Laboratory Expansion Project
To ensure another century of safe water, WSSC Water invested $36.7 million to upgrade its Maryland Department of the Environment-certified laboratory to meet increased demand for water quality analysis.
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Prior to the current lab’s existence, we conducted our water and wastewater analyses at facilities throughout our service area. To streamline our analysis processes, increase staff efficiency and reduce redundancies, we consolidated into the existing laboratory in 2001. More than 500,000 water quality tests are performed annually at this lab, including analysis of drinking water, source water, wastewater, stormwater, landfill effluent and biosolids samples.
The results of these tests are used to make operational changes, adjust treatment processes, and for regulatory reporting for numerous WSSC Water wastewater and water facilities and systems. Over the past 18 years, our Laboratory Division has experienced an increased analytical workload, number of employees and instruments, and additional functions. The number of water-quality analyses performed annually is expected to increase to more than 750,000 in the next 20 years.
$36.7
million
This investment will enable us to ensure another century of safe water for our 1.9 million customers in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.
WSSC Water currently depends on contract laboratories for critical and regulatory analyses that cannot be handled in house due to space, infrastructure and instrument limitations. The expanded facility adds 19,720 square feet of workspace to the 27,193 square-foot existing facility. The new expansion IS LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certified under the U.S. Green Building Council rating system.
Construction started in summer 2022 and was substantially completed in March 2025.
August 2024 Updates
Front Entrance
Front Entrance Parking
Front Entrance Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
West Bio-Retention Pond
South Bio-Retention Pond
Laboratory View
Laboratory View
Mezzanine Floor Acid Ductwork
Mezzanine Floor Acid Ductwork
Mezzanine Floor Acid Ductwork
New Ro-Di System
New Ro-Di System
South Parking Lot
South Parking Lot Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
South Parking Lot
June 2024 Updates
Ro-Di Room Demolition
Offices
Open Space Floor Plan
North Side Landscaping
West Side Landscaping
Interior Open Space Office
Bathrooms
New Steam Generator and Steam Line
Modified Heat Exchangers
Laboratory Casework and Equipment
Open Space Floorplan
South Bio-Retention Pond
South Parking Lot Paving
January 2024 Updates
July 2023 Update
East elevation of the new expansion
Southeast elevation of the new expansion
Loading dock expansion
North elevation of the new expansion and retention pond
Lab technicians' office area
Northwest elevation of new expansion showing cooling tower
Extension of lab area
New office space for Water Quality Division
February 2023 Update
Renderings of Proposed Laboratory Expansion
News About the Project:
Last Modified: April 18, 2025, 10:44 am EDT