Public Works Department
Environmental Services
Environmental Laboratory |

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The Environmental Laboratory is located at Broomfield's Water Treatment Facility at 4395 W. 144th Ave.
(northwest of the intersection of 144th Ave. and Lowell Blvd). The Lab's mission is to assess, protect and
improve water quality in our community.
This mission is achieved by developing and maintaining a water quality laboratory program to ensure that all standards for
the protection of public health and the environment are met. The lab staff promptly responds to consumer concerns
and provides timely follow-up. The staff works diligently to ensure that the city and county water resources are
appropriately used and protected.
Program Description
Broomfield maintains an independent water quality laboratory to serve the community. Our laboratory meets
stringent Quality Assurance requirements set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Colorado Department
of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), and is Certified to analyze drinking water for contaminants that may pose a health
risk.
The Environmental Laboratory staff currently consists of 5 full-time and 1 part-time employee whose
duties range from collecting samples, to chemical and microbiological analyses, to program management. The goals of the
program are to:
- Ensure compliance with all Drinking Water Standards for the protection of public health established by the
EPA and CDPHE. Our water supply has never violated a drinking water standard or any other regulatory requirement. The
annual Drinking Water Quality report for 2010 is available here
Broomfield's 2010 Consumer Confidence Report.
- Respond to consumer concerns by answering questions about drinking water, preparing and distributing water quality
reports, collecting and analyzing samples, and investigating problems involving water quality, seeps, or other
environmental concerns. Fact Sheets are available for frequently asked
questions.
- Analyze source water supplies to determine what treatment is needed to produce high-quality drinking water.
- Monitor the treated water to assess the effectiveness of the treatment process.
- Test new water mains to ensure that they meet sanitation requirements before they are connected to the distribution
system.
- Provide an early warning of problems in the distribution system that may require changes in the treatment process,
or in the operation and maintenance of the system.
- Support national and statewide efforts to implement a watershed approach to improving the quality of U.S. waters by
actively participating in planning, monitoring and management activities for our watershed.
- Provide monitoring of all of the ponds in Broomfield. Broomfield maintains numerous ponds and reservoirs throughout
the community. These ponds serve as aquatic amenities associated with neighborhoods, parks and trails, wildlife
areas, urban fisheries, or storm water detention facilities; most have multiple functions. The pond monitoring program
's goal is to characterize and track water quality, and to establish management strategies that will support the goals
for the ponds and minimize the potential for fish kills, nuisance algae blooms, or odors.
- The Pond Monitoring Video gives you an up close view of the program.
The Environmental Laboratory provides analytical and regulatory services to various customers, including
Broomfield water consumers, the Drinking Water Treatment Facility, Wastewater Reclamation Facility, Industrial Pretreatment
Program, the Engineering Inspection and Utilities Divisions, state and federal regulators, and stakeholders within the
watershed. Environmental Laboratory services are independent of other City
divisions so that operational and regulatory
functions may be carried out in an unbiased manner.
The Environmental Laboratory and Wastewater Laboratory work together to make the best use of resources
and avoid unnecessary duplication of instrumentation or services. The Environmental Laboratory follows approved analytical
methods and adheres to a quality assurance program designed to ensure that the data produced are accurate, reliable and
defensible. The Laboratory is Certified by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to perform Chemistry,
Microbiology, and Radiochemistry to assess compliance with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Both manual and instrumental
analysis methods are used, and instrumentation consists of an Autoanalyzer, Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, Gas
Proportional Counter, and a Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer. Sampling locations include Broomfield’s raw water
supplies, water treatment processes, drinking water, wastewater, residential tap water, and surface water leaving the
Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site. The laboratory also gathers water quality information for various wells,
streams, ditches, and ponds, and responds to residents with water-quality concerns.
In addition to analytical services, Environmental Laboratory personnel research and track the
development of new regulations so that the City is prepared to meet upcoming requirements. Lab personnel participate in
the regulatory process by evaluating the impact of changes to the water and wastewater regulations, preparing input,
formal comments and testimony for the rulemaking process, and participating in State implementation of recently
promulgated regulations.
Environmental Lab personnel also participate in various stakeholder
groups, such as the Big Dry Creek Watershed Association and the Rocky Flats Integrated Monitoring Plan work group,
and interface with other agencies as needed.

Related Links:
Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment-Water Quality Control Division
Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment-Water Quality Control Commission
Colorado Department
of Public Health and Environment-Water Quality Regulations
Rocky Mountain Water Quality Analyst's Association
American Water Works Association
Rocky Mountain Section-American Water Works Association
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8
Big Dry Creek Watershed Association
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