assessment can enable rapid deployment of counter measures (e.g., valve shut-off, UV treatment, field team deployment). Systems can be staged, providing for a system comprising more than one detection, shut-off and/or treatment. Staging can provide for concentrated redundancy prior to delivery of water to its point of use.

Description:
APPLICATION PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application claims priority as a continuation application to patent application Ser. No. 10/389,355, filed Mar. 13, 2003, entitled “LASER WATER DETECTION, TREATMENT AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS”, which claims priority to a provisional patent application Ser. No. 66/364,509 filed Mar. 14, 2002 entitled “LASER WATER DETECTION, TREATMENT AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS.” 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The water supplied to U.S. communities is potentially vulnerable to terrorist attacks by insertion of biological agents. The possibility of such attacks is now of considerable concern. Biological agents could be a threat if they were inserted at critical points in a water supply system; theoretically, they could cause a large number of casualties.  
         [0003]     History repeats itself. Deliberate chemical biological contamination of water supplies has been a common occurrence throughout history. Attacks have ranged from the crude dumping of human and animal cadavers into water supplies to well orchestrated contamination with anthrax and cholera. Cyanide has been used as a deadly waterborne poison for thousands of years. In ancient Rome, Nero eliminated his enemies with cherry laurel water (cyanide is the chief toxic ingredient). In the U.S. Civil War, Confederate soldiers shot and left farm animals to rot in ponds during General Sherman&#39;s march, compromising the Union water supply. During World War II, the Japanese attacked at least 11 Chinese cities, intending to contaminate food and water supplies with anthrax, cholera, and various other bacteria. Hitler&#39;s forces also released sewage into a Bohemia reservoir, deliberately sickening the rival population.  
         [0004]     Terrorists are still using chemical or biological weapons (CW/BW). The Aum Shinrikyo Cult attacked a Tokyo subway with sarin gas in 1995 and they are known to have produced and unsuccessfully attempted to use anthrax and botulism toxin nine times as well. In 1985 the Rajneesh religious cult sickened 750 people in The Dalles, Oregon, by spreading salmonella bacteria on local salad bars. In an unprecedented violation of the Geneva Conventions, Yugoslav federal forces, or those allied with them, appear to have poisoned wells throughout Kosovo in October/November 1998. Those responsible dumped animal carcasses and hazardous materials (chemicals like paints, oil, and gasoline) into seventy percent of area wells, deliberately sickening the populace and denying them the use of the wells. Since the horrific events of Sep. 11, 2001, Anthrax again surfaced as a threat when a nameless, faceless terrorist used the U.S. Postal Service to deliver biological weapons in the form of letters to senior Government officials and the press.  
         [0005]     Despite a history of armies poisoning rival water supplies, institutional dogma has generally downplayed the risk of asymmetric chemical and biological attacks on water. Nationally recognized as critical infrastructures, water systems are vulnerable to disabling attacks. At present, most governments and their relevant agencies lack comprehensive or robust remediation and counter terrorism processes to address this great potential threat.  
         [0006]     The nation&#39;s water infrastructure seems impossible to fully secure. The sheer vastness of the system with its “raw water” reservoirs and tens of thousands of miles of exposed aqueducts and pipeline with little or minimal security, make it logically and fiscally impossible to completely police. The nation&#39;s water system is a delicate balance of interlocking components that includes: the water supply system (dams, reservoirs, wells, etc.); water treatment system; and the water distribution system (pipes, pumps storage tanks, etc.). These systems are mostly aging and in urgent need of upgrading, not simply to bolster them from terrorist attack but to keep them adequately handling the growing water needs of the 21st Century.  
         [0007]     Raw water is generally treated at the treatment plant to meet federal, state standards, or Department of Defense (for overseas fixed installations) guidelines and to improve its taste and corrosion characteristics. To meet standards, contaminants must be removed or neutralized. Treatment requirements vary greatly depending on raw water quality and community population (these factors affect which standards apply). A small system supplied by a secure well might only require simple chlorination. Larger systems with surface sources have multiple filtration, physical/chemical modification and disinfection units. Common in the U.S., but typically not used in Europe, chlorine disinfectant is added to kill microbial contamination and residual chlorine is maintained to control microbial life within the system. Examples of other chemical addition are precipitation of iron or other metals, reduction of the water&#39;s corrositivity and adding fluoride for children. Upon treatment, the water is considered potable or safe to drink.  
         [0008]     By its very nature a treatment plant provides both security from and facilitates chemical or biological attack. Treatment processes may very well remove/neutralize an agent introduced into the raw water or local system. On the other hand, it is the controlling point for system quality where chemicals are deliberately and systematically added to the water. The plant lends itself as an ideal attack point for water downstream in the system. Therefore, treatment plants are potential critical points of a water distribution system.  
         [0009]     Two particular points in the water system are also of particular vulnerability and could provide harmful effectiveness to terrorists; water intakes and water distribution:  
         [0010]     Water intakes: The potential for contamination increases as water dilution decreases, and such is the case for water intakes. There are 6,800 public supply drinking water intakes on rivers alone in the U.S. Likewise; intakes at the mouths of reservoirs or lakes are also vulnerable targets. Contaminates introduced at the intakes have a far better chance of reaching the population than if introduced elsewhere.  
         [0011]     Water distribution: This component of the water supply is the most vulnerable. Pipelines wander for thousands of unprotected miles; aqueducts snake through largely unpopulated areas. A person with a crude knowledge of hydraulics and a bicycle tire pump and access to a kitchen faucet could introduce toxins into any local water distribution system, thus endangering thousands. There are few robust security methods in place to protect these distribution systems.  
         [0012]     The distribution system is an underground network of iron, concrete or PVC (plastic) pipes that transport the treated water under pressure to the consumers. Ultimately, water is plumbed into each building from these underground mains. High pressure makes it difficult, though not impossible, to inject material into the typically buried lines. A distribution system typically has a variety of valve pits and other control points where maintenance personnel, or an adversary, may gain access to the water.  
         [0013]     Though relatively secure, the system pipes and valves are critical points. Any adversary with access to basic chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnological or related industry can produce biological or chemical (e.g., “biochem”) weapons into water supply systems. Compared to aerial attack (inhalation or skin contact), effective doses are easier to obtain in water (less dilution than air and directly ingested by the target), and in many cases the materials are more stable (protected from ultraviolet and temperature extremes, although exposed to chlorine). To effectively kill or disable from drinking water chemical and biological agents must be:  
         [0014]     1. Weaponized, meaning it can be produced and disseminated in large enough quantities to cause desired effect.  
         [0015]     2. A viable water threat, meaning it is infectious or toxic from drinking water.  
         [0016]     3. Stable, meaning the agent maintains its structural and virulent effects in water.  
         [0017]     4. Chlorine resistant, meaning the agent isn&#39;t significantly oxidized by free available chlorine (FAC) present in most American water systems. Chlorine susceptibility can be negated by inactivation of system chlorination devices.  
         [0018]     There are two types of biological threats, pathogens and toxins. Pathogens are live organisms, such as bacteria, viruses or protozoa, which infect and cause illness and/or death. The other are: biological toxins, chemicals derived from organisms, primarily bacteria and fungi, which cause chemical toxicity resulting in illness and/or death. It is believed that for less than $10,000, anyone with gear no more sophisticated than a home brewing kit, protein cultures and personal protection can cultivate trillions of bacteria with relatively little personal risk.  
         [0019]     Mankind wages a constant battle against pathogens. Bacteria, viruses, protozoa, nematodes fungi, and others are the causes of most infectious diseases. Living organisms, they require a host population and certain environmental conditions (temperature, humidity/water, and protection from sunlight) for survival. Upon infection, the pathogen must “grow” in the host. This latency period requires time, depending on the organism, from hours to weeks.  
         [0020]     To date, there are insufficient systems and methods for protecting public drinking water sources. It is desirable by the present inventors that sensing and notification system for public water distribution systems be taught herein so that security over such a precious resource can be achieved.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]     The present inventors have determined that sensing and notification is an important aspect of physical security that has not been implemented to protect water supplies. In accordance with features of the present invention, sensing and notification systems can include detection nodes networked to a remote monitoring (e.g., command and control units) through wired and/or wireless networking and communication systems. Networked monitoring and assessment can enable rapid deployment of counter measures within affected water distribution systems and populated communities, to include emergency shut-off of control valves that can be associated with the present systems.  
         [0022]     In addition to sensing and notification systems, treatment areas can be included to cleanse water, a system which can be presented in the form of a junction box having an entry point for receiving water from input tubing connected to the input portion of the junction box and an exit point for to allow treated water to continue moving towards its point of use. At least one laser light source is coupled to the junction box. The laser light source can be provided in the form of at least one fiber optic line coupled to a laser and also coupled to the junction box, or as at least one laser directly coupled to the junction box, at one or several points about the junction box for delivery of light from laser(s) into the treatment area and onto microorganisms carried by water.  
         [0023]     A filtration capability can be included near or before the entry point of the treatment area. Filtration can reduce or eliminate particles from water prior to sensing or treatment. Particles can cause light to be absorbed or scattered, thereby reducing the effectiveness of laser treatment, therefore filtration prior to laser treatment is preferred. Filtration can also be provided after treatment, thereby removing additional particulates and/or killed microorganisms.  
         [0024]     The junction box can comprise of a stainless steel, watertight housing. The internal surfaces of the housing can be highly polished to allow for reflection of light. Reflectors, deflectors and/or diffuser can be included within the housing to scatter light.  
         [0025]     Baffles or walls can be formed within the housing in order to create flow channels throughout the housing, thereby providing more opportunities for light treatment. The baffles or walls can provide for a serpentine configuration of flow chambers within the housing. Laser light sources can be provided for/within each chamber of the serpentine configuration. When more than one laser is used, each laser can be tuned to (or selected to perform at) a unique wavelength.  
         [0026]     A flow sensor can be provided to turn on the laser light source(s) whenever flow through the junction box is sensed. A microorganism detector can be included near the entry point to detect the presence of harmful microorganism. A control means responsive to the detector and/or the flow sensor can turn on the laser light source(s) in response to an indication of either or both flow and/or microorganism detection. Furthermore, a variable wavelength controller can be provided to adjust the wavelength of light produced by laser light source(s). Adjustment to the illumination/wavelength of laser light sources(s) can be in response to said detector, thereby enabling for precise targeting of detected microorganisms.  
         [0027]     As with sensors, treatment systems can be staged as part of a larger system, providing for a system comprising more than one treatment area and associated laser light sources that are coupled, one after the other. Such staging can provide for concentrated redundancy prior to delivery of water to its point of use. Treatment systems can include means to detect and/or analyze microorganisms and/or chemicals within a water distribution system. Detection and/or analysis systems can be deployed at various stages along a water distribution system, near, or as part of, a treatment system, thereby allowing for protection (e.g., detection, treatment) redundancy.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0028]     The novel features believed characteristic of this invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is as illustration of a laser water treatment system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of a laser water treatment system including laser light source depth deployments in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0031]      FIG. 3  is as illustration of a laser water treatment system including a serpentine-like configuration in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0032]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of a laser water detection and treatment system including sensors and a microprocessor in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is as illustration of a laser water treatment system including filtration in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0034]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of a laser water detection and treatment system included stages of more than one system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0035]      FIG. 7  is an illustration of laser water detection and treatment systems in communication with remote monitoring and control agencies in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0036]     The following description is presented to enable persons skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context of particular applications and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0037]     Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with principles and features disclosed herein. Although preferred embodiments of the present invention are described herein, those skilled in the art can appreciate that a number of varying embodiments may be implemented in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0038]     The following U.S. Patent Application, which is the parent of this continuation, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for its teaching: U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/389,355 entitled “LASER WATER DETECTION, TREATMENT AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS” by Baca et al., scheduled to receive U.S. Pat. No. 6,919,019 when it issues on Jul. 19, 2005.  
         [0039]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , detection and/or treatment systems  101  can communicate with remote monitoring and control agencies  130  through communication means known in the art. Network  150  communications can be wired and wireless, public and private, secured and unsecured. The field of communications is well developed, therefore it should be appreciated to those skilled in the art that wired  115  and wireless  125  communication equipment can be used to provide at least one of detection, analysis and/or treatment information to remote agencies  130 . For example, public wireless network  150  generally communicate using standards and networks such as, among others, 3G, WAP, CDMA, TDMA, GPRS and CPDP. These standards can be used to provide communications between deployed systems ( 101  through N) at nodes along a water distribution network  140  and responsible monitoring agencies  130  operated by Government and private concerns.  
         [0040]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , more than one system can be provided in stages in order to maximize sensing and notification and/or treatment success. As shown in  FIG. 2 , a first treatment system  101  is coupled to a second treatment system  102 . Subsequent treatment systems N can be further coupled in line with a prior treatment system. It should be appreciated that each stage (e.g., . 101 ,  102  . . . N) can be tasked to target (e.g., detect and/or impede) the same microorganisms, or can be assigned specific targets and wavelengths.  
         [0041]     For example, when a biological or chemical agent is detected at system  101 , then emergency shut-off procedures can be initiated by the agency  130  to a remote valve  160  that is located safely downstream from the harmful agent. It should be appreciated that monitoring and control can be carried out by a central computing system, thereby providing for automated command and control. It should also be appreciated that a command and control agency  130  can also utilize the assets of a computer to analyze the threat and suggest, or automatically initiate, valve shut-off for several valves deployed throughout the water distribution system (thereby effectively shutting down and isolating the potential threat).  
         [0042]     Also, Internet Packet (IP) protocol communication is well known in the data communications art. Therefore, the skilled should appreciate that systems and controllers  130  can communicate status and functions through data networks  150  (e.g., the Internet or private data networks). It should further be appreciated that a hybrid of communications, or communication redundancy, can be provided at each node in an entire system in order to ensure communication is sustained. As broadband communications assets continue to be deployed (e.g., WiFi and Bluetooth communications), it should be appreciated that components within a larger system can communicate status and render command remotely.  
         [0043]     Furthermore, it should be appreciated that systems and components deployed throughout water distribution systems can be monitored by personnel in the field using portable wireless devices  170 , such as laptops, PDAs (personal digital assistants), Smartphones, and other handheld wireless data-, and network-enabled devices that can be deployed in a field environment.  
         [0044]     In addition to a sensing and notification (S&amp;N) system as described hereinbefore, evasive action can be taken with additional components added to the S&amp;N system. Ultraviolet sterilization is one proven method of eliminating a variety of harmful waterborne microorganisms. Short-wave ultraviolet light (e.g., 253.7 nanometers) kills waterborne microorganisms with ease, providing they are exposed to the radiation for a sufficient length of time. The UV light breaks the “DNA chain” thus preventing the microorganism from reproducing. All UV sterilizers are generally provided as a hollow chamber containing an appropriately sized cylindrical UV bulb. Water enters the chamber at the sterilizer inlets, circulates within it for the proper length of time (dwell time) to ensure a high kill rate and returns to the tank via the sterilizer outlet. For maximum benefit, UV sterilizer must generally be run on a continuous 24 hour-per-day basis. UV sterilizers are also highly effective at controlling algae blooms in both marine and freshwater aquaria.  
         [0045]     The portion of the UV light spectrum known to affect living organisms ranges in wavelengths from 190 nm to 400 nm and is divided into 3 bands: UVa, UVb, and UVc. The UVc light band of from 100 nm to 280 nm is often referred to as the germicidal band. UVa and UVb light bands are not useful for water sterilization. Many factors, however, affect the overall effectiveness of UV sterilization: the size of the organism may affect the effectiveness of ultraviolet sterilization (the larger the organism the greater the dosage of UVc light required); UV power (the lamp wattage required for sterilization is related to flow rate of water through the UV sterilizer); contact time (determined by the flow rate of the water through the UV sterilizer, very critical); temperature; and the use of quartz sleeves with UV lamps (the amount of UVc output of the UV lamp dependent on the temperature at which it operates.  
         [0046]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the light source can be provided in the form of a fiber optic cable  15  that extends from a light source  10  to a treatment area  20 , so as to carry light from the source  10  through a coupling  25  into the treatment area  20 . Light deflectors  30 , reflectors  35  or diffusers, e.g., of conical shape, inside the treatment area  20 , can be used to spread and/or scatter light rays (shown as dashed arrows) throughout the treatment area  20  so that the light rays can interfere with microorganism contained within water passing through the treatment area  20 . Reflector/deflector surfaces to enable effective light scatter are known in the optical arts. Water is carried to the treatment area  20  from a supply line  60 . The supply line is coupled to an input port  64  at the treatment area  20 . The supply line  60  is again coupled to the treatment area  20  at an exit port  66 . It should be appreciated that the treatment area  20  as shown in the drawing can be a self-contained unit that is spliced into an existing water line  60 .  
         [0047]     The light source  10  can be comprised of any suitable commercially available lighting source useful for emitting light at wavelengths necessary for destroying microorganisms, e.g., a mercury vapor lamp or laser for providing UV radiation. Depending on its environmental application (e.g., constructive limitations of the housing for the treatment area), a laser would preferably be operated intermittently and on low power to the extent the system is enabling the killing or disablement of microorganisms without damaging treatment equipment. But it should be appreciated that lasers or light sources at very high power can also be used depending on the durability of housing materials).  
         [0048]     The treatment area and laser configuration can take many forms in order to increase exposure time and laser redundancy. Referring to  FIG. 4 , a treatment area  20  is shown wherein more than one laser  10  is coupled to the housing of the treatment area  20 . Coupling  25  can be directly  17  or by fiber optic  15 . Also shown is the placement of laser sources at various depths A, B and C within the treatment area  20 . Light sources at various depths within a treatment area will increase exposure and intensity throughout a treatment area. A laser beam is effective to finite depths depending on laser power and water clarity; therefore many light sources at various depths can overcome loss of laser effectiveness due to beam scatter/diffraction within the treatment area  20 . Again, optical reflectors, deflectors and/or diffusers can be used in combination with laser source depth to provide effective fluorescence within the treatment area and about the water contained therein.  
         [0049]     Another proposed treatment area design is provided in a serpentine configuration. As seen in  FIG. 5 , water entering the treatment area  20  from the waterline  60  at coupling  64  is carried through the treatment area  20  in a serpentine flow pattern because of various partitions  70  built into the treatment area  20 . Although four compartments are shown in the illustration, it should be appreciated that more or less compartment can be provided for water flow and light exposure. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that internal surfaces can be rounded, smooth and/or polished in order to promote ease of water flow and maximum light exposure, yet reducing flow restriction. Lasers  10 , or fibers, can be coupled to the housing at throughout the various compartments formed by the partitions  70 . The serpentine configuration increases exposure because of the increased number of light sources  10  coupled to the housing and also because of the added length and volume created by the compartments. Exposure time of microorganisms to radiation is generally increased because the serpentine flow pattern creates length to the flow of water.  
         [0050]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The system  400  can include a microorganism sensor  70  is deployed near the entry point  64  to the treatment area  20 . The sensor  70  can be coupled to a microprocessor  80  (e.g., computer) where sensor input is analyzed to determine if targeted harmful microorganisms exist in water flowing through the pipeline  60 . If microorganisms are detected, the microprocessor can control the illumination by light sources  10 . The microprocessor can also control the wavelength the light sources illuminate at where it is determined that a particular wavelength of light is most effective against a detected microorganism. The microprocessor can also control more than one light source  10  independently.  
         [0051]     A flow sensor  75  can also be provided as part of the system  400  in addition to, or instead of, the microorganism sensor  70 . The flow sensor  75  can sense if water is flowing through the treatment area, and in response can turn on the light source(s)  10 . It should be appreciated that the flow sensor  75  can be located either at the entry point  64 , exit point  66  or within the treatment area  20 . Use of the flow sensor  75  will control the amount of time that light sources are turned on. The light sources  10  can turn off when flow is no longer sensed, or after a set time period in which case a timer. Timing can be provided by a microprocessor  80  for each light source  10 .  
         [0052]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a system  500  is shown wherein filtration  90  is incorporated along pipeline  60  before the entry point  64  of the treatment area  20 . A filter can remove particles, which would interfere with or absorb the light intended for water treatment. It should be appreciated that a filter  95  could also be provided along pipeline  60  after the treatment area and exit point  66 .  
         [0053]     The embodiments and examples set forth herein are presented in order to best explain the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable those skilled in the art to make and utilize the invention. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purpose of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.