Water Authority Lab MeetsHigh International Standards
The Laboratory of the Water Authority-Caymanhas recently received certification from the American Associationfor Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA). It is the first and onlylaboratory in the Caribbean specialized in analyzing water andwastewater that has such recognition. In order to achieve andmaintain the certification, the laboratory has undergone a rigorousexternal review process that meets internationally recognizedstandards.
"A2LA accreditation is a great achievementfor us," explains Water Authority Director, Dr. Gelia Frederick-vanGenderen.
"This means our testing proceduresand our lab facilities have passed the reviews and requirementsthat are compulsory in the US. I am very proud of our lab staff,all of whom have been extremely dedicated to their work."
"We are very excited," expressedLab Technologist Wendy Warren. "There was no doubt that wewould actually achieve this. We worked very hard as a team, andwe intend to continue improving our work."
The A2LA are US-based assessors that imposestrict standards upon all laboratories seeking accreditation,a formal recognition of an organization's technical competencyto perform specific tests, types of tests, or calibrations. Suchqualifications are awarded only to labs that meet or exceed therequirements set forth by the A2LA, all of which go beyond ISO/IEC17025 standards. The U.S. Environmental Protection and the U.S.Federal Communications Commission are among the various agenciesthat recognize the A2LA.
"We really have come a long way,"adds Dr. Frederick-van Genderen. "I remember the good olddays when the lab was not much more than a kitchen in a houseon Maple Road. Today, our lab houses state-of-the-art equipment,which meet the toughest US and international standards."To maintain accreditation, the Water Authority must continue toundergo periodic reviews and meet all A2LA requirements.
The Water Authority-Cayman is a statutorybody that is charged with the protection of the water resourcesof the Cayman Islands and with the implementation of water andsewage infrastructure for the country. Among the services theyprovide to the public is the testing of drinking water from cisternsand wells. For more information please contact the Water Authorityat 949-6352, or email: wac@candw.ky.