Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Water Quality Laboratory

General Information

The Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering Water Quality Laboratory (ABEWQL) mission is to:

  1. provide assistance to research projects, primarily those in soil and water.
  2. furnish facilities, equipment, materials and supplies for those using the laboratory.
  3. provide training and information on laboratory procedures and safety.
  4. perform analyses

The Water Quality Laboratory is involved in the following areas pertaining to a research project:

Sampling -- The laboratory provides assistance to research projects on size and type of containers needed for collecting samples, labeling , etc. The WQL also gives advice on necessity for any on site sample processing.

Sample Storage -- The WQL assists project personnel on determining the type of storage and preservation of samples which may be chemical and/or cold temperature.

Sample Processing -- The WQL has available published procedures for various kinds of extractions and digestions of samples to obtain the appropriate chemical form that can be analyzed.

Sample Preparation -- The WQL has the equipment, materials and supplies necessary for filtering, diluting, etc. samples immediately before analyses.

Sample Analyses -- The WQL has available published methods for analyzing samples. These published methods are by nationally recognized organizations in the field of chemical analyses. The WQL resources consist of analytical equipment along with associated equipment and facilities necessary to conduct analyses of agricultural chemicals by gas chromatography and spectrophotometric (manual and automated) techniques. The WQL has facilities and equipment for performing microbiological measurements.

WQL personnel provides assistance to laboratory users conducting analyses on the methodology of how to perform analyses. This includes the steps for determining quality assurance of the data by the use of standard reference material to check calibration standards, variability in the analyses and the possibility of matrix interference. It includes criteria for processing and reporting data.