SAW Graph

Overview

Safe Agricultural Products and Water Graph (SAWGraph): An Open Knowledge Network to Monitor and Trace PFAS and Other Contaminants in the Nation's Food and Water Systems

A ProtoOKN project

The goal of SAWGraph is to onnect federal and other datasets to more quickly analyze data and make decisions around Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) sources, testing, impacts, and risks The graph will integrate data data and provide interfaces that support analysis, mapping and communication of the results of testing for PFAS contamination, spatial connections to known and potential sources to support PFAS research and decision making around PFAS testing and mitigation. The primary end users of SAWGraphs are personnel at state and federal agencies who monitor the environment and the safety of drinking water and agricultural land and products. End users include but are not limited to personnel at EPA and state environmental protection agencies (e.g. state environmental toxicologists) and at USDA and state agricultural agencies. Other potential users include experts from FDA, USGS and similar state agencies. We distinguish four types of users based on their primary responsibility: (1) drinking water monitoring; (2) understanding the extent and sources of environmental contamination with PFAS; (3) PFAS researchers; (4) environmental justice. The graph is expected to empower these users to: (1) formulate and implement comprehensive test plans aimed at monitoring elevated PFAS levels in drinking water or agricultural lands, (2) pinpoint the most significant sources of PFAS in a state and how it impacts disadvantaged communities; (3) identify populations at elevated risk and prioritize testing resources and support accordingly; (4) design contamination management and remediation plana; and (5) identify research gaps in knowledge about PFAS fate and transport. Collectively, these applications will expedite comprehension of PFAS contamination and its mitigation, while ensuring the efficient and equitable allocation of testing and remediation resources.

Use Cases

• Understanding Testing and Testing Gaps: Where have we tested and were are significant gaps?
  • Where have we tested for what?
  • What waterbodies are near potential contamination sources?, see Testing Gaps Example Use Case
  • What do the available test results show in a particular region?
  • Where are the biggest testing gaps based on what is known so far?
• Assess and Map Risks: Who is impacted the most?
  • Where are existing test results especially concerning and suggest prioritizing further testing or investigation?, see Assessing Impacts Example Use Case
  • Which communities are at greatest risk?
• Trace Contamination: Where does the PFAS end up? Where does it originate from?
  • How do specific point sources like industrial facilities, landfills, firefighting training sites, or biosolid application sites affect their surroundings?
  • What potential sources are upstream from concerning test results?
  • What do the test results downstream from a potential point source show?, see Contaminant Tracing Example Use Case
  • What water wells downstream from or connected to sites with concerning levels should be prioritized for testing?
• Research: What linkages does the data suggest? What warrants further research?
  • Where are unexplained high test results?
  • What agricultural practices seem to reduce PFAS exposure?
  • What connections are between different PFAS substances in the environment?

We don’t just want to provide raw data, but actionable knowledge that helps answer these questions

Team

Team from University of Maine, Kansas State University, Northeastern University and EPA brings together computer science, data science, geospatial, and chemistry experts