History of Water Laboratory
The analysis of domestic water and industrial wastewater is one of the Laboratory’s primary concerns. The possibility of the establishment of a Water Analysis Laboratory at the University of San Carlos, started in the 25th of November 1977, at a joined meeting between the USC Vice President for Administration (Fr. Roderick Salazar), University Presidential Assistance for Project and Development (Fr. Robert Schmitz), Presidential Assistance for Research and Faculty Development (Fr. Theodore Murnane), the personnel of the Water Resources Center (promoted by Fr. Herman Van Engelen), Dr. Smoor of the Netherlands Universities Foundation for International Cooperation or NUFFIC, and Engr. Duin of Delft University.
In January 23, 1978, the proposal on the establishment of the Water Analysis Laboratory was made. Initially, the development of the Laboratory was a joint project and concern of the Departments of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Pharmacy, Marine Research Office, and the Water Resources Center. The five units have contributed both expertise and equipment to the Laboratory for the purpose to maximize the utilization of the expertise and equipment that the University of San Carlos possesses in the areas related to water analysis. Assistance also came in form of instrumentation and chemicals from Delft University. The need for a water analysis, of the five contributing units, was then answered by a well-established, though modest, laboratory. This was located in Room 321 of the Engineering Building, Wing A, third floor, Talamban Campus. The representatives from the five departments made up the Water Board, and together with the Office of Research and Faculty Development; supervise the operation of the Laboratory. The head/manager is responsible for the day-to-day management.
In 1979, the Water Laboratory was considered as one of the normal cost center of the university.
Being a cooperative venture, research projects were stimulated among various disciplines. Several surveys and feasibility studies on water quality were performed. External research funding were also stimulated and welcomed. Starting also in 1979, the Laboratory had been contracted by outside clients (government agencies, industrial and manufacturing firms, private individuals, non-government groups, etc.) to perform on their water analyses. Until today, an extensive cooperation is still going on.
In early of 1985, the Laboratory ventured into accepting special chemical analysis; so called because these does not involve water anymore. These analyses ranged from simple moisture determination to complicated chemical analyses involving sophisticated instrumentation available in the university. The operation of this type of service (as standards testing laboratory and as a third party laboratory) is still going on.
In 1991~1994, the expertise of the Water Laboratory was upgraded, in terms of analyses of hazardous and toxic wastes. Through the assistance of the Philippine German Project, Industrial Pollution Control Cebu (a collaboration between the German Government through the GTZ funding, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and University of San Carlos).
From 1996, a Chemical Engineering/Water Laboratory Project was identified, as one of the target activities of NUFFIC in USC. Assistance came in the form of fellowship training. For the past two years of cooperation, feasibility studies and generation of data related on water/environmental analyses were performed.
The analytical capabilities of the Laboratory expanded, and its services were increased to the neighboring provinces of the Philippines, in Visayas and Mindanao.
Besides its analytical services, the Water Laboratory also conducts short-term research on water-related problems, and (water) analysis training for young individuals.
At present, the Laboratory is composed of a core group of chemists, chemical engineer, medical technologist, and a support staff for the general administrative works.
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