SCOPE
The Environmental Water Contaminaion Laboratory conducts measurements of organic and inorganic pollutants in water samples (drinking, surface, underground) in order to protect the Environment end to ensure public health.
ACTIVITIES
The complexity of environmental issues requires an integrated approach to investigate not only the type of pollution and its extent ,but also its potential impact on the ecosystem and finally to human beings. This is why the work of the Laboratories of Environmental Water Contamination and Environmental Chemistry & Control of Effluents are filled with the work of the Laboratory of Ecotoxicology. Although the three laboratories have autonomous structure, complementary activities are establishing the pillars of integrated monitoring.
The integrated approach covers :
- Control of pollution of surface waters , sediments (dams, rivers, lakes, etc.) and water supply network
- Investigation of incidents of agricultural or industrial pollution.
- Implementation of integrated research programs to determine whether any possible impacts on the aquifer from the use of treated wastewater for irrigation and enhancement (for example studies in Akrotiri and Ezousa water).
Since 1996 development, expertise and infrastructure of the above laboratories and so today, with relative strengthening of their human resources, the whole of the range of chemical and biological aspects of the requirements of the European Legislation is covered, particularly the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/E.E.
The laboratory annually prepares monitoring and compliance checking programs in cooperation with other cypriot competent authorities (e.g. health inspectors of the Ministry of Health and Municipalities, Water Development Department, Geological Survey Department and the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment. The programs are designed at the beginning of each year in collaboration with other Laboratories of the SGL in order to meet the requirements of relevant laws and regulations of the Cypriot Republic and the European Union.
More specifically the above mentioned programs include:
- Program for monitoring drinking water, ensuring the implementation of Law L.87 (I ) / 2001 (harmonized with the European Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of water intended for human consumption). In this, the frequency and type of analysis is also determined depending on the daily volume of water produced and distributed per supply zone.
- Program monitoring of surface waters in accordance with Article 8 of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC (Law 13 (I) / 2004).
- Program monitoring water quality of Water Treatment Refineries and Desalination Systems
- Monitoring Programme for Water Dams in compliance with Directive 2006/44/EC (concerning the quality of fresh waters needing protection or improvement in order to maintain fish life).
- Monitoring of aquifer Ezousa, which is recharged using recycled water produced by the Sewerage Board of Paphos.
- Program for monitoring groundwater resources in accordance with Directive 2006/118/EE and in collaboration with the Water Development Department and Geological Survey Department.
The range of chemicals control covers almost the entire list of priority substances (Directive 39/2013/EE) arising from the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC).
In total 180 chemical parameters are determined which including:
- Heavy metals (12)
- Agricultural Pollutants from 39 different pesticide groups, including 14 Organochlorine Pesticides
- Industrial Pollutants such as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (15 PAHs), basic and neutral pollutants
- (43 - including the 7 phthalates), 17 Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB's) and 50 volatile organic compounds.
- Chlorination sub products such as Trihalomethanes (4 THMs).
The laboratory has the required expertise and advanced technology equipment and instruments for the determination of both organic and inorganic contaminants. Gas chromatography (GC) with selective detectors (ECD, FID), Gas chromatography Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS), High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) with selective detectors (Fluorescence, PDA), UPLC / MS / MS and emission spectroscopy with inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and ICP / MS.
RESEARCH
The laboratory is accredited for a total of 7 methods and has already developed a system which allows for identification and confirmation of the above parameters and constantly promotes research activity within tackling water pollution.
The scope of accreditation of the Laboratory according to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 can be found on the web page CYS-CYSAB (Accredited Bodies, Laboratories of the State General Laboratory of Cyprus).