Water testing lab open
Council launches new $1.3 million laboratory at Mt Kynoch facility
THE Toowoomba Regional Council has unveiled its newly refurbished Mt Kynoch laboratory, to ensure the community’s water security.
TRC water and waste committee chair Cr Nancy Sommerfield said the provision of safe and secure water supply was one of the council’s top responsibilities.
“The $1.3 million upgrade project will allow the laboratory to expand its range of testing services, including more tests for water from private sources,” she said at the opening on Monday.
“The new facilities will ensure faster testing turnaround times, which will allow residents to benefit from higher quality water. It also means we will be able to react faster to any developing issues.
“The Mt Kynoch Laboratory upgrade will also support improved testing standards, address space requirements, meet new Workplace Health and Safety specifications and updated microbiological hazard containment requirements.”
Cr Sommerfield said the improvements to the facility would help the council save money with the option of doing more in-house testing.
“The council is testing new processes that will save up to $3000 per week immediately for services that were previously outsourced. A range of new testing regimes will create additional savings on top of this,” she said.
“This would not have been possible in the old laboratory due to insufficient safety and environmental compliance for air handling and bunding for the required tests.”