EBMUD Laboratory System

Laboratory Services Division

EBMUD's Laboratory Services Division is a full-service environmental laboratory, which provides analytical support to the water and wastewater systems. The laboratory is certified by the State of California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program in fifteen fields of testing. The laboratory produces high-quality analytical data in a variety of matrices including drinking water, wastewater, and hazardous waste. All laboratory data is stored in a Laboratory Information Management System and is available on demand through EBMUD's intranet.

The laboratory’s mission is to provide high quality data, a rapid turn around time, and first-rate service.

Organic Chemistry

The Organic Chemistry Section performs instrumental analyses for organic compounds using gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and high performance liquid chromatography to identify and quantify in excess of 300 different volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds.

Inorganic Chemistry

The Inorganic Chemistry Section performs all the traditional ‘wet chemistry’ analyses and also performs all metals analyses for the District. The section is equipped with spectrophometers including a trace level mercury analyzer, an ICP, and an ICP/MS.

Biology

The Biology Section performs a variety of microbiological, toxicological, and physical analyses in drinking water and in wastewater. Tests for coliform bacteria are conducted daily on samples collected throughout the water distribution system. The section also is responsible for providing toxicological data to the wastewater treatment plant and other EBMUD clients.

Client and Analytical Support

The Client and Analytical Support Section serves as an interface between the client and the analytical group. As such, the section provides the clients with program management services, ensures that sampling kits are sent to the field, checks in the samples, and finally reports data to laboratory clients.