Over the past 30 years, the Laboratory Certification program has grown to its 2015 level of 184 laboratories that it certifies to test wastewater, drinking water, solid waste and samples that may threaten the environment.

Public water providers in the United States are required to monitor their drinking water to determine if consumers are adequately protected from microbiological, chemical and radiochemical contaminants. Similarly, wastewater treatment facilities perform analysis to assure that the wastewater is properly treated to protect the environment from bacteria, pathogens and other pollutants.

The Hygienic Laboratory provides laboratory certification assessments and management for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The Laboratory Certification Program has developed over the past 30 years to provide a comprehensive list of testing parameters and fields of testing for laboratory certification.

A laboratory is certified to perform a specific method for a specific analyte or analyte group. The program also provides the opportunity for a testing laboratory to become certified for a specific analyte group across multiple environmental programs. For example, a lab may acquire certification for inorganic chemicals (IOCs) within the wastewater, drinking water and contaminated sites programs.

There are 184 laboratories certified in the program in 2015. Certified laboratories include municipal and city water plants, water treatment facilities and commercial laboratories. Approximately 150 laboratories perform only wastewater testing. The remainder test for drinking water or a combination of drinking water and wastewater. Some laboratories are commercial labs that are located outside of the state, but perform work in Iowa.

Certification in Iowa is on a two-year cycle with most laboratories receiving an onsite inspection once during that two-year period. Some laboratories, especially out-of-state laboratories that are certified in their home state, can be certified for Iowa based on reciprocity with their state’s certification or accreditation in the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program. Through reciprocity, a laboratory may not require an onsite inspection.