PENNSYLVANIA, March 30, 2016 -- A Vermont laboratory that provided analysis of drinking water supply for 15 public water systems in Pennsylvania has been banned from conducting water quality tests of samples taken before water treatment following a state Department of Environmental Protection investigation.
The DEP investigation revealed major violations of the Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Act by Analytical Services Inc., located in Williston, Vt., according to a news release.
The company had its DEP accreditation suspended immediately and the department issued the company a notice of violation for failing to ensure the accuracy of the analytical data generated and reported and for failing to meet the test method requirements for testing and analyzing microbiology drinking water samples, according to the release.
In March 2015, the department enlisted the laboratory to provide analysis of raw drinking water for parasites and bacteria, including cryptosporidium, giardia, and E. coli. According to DEP, all of the affected systems are currently in compliance with existing treatment technique requirements for filtration and disinfection.
The affected water companies combined serve 950,000 customers. They are: PA American Royersford, Chester Water Authority, PA American Norristown, North Wales Water Authority, PA American Ceasetown, PA American Nesbitt, PA American Watres, PA American Huntsville, Easton Area Water System, Center Twp Water Authority, PA American Co West, Suez Water, PA American Water Co, Northwestern Lancaster Co, and Lebanon Water Co.
A spokesperson for the department said the department has no reason to believe the water systems were ever out of compliance or that would have turned up in post-treatment water samples.
