Bhubaneswar: The Water Corporation of Odisha (Watco) has begun the establishment of 46 water quality testing laboratories throughout the state to facilitate long-term monitoring of water quality in urban regions. A tender for this initiative, valued at Rs 3.61 crore, has recently been issued, covering not only the setup of the labs but also their operation and maintenance for a decade.
The chosen agency will be tasked with establishing these laboratories within six months and managing the water quality monitoring activities thereafter. The proposed facilities will be located in 29 urban local bodies (ULBs) under Watco’s oversight, including cities such as Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Berhampur, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Baripada, and Keonjhar. Bhubaneswar is set to host five of these laboratories, while Sambalpur will accommodate six, with other towns receiving between one to three labs based on their water supply system scale.
Currently, Watco manages a water treatment plant in Basuaghai on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar and a testing center near the Kuakhai River. The initiative is designed to bolster the state’s water quality monitoring framework, aligning with the Odisha State Urban Water Supply Policy.
The new laboratories are slated to be advanced testing facilities that adhere to the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) standards. They will feature modern instruments, including pH and turbidity meters, conductivity and TDS meters, colorimeters, chloroscopes, and other essential testing equipment.
Watco will be responsible for providing the necessary infrastructure and utilities, while the selected agency will supply the required equipment, chemicals, laboratory consumables, and qualified personnel. Samples will be regularly collected from various stages of the supply chain, including raw water sources, treatment plants, reservoirs, distribution networks, and consumer points. Key parameters for testing will encompass turbidity, pH, residual chlorine, total dissolved solids, alkalinity, color, and odor.
Furthermore, the tender stipulates that dedicated laboratory staff must be employed and periodic training programs conducted to ensure compliance with established national standards and protocols. Sampling and testing will adhere to specified parameters, such as IS 3025 and APHA guidelines, according to officials.
