KWA to increase its testing labs to 70

The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) plans to increase the variety of water high quality testing laboratories beneath it on the sub-district stage to 70 in the course of the present monetary 12 months.

The modernisation of present district and sub-district labs and the institution of recent labs are being taken up beneath the Centrally assisted rural water provide programme Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) wherein water high quality monitoring and surveillance (WQM&S) types an necessary part.

At current, Kerala has 32 sub district labs and 14 district labs as well as to the State Referral Institute for Water Quality (SRI) at Nettoor in Ernakulam district. Many of the sub-district laboratories have been working alongside the district laboratories. In modernising the Statewide laboratory community, the sub-district amenities have been within the means of changing into separate entities, a KWA official mentioned. “The idea is to have five sub district-level labs in every district,” the official mentioned.

The Ministry of Jal Shakti Ministry has allotted ₹36.09 crore as Central grants-in-aid for WQM&S actions beneath JJM throughout 2021-22. In May, the Centre had additionally accredited the discharge of ₹451.14 crore as its share for the implementation of JJM in Kerala throughout 2021-22. The JJM prices are shared 50:50 by the Centre and State.

During May and June, the standard management district labs in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Kannur had gained the accreditation of the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) for testing 10 to 14 parameters together with color, odour, turbidity, pH worth, alkalinity, dissolved solids, whole hardness, calcium, magnesium and chloride. According to the KWA, the labs are outfitted to carry out water high quality assessments as prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Act and subject certification. Domestic shoppers can get the assessments carried out at concession charges.

While its lab community constitutes a essential part in guaranteeing water high quality, correct high quality monitoring on the KWA water therapy vegetation (WTP) additionally play an necessary position. In due course, KWA plans to receive accreditation for the labs hooked up to WTPs additionally.