The City of Cape Town yesterday, 26 March 2019 officially opened an extension to its scientific services building. The extension will enhance the City’s capacity for research and will contribute to the development of new and emerging water quality determinants.

The City of Cape Town yesterday, 26 March 2019, opened an extension to its Scientific Services Facility in Waste Water Avenue in Athlone stepping up the scope and scale of water quality testing to respond to population and economic growth.

The City now has the means and capacity to test water quality at levels above that which is currently required by SANS 241 and to build extensive, comprehensive data sets that will pave the way to greater resilience.

The City’s scientific services facilities have been recognised for their capabilities on numerous occasions over the years and have contributed to the City’s outstanding Blue Drop and Green Drop successes.

There has recently been significant media attention given to the accumulation of man-made chemicals in the environment and concern has been raised that these chemicals could affect human health and the environment if they accumulate in sufficient quantities. This is driving research around the world to establish which chemicals are problematic and in which quantities they become problematic. The goal would be to develop standards around their use.

The City would like to actively participate and assist in these efforts, and as such it was required that its capacity for testing be improved.

‘Investment in scientific research is critical for a forward thinking and proactive municipality and the City is confident that this newly enhanced capacity will act as a driver for enhanced management of these chemicals both on the manufacturing side and on the side of the regulator. As our understanding of human health and the ecological effects of various compounds improves, so does our ability to prioritise environmental interventions,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Waste, Councillor Xanthea Limberg.

The City’s Draft Water Strategy commits to providing safe access to water and to transforming the municipality into a water-sensitive city. Extra capacity provided by this ISO-accredited laboratory to detect, to monitor and to research emerging pollutants will be key to fulfilling these commitments,’ said Councillor Limberg

The new instruments to support the extended scope of work include:

a total organic carbon analyser for liquid and solid samples

an ICP_OES instrument for metal analysis

a direct mercury analyser

‘The primary mandate of the Scientific Services Laboratories is to provide credible and reliable scientific monitoring services and advice to protect public health and to ensure that a safe environment exists. Over the years this section, whose staff compliment currently includes four PhD and 15 Masters qualifications equipped to maintain Blue Drop and ISO 17025 accreditation, has significantly contributed to the City’s reputation as a leader in scientific services countrywide. This highly qualified team keeps us on track with meeting and exceeding relevant standards, and the new facility means that the City is now well placed to continue to do so,’ said Councillor Limberg.

The facility also offers a structured scientific graduate program and capacity for community development and education.

Source: City Of Cape Town