Our laboratory, well known for its capability in low level nutrient analysis in both freshwater and marine water samples, has been in operation for over 50 years. Our skilled team of technicians have extensive knowledge of water quality analyses, with laboratory experience ranging from 5 to 40+ years.
The NIWA Water Quality Laboratory is located at the NIWA Hamilton site. We work with clients throughout New Zealand as samples can be collected, chilled with ice packs and sent overnight by courier to us.
Our new state-of-the-art Water Quality Laboratory opened in 2023 provides the ideal environment for high quality analyses to be carried out.
Our testing capability
Phosphorus and Nitrogen are critical nutrients required for all aquatic life. These nutrients control the primary algal production necessary to support river and stream food webs and effect the concentration of algae in rivers and streams. Nutrient loading is one of the leading causes of water quality degradation. The tests we perform are used to assess water quality in rivers, lakes and streams and can provide an early warning of issues that may need managing e.g. changes in land use in a catchment.
Using Flow Injection Analysers (FIA) we routinely measure phosphorus and nitrogen down to 1 microgram per litre which is essential when monitoring changes in concentration of oligotrophic lakes such as Lake Taupō. As well as nutrients we have a comprehensive group of tests that are routinely performed on water samples from basic pH, Conductivity and Turbidity tests to more specialised Total Organic Carbon and Particulate Nitrogen/Particulate Carbon testing.
We have a comprehensive Quality Assurance system which includes regular participation in international inter-laboratory comparison studies where we have performed creditably over more than 10 years.
Our equipment
Our laboratory is equipped with high-spec analysers renown for producing quality results. Our instrumentation includes:
- Flow Injection Analysers (FIA)
- Segmented Flow Analyser (SFA)
- Carbon - Nitrogen analyser
- Total Organic Carbon analyser (TOC)
Analytes and detection limits:
| Analyte | Detection Limit |
|---|---|
| pH | |
| Conductivity/Salinity | |
| Turbidity | |
| Water Clarity (beam -c) | |
| Suspended Sediment Concentration | 5 g/m3 |
| Total Suspended Solids | 1 g/m3 |
| Dissolved Reactive Phosphorus | 1 mg/m3 |
| Total Ammoniacal Nitrogen | 1 mg/m3 |
| Nitrate – N | 1 mg/m3 |
| Dissolved Reactive Silica | 3 mg/m3 |
| Total Nitrogen | 10 mg/m3 |
| Total Dissolved Nitrogen | 10 mg/m3 |
| Total Phosphorus | 1 mg/m3 |
| Total Dissolved Phosphorus | 1 mg/m3 |
| Chlorophyll a | 0.1 mg/m3 |
| Dissolved (non-purgeable) Organic Carbon | 0.2 g/m3 |
| Particulate Nitrogen (Filter) | 2 mg/m3 |
| Particulate Carbon (Filter) | 2 mg/m3 |
| Total Nitrogen (sediment) | 0.05 % |
| Total Carbon (sediment) | 0.05 % |
| Coliforms | 1 MPN/100mL |
| E.coli | 1 MPN/100mL |
Lab facilities:
NIWA contacts:
Mike Crump, Laboratory Manager ([email protected], phone 07 856 1739) or
Margaret McMonagle, Laboratory 2IC ([email protected], phone 07 859 1873).
Services
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NIWA Datasonde service
ServiceMaintaining good water quality is important for healthy ecosystems and healthy humans. NIWA are experts in providing and servicing the water quality monitoring equipment you need to effectively monitor water quality in lakes, streams, coastal waters and estuaries