$16M quality testing lab opens for Raleigh Water
MARCH. 28.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANKS FOR THAT.
MICHELLE. THE DRINKING WATER IN
RALEIGH IS GETTING SAFER.
A NEW LAB OPENED UP TODAY
EXPANDING THE CITY'S ABILITY
TO TEST ITS WATER. THE CHANGE
DECADES IN THE MAKING. WRAL.
SEAN GALLAGHER IS THERE NOW.
SEAN, WHAT IS THIS NEW SITE DO
FOR THE WATER SUPPLY?
>> WELL, JEFF, THIS IS THE
FIRST NEW WATER QUALITY TESTING
LAB SINCE THE LATE 60'S.
AS YOU CAN SEE, A LOT HAS
CHANGED SINCE THEN WITH ALL
THESE NEW MACHINES THAT THEY
USE TO MAKE SURE THE WATER IS
UP TO AND THIS WILL MAKE IT A
LOT MORE EFFICIENT FOR THEM
TO DO AS WELL. NOW, TODAY THEY
CUT THE RIBBON ON THE
16 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT.
WE GOT A TOUR INSIDE THE 15,000
SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING. MORE
SPACE FOR THESE LABS TO EXPAND
WATER TESTING CAPABILITIES.
RIGHT NOW THEY SERVE 650,000
PEOPLE ACROSS WAKE COUNTY AND
I'M TOLD THE SITE WILL HELP
THEM KEEP UP WITH WATER TESTING
AS THE AREA CONTINUES TO GROW.
AND WITH THAT MORE PRECISE
TESTING FOR ANY CONTAMINANTS
THAT MAY MAKE ITS WAY INTO THE
WATER SUPPLY
>> WHEN I STARTED IN THIS
BUSINESS, ONE OF THE LOWER
CONCENTRATIONS YOU WOULD EVER
SEE IN THE WATER QUALITY TEST
AS PARTS PER MILLION. IT IS
NOW PARTS PER TRILLION. SO WE
ARE NOW GETTING NEW EQUIPMENT,
NEW METHODS SO WE CAN RUN TEST
DOWN TO THESE EXTREMELY LOW
LEVELS.
>> SO MUCH IS BEING MADE ABOUT
FLUORIDE IN THE WATER RIGHT
NOW. RALEIGH WATER SAYS THAT'S
REMOVING IT IS AS SIMPLE AS
JUST TURNING A VALVE OFF.
BUT THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE AT
A FEDERAL LEVER LEVEL WITH
STATE OFFICIALS DECIDING ON
PERMITS. BUT NO MATTER WHAT
HAPPENS, BUCHAN SAYS PROBABLY
WATER WILL COMPLY. ONE OTHER
THING, THIS PLANT WILL HELP
WITH IS THE TASTE OF WATER.
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER AROUND THIS
TIME LAST YEAR IT WAS A FUNKY
ODOR AND TASTE WITH THE WATER.
THAT WAS BECAUSE OF AN ALGAE
BLOOM. BUT THE EXPANDED TESTING
CAPABILITY HERE SHOULD HELP
WITH THAT GOING AWAY. EVEN