Water Quality Lab

As an integral part of the District’s overall scope of delivering the highest quality drinking water while sustaining and protecting the Weber River watershed, the District has housed, operated, and managed the Weber Basin Water Quality Laboratory (WBWQL) since 1987. The WBWQL is a Utah State certified laboratory meeting all National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC) requirements. The laboratory uses certified methods to produce scientifically defensible analytical data for the District, stakeholders, federal, state, public water systems, and private clients.

The District employs a complete laboratory staff comprised of a Laboratory Director, a Quality Assurance Officer, and three Chemists. The Laboratory Director is responsible for the administrative oversight and overall operation of the laboratory. The Quality Assurance Officer is responsible for ensuring data quality requirements are met. Chemists must have knowledge of basic analytical methods, materials, and techniques used in laboratory procedures relating to water quality testing. All personnel have the necessary education, training, technical knowledge, and experience for their assigned functions and are responsible for complying with all quality assurance requirements that pertain to their responsibilities.

The WBWQL supports the District in a variety of ways. Primarily, the laboratory provides routine analysis of treated surface and ground water samples required for regulatory compliance. These analyses include organic and inorganic analytes, metals, and microbial analysis. In addition, the laboratory collects watershed samples to monitor water quality parameters. Routine monitoring of the watershed, treatment plants, and culinary distribution systems provide the District with understanding and awareness of watershed conditions and concerns. Furthermore, the laboratory supports the District, stakeholders, and partners by participating in voluntary and new regulatory monitoring programs. Analytical results acquired from these monitoring efforts are a very important tool used in water treatment and watershed management.