Goyang-si Achieves International Certification for Drinking Water Quality Testing for 9 Consecutive Years

Goyang-si Drinking Water Quality Testing Agency Receives Top Grade in All Categories
Proving Testing Reliability

Goyang Special City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Dong-hwan) announced on the 4th that it has been recognized as an internationally excellent analytical institution for nine consecutive years in the field of drinking water quality testing in the international proficiency testing organized by the Environmental Resource Association (ERA) in the United States.

Goyang Special City has been recognized as an internationally excellent analytical institution for nine consecutive years in the field of drinking water quality testing in the international proficiency evaluation conducted by the Environmental Resources Association (ERA) in the United States. Photo by Goyang City

The international proficiency test is a globally recognized and trusted international certification program in which drinking water quality analysis institutions from around the world participate every year. It objectively evaluates analytical capabilities through mutual comparison of analysis results by participating institutions and calculation of standard scores.

The evaluation involves receiving blind samples (samples with concealed information such as concentration, composition, and components) provided by the test operating institution, measuring and analyzing them, and submitting the results. The analytical ability is assessed in three stages?satisfactory, caution, and unsatisfactory?by comparing the measured values for each item with the standard values.

The drinking water quality testing institution of the Goyang Special City Waterworks and Sewerage Office received the highest rating of satisfactory in all items, proving its capability as a testing institution and demonstrating that it is a reliable organization.

The evaluation items include a total of 17 items: five heavy metals (mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium), five ions (ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, chloride ion, sulfate ion, fluoride ion), phenols, cyanide, three volatile organic compounds (benzene, chloroform, bromodichloromethane), and two organophosphorus pesticides (diazinon, parathion).

Yoon Geon-sang, head of the Waterworks and Sewerage Office, said, “Our city has been recognized for its expertise and analytical capabilities in the international proficiency test for drinking water for nine consecutive years. We will continue to do our best to supply clean tap water that citizens can drink with confidence.”