The global water testing market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7% over the next 5 years along with a rise in over 50% in water demand in the GCC.
Water-related infrastructure projects in the GCC market are expected to be focused on desalination plants, wastewater and industrial water treatment plants, along with electricity co-generation from biogas produced from anaerobic digesters.
Bureau Veritas laboratories in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are accredited to ISO 17025 and play an important role in sampling and testing the water throughout difference stages of the projects, from the initial Environmental Impact Assessment stage to the commissioning of the plant, as well as the operational phase to monitor the quality of the final water product.
The types of water tests which are conducted at the laboratory range from basic tests such as pH, TDS, Conductivity, Carbonates, turbidity & colour to more sophisticated tests such as essential elements like iron, copper, sodium & potassium; heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury; anions like bicarbonates, chloride, sulphate and bromate and carbon-based volatile organic compounds such as TPH, PAH, BTEX.
The main equipment utilised in the laboratory includes Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Ion Chromatography and ICP OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy) which are analytical techniques used to measure elements and substances in a test sample using various APHA and US EPA test methods.
One of the key demands by customers is a quick Turnaround time (TAT) of the reported results, whilst maintaining the necessary quality protocols starting from the sampling stage, transportation of the samples under the required temperature conditions, sample preparation, testing, and finally reporting. Utilising operational excellence along with the latest technologies is a key differentiator in achieving these quick TAT in this competitive market. Bureau Veritas continues to invest in the latest technology and training of our technologists to assure our customers are receiving the best services at all times.
The latest trends in operational excellence has seen our laboratories adopt a “digitised approach”, which benefits both us and the customer. The laboratory benefits by improving its TAT and further smoothening its operations. The customer benefits by having access to captured data from the testing records, which is analysed to help monitor and improve their processes.