Protecting New York's water supply

As part of a federal push to safeguard the nation's water supply after the Sept. 11 attacks, New York City will develop and install a warning system designed to detect contamination of city drinking water.

The $12-million water security plan will focus on chemical, radiological and biological threats. It was announced yesterday at a news conference with Mayor Michael Bloomberg and officials from the federal Environmental Protection Agency, which is paying for the project.

"Our drinking water really is the lifeblood of this city, and that, unfortunately, might make it a target for sabotage," Bloomberg said. "We need to be vigilant in protecting our water systems."

The three-year program will bolster existing surveillance of the sprawling system of reservoirs, aqueducts and underground pipes that supply 1.1 billion gallons of water to the city each day.

Officials said there was no specific threat to New York's water supply, and acknowledged that the volume of water flowing through the system each day would make it difficult for saboteurs to effect any large-scale contamination.

Still, EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson said that the government regards drinking water infrastructure as "a potential area of vulnerability."