Workshop evaluates water testing labs |17 November 2009

   
Mrs Berlouis addressing guests and delegates at the opening of the workshop yesterday

This annual water proficiency testing evaluation workshop, running from November 16-18 at the International Conference Centre, was officially opened yesterday by principal secretary for Industries Marise Berlouis.

These countries took part in a proficiency testing scheme which is a system that determines the performance of individual laboratories by means of inter-laboratory comparison for specific tests or measurements. The aim is to ensure that water used in the region is safe for consumption.

The scheme is carried out by the Southern African Development Community association of water testing laboratories. It provides the opportunity for all interested laboratories to improve and demonstrate their quality to customers, authorities and accreditation bodies.

Attending the opening of the workshop yesterday were Donald Masuku, regional coordinator for the Southern African Development Community Cooperation in Measurement Traceability (SADCMET), Kathrin Wunderlich from the National Metrology Institute of Germany (PTB) and chief executive Seychelles Bureau of Standards (SBS) Amy Quatre.

Also present was principal chemist environmental laboratory of the SBS Vivian Radegonde, observers from the Indian Ocean Tuna, Public Health laboratory, and Public Utilities Corporation.

Countries taking part are from the Southern African Development Community Association of water testing laboratories which include Namibia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Seychelles, which is being represented by the SBS.

Addressing the audience Mrs Berlouis said access to proper and quality potable water is considered as a basic human right, but yet in many African countries this is not ensured as most water testing laboratories within the region have not been accredited and the validity of their results leave room for doubt, she said.

She encouraged other water testing laboratories to join in the proficiency scheme as it ensures consistency of performance and increase confidence in capability of staff, the system and equipment.

“By taking part in proficiency testing programmes the laboratories are able to demonstrate their competency to an accreditation body or a third party,” she said.

She added that results obtained from this testing is vital as it enables laboratories to monitor their tests overtimes and the quality of tests can be maintained or improved.

Explaining the water testing Mr Masuku said a sample of drinking water is tested by the different laboratories by using both chemical and micro biological parameters and then results are compared in an annual workshop. And then laboratories are able to analyse their results reports and see what corrective actions they can put in place to improve performance.

He said the samples are prepared by proficiency testing providers such as the Namwater based in Namibia and the Ugandan Nation Bureau of Standards.

“All countries taking part test the same sample of water prepared by these providers in their own laboratory and carry out their tests by suing the different parameters and then try to produce the correct results,” he said.
He added that through this scheme these laboratories try to prove their competence and show that they have good testing equipment so as to get accredited

Mr Radegonde said the SBS also took part in the first exercise in 2003 and their results were good and such tests help them to improve their service.

He said observers in the workshop, like the IOT which also test water in their factory, are also being encouraged to join and benefit from the scheme.

This workshop, being hosted by the SBS in collaboration with the SADCMET and the PTB of Germany, is the 6th evaluation workshop for the chemical proficiency testing and 2nd of its kind for the microbiology testing