Yangsan-si Achieves Top Excellence for 8 Consecutive Years in International Proficiency Testing as a 'Drinking Water Quality Inspection Agency'

Certification of Internationally Top-Level Analytical Capability in Drinking Water Sector

The Drinking Water Quality Testing Agency of the Water and Sewage Business Office in Yangsan-si, Gyeongnam, was recognized for its top-level analytical capabilities in the drinking water sector in this year’s international proficiency testing (PT) conducted by the Environmental Resource Association (ERA) in the United States.

Certificate of International Proficiency for Drinking Water Quality Testing Laboratory.

Latest equipment in the drinking water quality testing laboratory of Yangsan City. Provided by Yangsan City.

The international proficiency testing is conducted by the ERA, a U.S. organization certified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It is highly recognized worldwide, with government agencies, university research institutes, and private analytical institutions from various countries participating annually.

The Water and Sewage Business Office of Yangsan-si demonstrated its international-level analytical capabilities by receiving a “Satisfactory” rating in all 17 items of the drinking water proficiency test conducted by ERA. It also passed the microbial proficiency test (3 items) organized by the National Institute of Environmental Research under the Ministry of Environment, certifying it as an outstanding analytical institution in the drinking water field.

Additionally, to improve testing capabilities and ensure worker safety in 2024, the office modernized all physicochemical and microbiological laboratory facilities, establishing a top-tier analytical laboratory for drinking water capable of accurately analyzing water quality test items such as heavy metals, microorganisms, and microplastics.

Jeong Jeong-a, head of the Water Purification Division, stated, “Through multifaceted efforts including the introduction of the latest laboratory facilities and training of specialized personnel, we will further strengthen our water quality testing and management capabilities and do our best to continuously supply safe tap water to our citizens.”