Hach GuardianBlue Early Warning System Provides Gold Medal Quality Water Security for 2008 Olympics
LOVELAND, Colo. -- As new world records were being set at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Hach GuardianBlue™ Early Warning System was quietly and carefully analyzing the drinking water to guard against potential contaminants.
China spent $6.5 billion on security for the games to protect the 10,000 athletes, 30,000 journalists, 80 heads of state and others gathering in and around the National Stadium (the "Bird's Nest"), the Olympic Village and surrounding hotels. GuardianBlue was included in the state-of-the-art security measures to quickly alert officials in the event contaminants were introduced into water supplies.
China's Beijing Health Ministry chose the GuardianBlue Early Warning System several months before the games after reviewing recommendations on how to guard against intentional contamination of water supplies.
GuardianBlue is proven to be the best option for continuous and accurate screening for water quality anomalies that would characterize an intentional contamination of the water supply. Hach technicians were also contracted to provide expertise in site selections and installation of the early warning systems.
Continuous Monitoring
Hach GuardianBlue is the first and only early warning system for drinking water certified and designated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as an approved product for security. Once every minute, the system measures and analyzes sensor data from five state-of-the-art water quality sensors and calculates a trigger signal, which indicates a deviation from the water quality baseline. If significant deviations occur, the trigger signal alerts security officials in real-time.
No deviations were reported during the games. If there had been, the monitor would have notified security personnel immediately while also instantly signaling automatic samplers to capture real-time water samples at designated monitoring locations. In the event of a contamination, the system uses the GuardianBlue Agent Library to classify the deviation. The library contains fingerprints for a wide variety of threat contaminants, ranging from VX and ricin to arsenic and herbicides.
By continuously monitoring drinking water at key locations at the games, the GuardianBlue EWS helped to provide a sense of confidence for security officials that water quality was being guarded effectively.
About GuardianBlue™
The GuardianBlue™ Event Monitor integrates multiple sensor outputs from the Water Panel and TOC Analyzer -- the advanced water quality sensors. Every 60 seconds, the GuardianBlue™ system applies a patented algorithm to the sensor measurements, calculating a site's water quality baseline. The system sends an alert when the trigger signal exceeds a user-set threshold, indicating a water quality deviation. The GuardianBlue™ Agent Library contains many fingerprints of contaminants, including cyanide, pesticides, ricin and VX. The system is also equipped with a Plant Library that learns and reports the reoccurrence of operational events. The GuardianBlue™ Event Monitor, Water Panel and TOC Analyzer were included in the Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) study sponsored by the USEPA for continuous multi-parameter water monitoring in distribution systems. The system also underwent rigorous testing at the Army's Edgewood Chemical and Biological Command (ECBC).
The GuardianBlue™ Event Monitor received the R&D100 Award for one of the 100 most technologically significant new products of 2005 by R&D Magazine. About the SAFETY Act
As part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public Law 107-296, Congress enacted the SAFETY Act to provide "risk management" and "litigation management" protections for end-users and manufacturers of qualified anti- terrorism technologies and others in the supply and distribution chain. SAFETY Act creates certain liability limitations for "claims arising out of, relating to, or resulting from an act of terrorism" where qualified anti-terrorism technologies have been deployed. For more information on SAFETY Act, go to www.dhs.gov/.
About Hach Homeland Security Technologies
Hach Homeland Security Technologies is committed to the development of innovative and breakthrough technologies that can be used to detect contamination, terrorist activity, and improve general operational control in both water and air. HST's real-time bio-aerosol sensors BioLert™ and Bioni™, designed to detect pathogenic or toxic aerosols, have also received SAFETY Act certification from the Department of Homeland Security. Visit www.hach.com/ to learn more about Hach Homeland Security Technologies' innovative Early Warning System and real-time Bio-Aerosol Sensors. For current price information, technical support and ordering assistance, contact the Hach Homeland Security Technologies division (1-800-604-3493) for a Hach Regional Sales Manager servicing your area.
