Laboratory Services
WATER QUALITY SECTION
LABORATORY TESTING SERVICES
Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) is committed to the effective management of its drinking water supplies to provide a safe, high-quality product that consistently meets the Botswana Standard for Drinking Water Quality Specification (BOS 32:2015), World Health Organisation Drinking Water Quality Guidelines and the Botswana Standard for the Botswana Wastewater Specification Standard (BOS 93:2012). A wide variety of parameters are tested in the WUC state of the art laboratory at Mmamashia, while a limited scope of analysis is done at Service Centre laboratories. Water samples are also sent to other strategic laboratory alliances in the region for further testing. The quality of water is tested at various points in the distribution network, including the consumer’s tap to maintain the set quality standards and safeguard the consumer’s health.
The laboratory (lab) provides analysis of water and wastewater sample matrices using various analytical methodologies and instrumentation. To ensure that quality standards are maintained, the lab participates in proficiency testing schemes and is accredited by the Southern African Development Community Accreditation Service (SADCAS) in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. A comprehensive water quality database is maintained on a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
In a drive to align to the Corporation’s Vision and Mission, WUC laboratories aim to be a market leader in the testing field and your one stop shop for analysis of ground, surface, drinking, waste and processed water.
LABORATORY CAPACITY
The laboratory provides sampling and testing services using various internationally recognised techniques such as Photometry, Electrometry, Colorimetry, Gravimetry, Spectroscopy, Ion Chromatography, membrane filtration and Defined Subtrate Technology®.
The main laboratory is located at the Mmamashia Water Treatment Works in Mmamashia, 1.8 km off Gaborone – Francistown, A1 Road, Mmamashia, Botswana.
Service Centre laboratories are in Glen Valley (Gaborone), Kasane, Ntimbale (Masunga), Shashe (Francistown), Mambo (Francistown), Selibe-Phikwe, Palapye, Mahalapye, Gantsi and Lobatse. Other upcoming testing facilities include Maun, Molepolole, Letlhakane, Serowe, Hukuntsi and Kanye. Testing at these sites is, however, limited to only some of the analytes.
LABORATORY ANALYSIS FEES
A. Individual Analysis
|
ANALYTE |
(BWP) |
|
ANALYTE |
(BWP) |
|
|
Physical Parameters |
|
Cations (Metals) Cont. |
|
||
|
Biological Oxygen Demand |
76.90 |
Cobalt |
40.00 |
||
|
Chemical Oxygen Demand |
107.65 |
Cadmium |
40.00 |
||
|
Chlorine - Free |
29.75 |
Calcium |
40.00 |
||
|
Chlorine - Total |
29.65 |
Chromium |
40.00 |
||
|
Color |
50.10 |
Copper |
40.00 |
||
|
Dissolved Oxygen |
33.40 |
Iron |
40.00 |
||
|
Electrical Conductivity |
43.60 |
Lead |
40.00 |
||
|
pH & Temperature |
43.55 |
Magnesium |
40.00 |
||
|
Suspended Solids -Total |
173.21 |
Manganese |
40.00 |
||
|
Suspended Solids - Volatile |
79.00 |
Mercury |
40.00 |
||
|
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) |
43.60 |
Nickel |
40.00 |
||
|
Turbidity |
38.25 |
Potassium |
40.00 |
||
|
Hardness Parameters |
|
Sodium |
40.00 |
||
|
Uranium |
40.00 |
||||
|
Alkalinity |
57.30 |
Vanadium |
40.00 |
||
|
Calcium Hardness |
57.69 |
Zinc |
40.00 |
||
|
Total Hardness |
59.85 |
Cations - ICP-OES |
559.65 |
||
|
Anions |
|
Cations - Discrete Analyser |
427.45 |
||
|
Microbiology Parameters |
|
||||
|
Bromide |
61.05 |
||||
|
Chloride |
61.05 |
Algae enumeration |
200.00 |
||
|
Fluoride |
61.05 |
Clostridium perfringens |
248.10 |
||
|
Nitrate |
61.05 |
Cryptosporidium & Giardia |
3221.90 |
||
|
Nitrite |
61.05 |
Escherichia coli (MFT) |
117.40 |
||
|
Phosphate |
61.05 |
Escherichia coli (Colilert-18) |
117.40 |
||
|
Sulphate |
61.05 |
Faecal coliforms (MFT) |
79.00 |
||
|
Anions - Discrete Analyser |
427.45 |
Faecal coliforms (Colilert-18) |
79.00 |
||
|
Anions - ICS 3000 |
427.45 |
Faecal Streptococci |
80.55 |
||
|
Cations (Metals) |
|
Heterotrophic Plate Count |
322.00 |
||
|
Legionella pneumophila |
51.00 |
||||
|
Aluminum |
40.00 |
Pseudomonas aeruginosa |
179.75 |
||
|
Ammonia |
40.00 |
Total coliforms (MFT) |
117.40 |
||
|
Arsenic |
40.00 |
Total coliforms (Colilert-18) |
117.40 |
||
|
Boron |
40.00 |
Vibrio cholerae |
165.00 |
B. Group Costs
|
TYPE OF ANALYSIS |
PARAMETERS |
COST (BWP) |
|
Basic Drinking Water Human Consumption Test |
pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, E. coli, faecal coliforms, total coliforms, free chlorine, total chlorine, anions, and cations. |
1,566.40 |
|
Basic Drinking water test for livestock and poultry |
alkalinity, pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, faecal coliforms, total coliforms, Heterotrophic Plate Count, anions, and cations. |
1,688.45 |
|
Basic Water quality test for irrigation |
pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, suspended solids, E. coli, faecal coliforms, anions, and cations. |
1,390.15 |
|
Basic Wastewater Discharge Compliance Test |
pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, turbidity, conductivity, total dissolved solids, faecal coliforms, total coliforms, ammonia, free chlorine, total chlorine, anions, and cations. |
1,637.65 |
|
New connections to existing WUC network |
Faecal coliforms, free chlorine, total chlorine, total coliforms, E. coli and turbidity |
293.95 |
|
Treated Water Check |
Electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, iron, manganese, turbidity, free chlorine, and total chlorine |
221.15 |
|
Basic Water quality test for treated Bottled water |
pH, total dissolved solids, E. coli, faecal coliforms, total coliforms, P. aeruginosa, Heterotrophic Plate Count, Alkalinity, anions, and cations. |
1,947.10 |
C. SAMPLING CHARGES
|
Distance travelled in Kilometers on Tarred Road multiplied by mileage |
charges per Kilometer (BWP 1.75) or |
|
Distance travelled in Kilometers on Gravel/ Sand Road multiplied by mileage |
charges per Kilometer (BWP 2.08) |
|
Handling Fee per batch of samples collected |
BWP 53.66 |
Note:
- Total cost of sampling and analysis may vary depending on the testing technique available at time of request for analysis and times scheduled for sampling being either working or outside working hours.
TESTING HANDLING FEES
- Potable Water BWP 50.00
- Wastewater BWP 100.00
The above prices are VAT exclusive.
TURNAROUND TIMES
- Chemistry Analyses 10 working days
- Microbiology Analyses 4 working days
CONTACT DETAILS:
Manager – Laboratory Services
Tel: +267 3604400/01
Email: mletsamao@wuc.bw
Website: www.wuc.bw
For further information on WUC products and services Call 0800 555 555