Laboratories

SCOPE

Official control and monitoring of the chemical quality of drinking water supplied from the Water Distribution Networks mobile water containers, vending machines as well as bottled water (table, spring and natural mineral water) aiming in the protection of Public Health.

The chemical control includes the whole procedure of drinking water production e.g. from Water Treatment and Water Desalination plants up to consumers tap. Moreover, the monitoring control applied both to ground and surface water intended for drinking.

ACTIVITIES

The General Water Analysis Lab is one of the oldest laboratories of the SGL. It΄s activities are supplementary to those of the Environment Chemistry I, Ecotoxicology, Water Microbiology and Virology and Radioactivity Labs, so as to ensure drinking water safety through an integrated approach.

In order to achieve the above goals, the lab has developed the necessary expertise and infrastructure. This equipment includes Mass Spectrum Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP/MS), Atomic Emission Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), Ion Chromatography System (IC), TOC Analyzer, Flamephotometers, Spectrophotometers etc.

(a) Compliance Control, Monitoring and Surveillance Programs

During 2004 a pilot monitoring program program ( covering selected sampling points throughout Cyprus) was implemented, based on the requirements of the Directive 98/83/EE and the respective Law 87(I)/2001 concerning drinking water quality. The program continued on a regular basis in 2005, covering all towns and villages of Cyprus.

Since 2006 the laboratory implements programs which are designed at the beginning of each year on the basis of the fulfillment of the requirements of the relevant legislation. They are carried in cooperation with the competent Authorities (e.g. Public Health Services of the Ministry of Health, Municipalities, the Water Development Department, the Geological and Fisheries Departments of the Ministry of Agriculture, National Resources and Environment).

• Compliance Control and Monitoring Programs for Drinking Water quality according to Directive 98/83/EC (Harmonized into National Law 87(I) /2001).
• Monitoring Programs for National Mineral Waters, according to Directive 2003/40/EE (The Natural Mineral Waters Regulations of 2002-2006).
• Surface Water Monitoring Programs according to article 8 of Water Frame Directive 2000/60 EE (Harmonized into National Law 13(I)/2004). Monitoring Programs of Drinking Water Quality form Water Treatment and Desalination Plants.
  

The above mentioned programs cover the analysis of a large number of parameters: Anions, Cations, Boron, Heavy Metals, Total Organic Carbon, pH, Conductivity, Total Hardness, etc.

• Monitoring Programme of Fresh Waters needing protection or improvement according to Directive 2006/44/EC.The control includes the determination of Total and Free Ammonium, Nitrites and Total Phosphorous.
• Study of the enrichment of Ezousa aquifer with treated waste – “recycled” water. The parameters under investigation are the following: Nitrates, Nitrites, Ammonium and TOC.
  

(b) Applied Research

The laboratory performs research on subjects of particular concerns :

• Determination of Fluoride levels in drinking water of Cyprus (1997)
• Investigation of chemical composition of drinking water in selected geographical areas throughout Cyprus. As a result of this work, the laboratory has published water composition tables (1999)
• Determination of Mercury, Arsenic and Total Organic Carbon in Drinking Waters (2007).
• Investigation of Nickel contamination in water cooling dispensers (2008).
• Investigation of Arsenic contamination of Drinking water in Mammari area (2009).
• Monitoring program of Drinking water quality of small-scale water supplies (2009).
• Investigation of the chemical quality of Drinking Water supplied from vending machines (2010)
• Determination of Haloacetic acids (HAAs) in drinking water (2011).
• Determination of Cyanides in Drinking Waters (2012).
  

(c) International Projects

The laboratory participated in the following projects:

• UNHCR project “Chemical and Biological Monitoring for the Assessment and Prevention of Water Pollution-Development of an early Warning System” 1994-1996
• A Life /EU project “Development of an Integrated Monitoring and Early Warning System to Sustain Water Quality & Multifunctionality of Surface Waters” (1996-2000)
  

(c) Participation in Technical Committees:

• Technical committee for the approval of Natural Mineral Waters
• Technical committee for establishing the Swimming pools regulations of 2013.
• Technical committee for awarding the EU Ecolabel to all-purpose cleaners and sanitary products.