Laboratory
The City of Bend’s Water Quality Lab gives staff the important information they need to help keep water safe, make informed decisions and meet state and federal standards.
The City of Bend Water Quality Laboratory is part of the Water Quality and Lab Services Division in the City of Bend’s Water Services Department. Our job is to help the City stay prepared for public health and environmental challenges, making sure our community stays safe and healthy.
Our Lab Accreditations
Our lab is officially accredited by several trusted organizations, including:
- Oregon Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ORELAP)
- National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP)
- Oregon Health Authority
These accreditations mean we meet high standards for testing and analysis. Our team is made up of skilled professionals with college degrees in chemistry, biology, microbiology, or environmental science. They bring years of experience from both government and private labs, and they’re passionate about protecting our environment.
What We Test
We regularly test for:
- Bacteria like total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and E. coli
- Nutrients
- Chemical and physical properties like pH, BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), and TSS (Total Suspended Solids)
All our testing follows approved scientific methods. We carefully document every step using Standard Operating Procedures and our Quality Assurance Manual. Our Quality Assurance Officer reviews all data, which is then stored in our Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). This helps us keep your data safe and easy to access whenever it’s needed.
Who We Serve
We provide testing services for several departments within the City of Bend Water Services Department, including:
- Water Reclamation Facility
- Water Operations Division
- Stormwater Management Program
- Biosolids Management Program
- Engineering Department