As part of the City of Bend Public Works Department moving into the new Public Works Campus, the City’s water lab successfully transferred its Oregon laboratory accreditation from its former location at the City’s Water Reclamation Facility. The water lab ensures the City provides safe drinking water to our community. Our newly accredited Water Quality Laboratory ensures accurate testing of drinking water and wastewater, protecting public health and the environment.
The new, Water Quality Laboratory accreditation is necessary to show the new environment will still provide accurate and reliable testing.
Accreditation from the Oregon Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ORELAP) ensures that laboratories meet rigorous standards for testing under federal and state regulations, including the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act.
The new Water Quality Lab represents a major investment in public health and environmental protection. Nearly twice the size of the previous facility, the lab features advanced safety systems, expanded testing capabilities and capacity for future growth. These improvements allow the City to deliver faster, more reliable data to support water, wastewater and engineering operations, which are critical for everything from routine compliance monitoring to emergency response.
“I am excited that we have enough capacity, flexibility and resilience built into this lab that we can meet future demands for data while maintaining our existing regulatory obligations to wastewater, drinking water and more,” said Cally Whitman, Laboratory Program Manager. “Water quality is about protecting public health and the environment.”
Key enhancements at the new lab include:
- Expanded capacity for more than 20,000 tests of drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, biosolids and river samples annually.
- Advanced safety systems, including a biosafety cabinet to protect samples from contamination, and state-of-the-art chemical hoods to protect staff.
- Enhanced water deionization system to produce ultra-pure water needed for conducting tests.
- Improved turnaround times for critical water and wastewater data.
The Water Quality Lab operates 365 days a year, ensuring rapid response to emergencies like water main breaks and supporting the City’s commitment to public health and environmental stewardship. It is one of only 10 municipal labs of the 48 total accredited labs in Oregon.
For more information, visit bendoregon.gov/water-services.
