August was a big month for our fledgling laboratory in Dunedin. Not only was the laboratory audited by IANZ but the accidental contamination of the drinking water supply added a further challenge
The IANZ audit was scheduled for two days in early August and required the assistance of a technical auditor as well as the lead auditor from IANZ. The technical auditor is from within the laboratory industry and provided additional insight for the IANZ assessor
By the time you read this the laboratory will be accredited for four different accreditation scopes:
Drinking Water Chemistry Scope
- Turbidity
- Free Available Chlorine
- pH
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Microbiology Scope
- E.coli and Total Coliforms MPN and Presence/Absence using Readycult or Colitag
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Biological Scope – Potable Waters
- E.coli and Total Coliforms MPN and Presence/Absence using Colilert, Readycult or Colitag
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Biological Scope – Other Waters including Sewage, Effluent and Marine Waters
- E.coli
- Total Coliforms
- Enterococci
- Faecal Coliforms
- Heterotrophic Plate Count at 22ºC and 35ºC
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Chemistry Scope – Potable Waters
- Conductivity
- Free Available Chlorine
- pH
- Turbidity
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The Dunedin laboratory team operate in the potable, swimming pool, and environmental waters space and offer a local sampling and microbiology testing service. Complex chemistry tests such as metals, organics and nutrients are processed at our Wellington site
The Dunedin City water contamination incident during August 2017 challenged the capabilities and staff of this laboratory as many samples needed to be collected and tested. A team of Eurofins-ELS staff from Wellington and Christchurch were on hand to assist, with many more staff working long hours in the Wellington laboratory to ensure fast turnaround of these urgent samples
The outcome was a fast and efficient laboratory service which delivered E. coli, heavy metals, and cryptosporidium results that allowed council staff to make fast decisions during this critical period
If you require a fast and efficient sampling and analysis service in the lower South Island region please contact South Island Laboratory Manager Dan Westlake on 021-242-2742 or by email
