National Water Quality Lab finds trends in emerging contaminants
By Laurie DiBattista, Colorado NPS Connection associate editor
 |
|
National Water Quality Laboratory at the Denver Federal Center. Photo provided by the USGS. |
Testing on emerging contaminants occurring in the nation’s streams is performed at the National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL), located in the Denver Federal Center.
The full-service lab, which specializes in environmental analytical chemistry, studies water samples from across the country in order to help decision makers manage natural resources. Using state-of-the art instruments, NWQL supports both point and nonpoint source monitoring.
“We are on the leading edge of analyzing emerging contaminants,” said Greg Mohrman, chief of the NWQL. Some of the lab findings regarding emerging contaminants, such as caffeine and DEET, in Colorado’s streams and wells are reported in the article “USGS studies of emerging contaminants in streams and groundwater.”NWQL is the largest U.S. Geological Service water quality lab in the country and one of the largest government-owned water quality labs in the United States. The three-story lab, spread out over about160,000 square feet, employs a workforce of about 140. Approximately 50,000 water samples are tested there annually.
USGS scientists in all 50 states send water samples to the lab. Long-term, consistent sampling and analysis makes it possible to determine developing trends. Other U.S. Department of Interior agencies such as U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the National Park Service, also send samples to the lab for analysis.
In addition, the NWQL performs full-scale research and development, and collaborates with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on some R & D tasks.
Development of newer analytical methods makes it possible to determine pesticide degradates (compounds that are breakdown products from the original pesticide) at extremely low concentrations in surface and groundwater samples.
“The lab maintains high scientific integrity,” Mohrman said. “It looks for things to come, delivers high-quality data and our scientists remain available for consulting. They go beyond just data delivery and analysis.”
For more information about the lab logon http://nwql.usgs.gov/Public/Profile/index.htm.Do you have a
story idea?
Click Here
Next Story>>