Ipswich City Council

Environmental Laboratory

Nata Logo Ipswich Water Environmental Laboratory holds National Association of Testing Authroities (NATA) Environmental Laboratory Accreditation in the field of Chemical Testing.

NATA accreditation provides the customer with quality assurance for the analytical services provided by the laboratory.

Our team of experienced professionals and support staff provide quality environmental sampling and monitoring services. The laboratory is a well equipped, modern, purpose built facility, situated at the Goodna Wastewater Centre (Lower Cross Street Goodna).

Services Offered

Our laboratory provides a wide range of analysis and sampling services for monitoring all facets of water quality for public and private sectors. The laboratory provides precise and reliable water systems analytical services, including:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) compliance monitoring and reporting for wastewater samples
Process and performance monitoring of sewage treatment facilities, including onsite treatment plants
Process and performance monitoring for potable and recycled water reticulation systems
Drinking water and pool analysis
Industrial liquid waste testing
River, stream and waterways monitoring
Sample collection
Testing of bore water

Analytical Capabilities

General Water Analysis

Includes pH, conductivity/salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorine residual, colour, turbidity, hardness and alkalinity. These give a general indication of the water quality and can be performed on any water source (e.g. bore water, dam water, reticulated water etc.).

Solids

Includes suspended solids, total solids, dissolved solids and volatile solids used to measure different components of the solid content of a water sample.

Nutrients

Nutrient removal is an important part of the sewerage treatment process and includes the components of nitrogen and phosphorus. Nutrients are also critical factors in natural waters (eg algal blooms can result from an imbalance in nutrient levels).

Oxygen Demand

Includes Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD).

Metals

Includes aluminium, iron, manganese, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, molybdenum, nickel and zinc. Also, calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium. Metals are often indicators for contamination of waters. Some metals can be harmful, whereas others are essential nutrients for humans. Aluminium, iron and manganese are tested routinely in drinking water since these metals may precipitate or colourise water during transport through the distribution system.

Anions

Includes Chloride, Sulphate and Sulphide.

Oil and Grease

Oil and grease can be harmful to the sewage treatment process and can be a problem in sewers and the sewerage pump stations. Wastewatercentre3 Template

Bacteriological - Total Organism, Total and Faecal Coliforms

Total organism testing indicates the total number of bacteria in the sample. Total and faecal coliforms are used as indicator organisms of other pathogens that may be present (i.e. if faecal coliforms are present, then other pathogens (eg salmonella - food poisoning) are also likely to be present. Indicator organisms are bacteria that are relatively common and are easy to test for.

The most common indicator organism used is escherichia coli (E coli), which is present in the intestinal tract of all mammals.

Last Updated 1 Jul 2008 |

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