PMC’s Parvati lab gets national recognition for drinking water testing

The laboratory has met prescribed quality requirements for 11 key parameters, including pH, turbidity, hardness, alkalinity and chloride

The Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) central laboratory at the Parvati Water Centre has received recognition under the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) 139 programme for meeting national quality standards for drinking-water testing, officials said on Tuesday.

The laboratory is working towards full NABL accreditation, a process officials said would further strengthen its testing and monitoring capabilities. (FILE)

The laboratory has met prescribed quality requirements for 11 key parameters, including pH, turbidity, hardness, alkalinity and chloride.

According to the civic body, the laboratory is the first drinking-water testing laboratory under the water-supply department of an urban local body (ULB) in Maharashtra to receive this recognition. Most other recognised laboratories in the state are operated by state or municipal health departments.

The laboratory is working towards full NABL accreditation, a process officials said would further strengthen its testing and monitoring capabilities.

The initiative was undertaken under the guidance of the civic chief.

“The recognition is an important step towards ensuring safe and high-quality drinking water for citizens,” additional municipal commissioner Pavneet Kaur said.

The recognition comes as water-quality monitoring remains particularly important during the monsoon, when heavy rainfall can increase turbidity in raw water entering treatment plants.