The NLS will be providing analysis and reporting services throughout the different stages of water purification - from wastewater treatment works to domestic properties - for Severn Trent Water, South West Water, Northumbrian Water and Scottish Water catchment areas.

To support Severn Trent Water's CIP - including approximately 3,000 samples taken over the next 18 months from 37 of their sites - the NLS will be working through environmental services partners WSP and Enitial.

The UK Water Industry Research organisation (UKWIR) developed the CIP in collaboration with the Environment Agency to uphold the recent European Directives - the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the new Priority Substances Daughter Directive - put in place to regulate Environmental Quality Standards. 

Ian Rippin, commercial director of the NLS said: "This has been a team achievement for the NLS with nearly every part of the organisation getting involved over the past year. We are delighted to be at the forefront of support given to UK water companies during the implementation of the new European Directives."

The NLS has four laboratories in Exeter, Leeds, Nottingham and Llanelli. To complete this contract the NLS lab in Nottingham will manage sewage influents and primary effluents, as well as the majority of the logistics, including the timely provision of sample bottles. Sewage sludges will go to the Leeds site and final effluents will go to the Starcross (Devon) laboratory.

Some tests will be site specific, for example samples for tributyltin and polybrominated diphenyl ethers will be analysed at the Llanelli site and pharmaceuticals will be analysed by the Starcross laboratory.