Bhubaneswar: The Public Health Engineering Organisation (Pheo) has come up with detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) to be followed while dealing with test results of water samples done at its new water and wastewater testing laboratories.

The objective of the SOP would be to deal cautiously with the test results and avoid contamination of water that had contributed to the outbreak of various diseases.

"The purpose of the SOP is to establish a uniform procedure for routine collection and testing of water samples," said Pheo superintending engineer C.R. Jena.

The SOP will deal with 82 parameters of a particular water sample, each of which will have a separate set of actions to be taken by the official concern. For example, if in a water sample, phenolic compounds are found to be higher than the permissible limit, officials will immediately stop water supply from the source. In this case, remedial measures will be taken during which the consumers will be provided with an alternative drinking water supply system.

Besides, the SOP also maintains that the analysis results for all the tested samples in the laboratories would be recorded and compiled in both electronic and manual formats. The concessionaire of the lab will also facilitate development of a web-based water quality monitoring and notification system for communication of water samples results up to junior and assistant engineer level.

Moreover, the test results of all water samples will be entered by the laboratory and communicated through software to concern the junior or assistant engineer within 24 hours. In case of their inability to sort out the issue and ensure clean water, the report would be entered and communicated through software within eight hours to the engineers for appropriate action.

The state government recently set up a central water and wastewater testing laboratory at Palasuni besides eight divisional laboratories in Berhampur, Cuttack, Puri, Bhubaneswar, Balasore, Baripada, Rourkela and Sambalpur. The labs are equipped with advanced tools and high-end equipment for proper monitoring of the water.