Drinking Water
Compliance Lab
Certified laboratory support for the City's Water Treatment Plant, performing critical regulatory analysis of source, finished, and distribution system water.
Execution Period
2022 – 2024
Primary contract phase
Service Frequency
Weekly MONITORING
Standardized sampling schedule
Reporting Speed
24 HR TURNAROUND
Required for critical alerts
Regulatory Scope of Work
Ann Arbor operates a complex water treatment system sourcing from the Huron River and ground wells. This contract secures external EPA-certified laboratory verification for contaminants that cannot be analyzed in the local plant lab.
- Inorganic Contaminants (IOC): Annual analysis of arsenic, barium, chromium, fluoride, mercury, nitrate, and selenium.
- Radiological Parameters: Gross Alpha and Radium 226/228 testing to meet Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act (PA 399) requirements.
- Secondary Standards: Monitoring for aesthetic qualities including color, odor, and dissolved solids to maintain consumer satisfaction.
- Quality Control Protocols: The laboratory provides all chain-of-custody documentation, specialized preservation chemicals, and certified clean sampling vessels.
Technical Standards Reference
The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to health goals as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) certifies the labs and mandates the frequency of these technical audits.
Selection Criteria
Scored based on Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act compliance history and laboratory accreditation for all parameters.
PFAS Monitoring &
Infrastructure Control
Ultra-sensitive detection of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) to ensure the efficacy of Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filtration systems.
Detection Limit
2.0 PPT
Parts Per Trillion sensitivity
Primary Methods
EPA 533 & 537.1
Standardized analytical protocols
Analytical Matrix
Liquid & SOLIDS
Testing water and filter carbon
Advanced Scope of Work
PFAS detection requires specialized clean-room environments and Liquid Chromatography with tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The City uses this data to manage the lifecycle of its multi-million dollar GAC filtration infrastructure.
- Breakthrough Analysis: Sampling water at various depths within the GAC filters to identify when PFAS begins to bypass the carbon.
- Short-Chain Compound Tracking: Utilizing EPA Method 533 to detect emerging short-chain PFAS that are harder to remove from water.
- Source Investigation: Testing groundwater wells and river intakes to identify seasonal spikes in PFAS concentrations.
- Regulatory Compliance: Providing rapid-response data for public reporting to meet Michigan's stringent PFAS drinking water rules.
Chemical & Operational Glossary
The two most common PFAS compounds. Michigan sets limits of 8 ppt and 16 ppt respectively for these substances.
Liquid Chromatography with tandem Mass Spectrometry. The highly specialized equipment required to "see" compounds at the trillionth-part level.
KPI Weighting Scorecard
Evaluated equally to ensure technical precision is not sacrificed for cost in high-stakes public health monitoring.