The Water Quality Laboratory plays a key role in ensuring local streams meet standards set by the State of Georgia in compliance with the Clean Water Act.
Samples are routinely collected during dry and wet weather conditions by the Stream Monitoring Program and returned to the laboratory for analysis. Laboratory staff record results, often communicating any irregularities as quickly as possible so further investigation can be initiated. These results are reported annually to Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD).
The laboratory occasionally analyzes samples taken by the Stormwater Division to assist in illicit discharge investigations.
In addition, as part of the CMOM program, water quality samples are collected and analyzed upstream and downstream of any major sewer overflow. Testing is performed for a year and these results are regularly reported to EPD.