Proficiency testing for EU water framework

LGC's Proficiency Testing Group has recognised that the required performance at the regulatory limits of many of the substances is at the forefront of what chemical analysis can achieve.

Throughout Europe, laboratories are testing inland and coastal waters for pollutants such as metals pesticides and weed killers.

The target is to make all such waters comply with specified EU environmental standards for 'good status' by 2015 as laid down by the EU's Water Framework Directive (2000).

This defines environmental standards for bodies of water and specifies milestones and timescales for achieving environmentally good quality water in rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands.

With effect from 22 December 2006, member states should now be compliant, with monitoring programmes in place in each river basin district.

The laboratories carrying out the testing need to be sure that their methods and reference materials are adequate for assessing the extent to which inland and other waters meet the standards.

Aquacheck, a leading proficiency testing (PT) provider in the water sector, has already conducted two rounds of the first EU-wide PT scheme covering practically all of the priority substances in the EU Water Framework Directive.

The first round involved 17 laboratories from 12 countries testing 39 chemicals, all but two of the priority substances in the current list.

Ten of the 17 laboratories participating in the trial achieved a satisfactory level of performance in more than 75% of the tests they performed.

A third round is about to get underway.

Aquacheck's Water Framework Directive Priority Substances PT scheme was launched in 2006 and is being expanded this year.

It includes a workshop for new entrants and previous participants scheduled for April 2007 to share ways in which relevant techniques can be improved and harmonised using exercises and case studies to cover common analytical problems.

According to Dr John Marriott, LGC's Director of Analytical Technology: "Laboratories involved in monitoring the priority substances specified by the EU Water Framework Directive face technical challenges.

LGC's Proficiency Testing Group has recognised that the required performance at the regulatory limits of many of the substances is at the forefront of what chemical analysis can achieve.

We have included 95% of the priority substances within this PT scheme so participating laboratories will be able to test their capabilities across the range of key analytes." Laboratories wishing to join Aquacheck's Water Framework Directive Priority Substances PT scheme should register their interest by email to: aquacheck@lgcpt.com.

The scheme commences on 29 January 2007 and will continue with additional PT rounds later in the year and into 2008.

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