ABSTRACT
Waterworks and wastewater treatment plants are sized to meet current needs, as well as those of the future. No matter the size of the treatment plant, some space or area within the plant is designated as the lab area, which can range from being the size of a closet to being fully equipped and staffed environmental laboratories. Water and wastewater laboratories usually perform a number of different tests. Lab test results provide the operator with the information necessary to operate the treatment facility at optimal levels. Laboratory testing usually includes determining service line flushing time, solution concentration, pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus, fecal coliform count, chlorine residual, and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), to name a few. The standard reference for performing wastewater testing is contained in Standard Methods for the Examination of Water & Wastewater.
