In October, WSSC Water officially opened an upgraded and expanded water quality lab, a $38 million investment that the utility said will increase its ability to monitor and protect water quality for 1.9 million residents in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.
WSSC Water‘s original lab was built in 2001 to consolidate smaller labs across its 1,000-square-mile service area. The new, expanded laboratory is nearly double the size, adding 19,720 square ft of workspace to the existing 27,193 square ft. It features some advanced upgrades including:
- A new PFAS lab section dedicated to testing Forever Chemicals on site, eliminating the need to ship samples out of state, saving time and money – cutting wait times from weeks to hours;
- A new taste and odor testing system;
- A new algal toxin analyzer, a critical tool for detecting and measuring toxins produced by algae;
- Enhanced emergency response capabilities for rapid testing following chemical spills or other watershed threats.
“This expanded laboratory is where science meets service,” said WSSC Water General Manager and CEO Kishia L. Powell. “The quality of the work done in this lab ensures that when families in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties fill a glass, cook a meal or bathe their children, they can trust their taps because of our dedicated employees and steadfast commitment to public health.”
According to WSSC Water, more than 500,000 water quality tests are performed annually at the laboratory, including analysis of drinking water, source water, wastewater, stormwater, landfill effluent, water main break samples and biosolids. The results of these tests are used to make operational changes, adjust treatment processes, and for regulatory reporting.
The number of water quality analyses that it performs each year is expected to increase to more than 750,000 by 2045. WSSC said the expanded facility ensures the utility continues its exceptional track record of 107 years without a single drinking water quality violation.
Officials gathered to commemorate the opening of the state-certified lab in early October, a group that included: Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena Mcllwain, State Delegates Lorig Charkoudian and Greg Wims, Prince George’s County Chief Administrative Officer Maxene M. Bardwell, and county representatives.
“WSSC Water’s newly expanded laboratory demonstrates a commitment to protecting public health by meeting the highest standards of water quality excellence,” said McIlwain. “We take certification of these labs very seriously and are proud to recognize this facility as a State Certified Water Quality Laboratory — ensuring compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.”
WSSC Water added that it has previously relied on contract laboratories for critical and regulatory analyses due to space, infrastructure and instrument limitations. The new expansion will dramatically increase in-house testing capability and will reduce reliance on outside testing. The lab also includes overnight accommodations for staff during emergencies and meets LEED Gold certification standards, meaning a much more efficient building with significantly lower climate impacts.
Grunley Construction, the lead contractor on this project, has been involved since the 2022 groundbreaking, playing a key role in delivering this state-of-the-art laboratory.
Source: WSSC Water
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