Purpose
To establish and implement a National quality laboratory capable of performing water quality measurements, ecological quality assessments, heavy metal analyses and selected organic contaminant analyses.
Background/ Justification
The overall aim is to enable Myanmar to monitor the water quality and to interpret and use these data to properly manage the water resources. Rational water resources management decisions depend largely on the availability of good water resource data as well as capabilities in carrying out the required processing, analyses and assessment of water quality data. Water quality laboratories are essential cornerstones for any effective water quality surveillance program. Knowledge based decision making depend largely on the availability of good water resource data as well as capabilities in carrying out the required processing, analyses and assessment of water quality data.
Activities
- Construction of a new National lab at Forest Research Institute in Nay Pyi Taw which satisfies the requirements for operation of the lab instruments and the requirements related to the safety of human health.
- Installation of instruments for the analysis of ions and nutrients, and bacteria
- Acquire, install instruments and train personnel on instrumentation for analyses of heavy metal analyses
- Acquire, implement and train personnel on instrumentation for analyses of organic contaminants
- Implementation of lab quality assurance and quality control procedures
- To promote the National lab as a provider of water quality assessment services enabling an economically sustainable laboratory
Results
By the end of 2020, several outputs have been achieved.
- New building:
A new building is in place and in use as the National water quality laboratory at FRI, Yezin. The new lab is large, with modern facilities to handle water, biota and sediment samples. It has several temperature regulated rooms and equipment to store samples for long and shorter time. There are several safety measures to ensure human health (fumes hoods, emergency showers, emergency exits and so on). Solar energy and big batteries for energy savings and reliable electricity is in place. The laboratory building also have office areas and meeting room.
- Installation in new lab: The instruments for physical and chemical parameters, like pH, nutrients and ions are all installed and in use. The determination of biological oxygen demand (BOD5) and bacterial analysis are also in place.
- New purchase: A new graphite furnace (GFAAS) has been bought and installed for 8 heavy metal analyses (As, Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Zn, Hg). The training and analyses are ongoing, and the analyses are expected to be validated early 2021.
- Ensuring quality: Quality charts and quality controls are established on several of the methods. This is a work in progress, and is related to the goal of ensuring an economically sustainable national laboratory.
Publications
Environmental Programme 