Water  |  17 Jun 2021

Christchurch City Council has a new state-of-the-art water testing laboratory.

Council Chief Executive Dawn Baxendale officially opened the new Three Waters Laboratory today at the Council’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, in Bromley.

The multi-million-dollar lab has been purpose built to provide accurate and reliable testing of drinking water, wastewater and stormwater, with accreditation by International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) to prove it meets strict quality standards.

Council Head of Three Waters and Waste Helen Beaumont says residents and customers can be confident the lab is operating to the highest standards.

“The new lab supports the stringent hygiene procedures we have in place for the safe operation of our drinking-water supply network. We’re committed to maintaining constant vigilance over our supply and we test it – beyond levels required under the Drinking Water Standards – from sampling points across the city every day.

“At the same time, we also use the lab to test wastewater and stormwater samples, to ensure the water moving through the city’s networks is meeting our consent conditions and environmental targets.”

Ms Beaumont says the lab is staffed by 16 people and is a major improvement over the Council’s former lab. It includes positive pressure air-filtered rooms, ultra-purified reticulated water, segregated areas for testing different water types, and “Star Trek style” no-contact doors.

“With tighter regulations and environmental standards coming into effect for New Zealand’s ‘three waters’ services, the lab positions us very well for the future, and for ensuring people continue to have access to safe, clean drinking water.”