PURCELLVILLE, Va. June 13, 2017- The Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) is recognized as an Accrediting Body by the NELAC Institute (TNI/National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference). Through the Virginia Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (VELAP), DCLS accredits environmental laboratories that perform test, analysis measurements or monitoring required pursuant to the Commonwealth’s laws and regulations.
The Laboratory at Basham Simms Wastewater Treatment Facility (BSWTF) has been an accredited Non-Commercial Environmental lab through DCLS since 2009. Non-Commercial Environmental Laboratories must meet the quality management standards set out in Virginia Regulation 1VAC30-45 and requirements of specific test methods in which the laboratory is accredited. In order to maintain accreditation BSWTF must have appropriate quality systems and analytical procedures in place to produce accurate, reliable and defensible test results. The laboratory must also be evaluated on-site by DCLS inspectors on a routine basis as well as pass annual Proficiency Testing for each of the Ten Matrices in which they are accredited.
Basham Simms is accredited in the following matrices: Escherichia Coli, Residue-Nonfilterable (TSS), Ammonia as N, Nitrate as N, Total Phosphorus, Nitrite as N, pH, Total Kjeldalh Nitrogen, Dissolved Oxygen and Carbonaceous BOD. Through pre-inspection paperwork and on-site inspection, DCLS uses a checklist of 490 different items to ensure that the laboratory is following guidelines set forth by VELAP.
With this accreditation, Basham Simms Wastewater Treatment Facility Laboratory joins just 40 other Fully Accredited VELAP labs in the State of Virginia The ability to conduct in house testing provides data faster to staff so they can make necessary changes to the process of the treatment facility. In addition, maintaining the BSWF accredited lab provides both cost and time savings as opposed to having the samples outsourced for testing to another certified lab.
