United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA's Water Laboratory Alliance:
A Powerful Resource for State Primacy Agencies
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U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) launched the
Water Laboratory Alliance
(WLA) in 2009. This launch
marked a dynamic effort to
equip the Nation's Water
Sector with a means to
analyze samples in response
to natural, intentional or
unintentional contamination
incidents. The WLA is
comprised of laboratories
with the expertise to analyze
water samples for chemical,
biological or radiochemical
contaminants.
The launch of the WLA
coincided with the second
phase roll-out of EPA's
Environmental Response
Laboratory Network (ERLN).
The WLA is an integral
part of the ERLN, focusing
solely on water. The ERLN
also addresses other
environmental matrices
including air, soil and
surfaces.
Did you know?
There is no limit
on the number of
laboratories within
a state that can
apply for WLA
membership.
How does the WLA benefit state primacy
agencies?
While state drinking water primacy agencies cannot themselves
become WLA Members, primacy agencies
can benefit from the WLA in several ways:
• First, primacy agencies benefit from
expanded laboratory capability and capacity
within their states. This ensures that
drinking water systems are better prepared
to respond to contamination incidents.
• Second, primacy agencies have access to
WLA security-related tools and resources, such as:
- EPA's Compendium of Environmental Testing Laboratories
(Laboratory Compendium): Primacy agencies can use the
Laboratory Compendium to identify WLA Member laboratories to
provide analytical support to impacted water systems.
https ://cfext.epa.gov/cetl
- WLA Response Plan (WLA-RP): The best practices contained in
the WLA-RP can aid primacy agencies in coordinating laboratory
support, http://www2.epa.gov/waterlabnetwork/water-
laboratory-alliance-response-plan
- Water Contaminant Information Tool (WCIT): Provides
primacy agencies with contaminant information on more than 800
potential contaminants, http://www2.epa.gov/waterdata/water-
contaminant-information-tool-wcit
• Primacy agencies also have access to WLA Training Center courses.
This resource provides training on topics ranging from chain of
custody, to coordination of water contamination incident response
through tabletop exercises, http://www2.epa.gov/waterlabnetwork/
water-laboratory-alliance-training-center
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Water Laboratory Alliance
How will state laboratories
and water utilities benefit from
the WLA?
State laboratories and water systems can
access critical resources that strengthen their
preparedness level for responding to water
contamination incidents.
Specific benefits of leveraging the WLA
resources include:
• Opportunities to participate in water
contamination emergency response exercises
and webcasts.
• Enhanced networking opportunities with
Water Sector stakeholders including utilities,
laboratories, emergency responders and
government personnel.
• Enhanced preparedness for emergency
response.
• Improved knowledge
of how to identify
laboratories when the
nature or scope of a
contamination incident
exceeds in-house
capabilities or capacity.
• Priority access to
water security-related training, tools and
resources.
As WLA Members, both state and utility
laboratories, become part of a network with
enhanced laboratory
capabilities. Members
can quickly identify
and access qualified
laboratories nationwide
to help support their
Did you know?
Best practices
included in the
WLA-RP can
be leveraged by
all Water Sector
Stakeholders; not
just laboratories!
Did you know?
Utilities can
access the WLA
whether or not
their laboratory is a
WLA Member.
analytical needs. This
support can be scaled to varying levels depending
on the type and volume of sample analyses
required. Accessing WLA laboratory support is
not limited to specialized capabilities. Member
laboratories can be accessed for more routine
analytical needs such as processing regulatory
samples or providing surge capacity.
WLA Member laboratories have the added
recognition of being identified as a member of the
network. Membership in such laboratory networks
can enhance a laboratories' credibility, especially
when pursuing governmental opportunities.
Did you know?
Providing support during a contamination
incident is completely voluntary. When a
WLA Member laboratory is contacted, it can
decide whether or not to provide services.
How can laboratories become
WLA Members?
State, utility, public health, environmental and
commercial laboratories must apply to be part of
the ERLN and can apply for WLA membership at
the same time. Access the membership application
at http://www2.epa.gov/waterlabnetwork/
water-laboratory-
alliance-membership-
application In addition
to completing the
membership application,
Did you know?
Becoming a
WLA Member is
completely FREE!
laboratories must
register for EPAs Laboratory Compendium at
https ://cfext.epa.gov/cetl
For detailed information on how to become a
WLA Member, access the "Becoming a Water
Laboratory Alliance Member" training course at
http://www2.epa.gov/waterlabnetwork/learn-
about-water-laboratory-alliance#Apply.
DON'T WAIT— Tell Your State Labs to Become Members Today!
For additional information on the WLA, contact the WLA Helpline at 703-461-2400 or
WLA@epa.gov, or visit the WLA homepage at http://www2.epa.gov/waterlabnetwork.
Office of Water (4608-T) | EPA 817-F-15-027 | November 2015
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