WSSC Water Raises a Beaker and Celebrates Grand Opening of its Newly Expanded, Technologically Advanced $38 Million Water Quality Laboratory

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Laurel, Md. – October 7, 2025 – WSSC Water officials today joined Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena Mcllwain, State Delegates Lorig Charkoudian and Greg Wims, Prince George’s County Chief Administrative Officer Maxene M. Bardwell, county representatives and dedicated staff to officially open its state-certified, newly expanded and technologically advanced laboratory in Silver Spring, Maryland – a $38 million investment that will significantly increase the utility’s ability to monitor and protect water quality for 1.9 million residents in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.

The original lab was built in 2001 to consolidate smaller labs across WSSC Water’s 1,000-square-mile service area. The newly expanded laboratory nearly doubles the size of the facility from 19,720 square feet of workspace to 27,193 square feet and features advanced instruments including:

• A new PFAS lab section dedicated to testing Forever Chemicals on site, eliminating the need to ship samples out of state, saving time and money - cutting wait times from weeks to hours;
• A new taste and odor testing system;
• A new algal toxin analyzer, a critical tool for detecting and measuring toxins produced by algae;
• Enhanced emergency response capabilities for rapid testing following chemical spills or other watershed threats.

“WSSC Water’s newly expanded laboratory demonstrates a commitment to protecting public health by meeting the highest standards of water quality excellence,” said Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain. “We take certification of these labs very seriously and are proud to recognize this facility as a State Certified Water Quality Laboratory - ensuring compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.”

Over 500,000 water quality tests are performed annually at this laboratory, including analysis of drinking water, source water, wastewater, stormwater, landfill effluent, water main break samples and biosolids. The results of these tests are used to make operational changes, adjust treatment processes, and for regulatory reporting.

The number of water-quality analyses performed each year by WSSC Water is expected to increase to more than 750,000 by 2045. The expanded facility ensures the utility continues its exceptional track record of 107-years without a single drinking water quality violation.

“I am proud to join WSSC Water in celebrating the opening of its expanded laboratory in Silver Spring, Maryland,” said Maryland State Delegate Lorig Charkoudian. “This investment underscores the importance of protecting water quality, safeguarding public health, and ensuring reliable service for our communities. On behalf of the District 20 Delegation, we commend WSSC Water for its commitment to the residents of Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.”

“As a former WSSC Water Commissioner, I am proud to see this expanded laboratory come to life,” said Maryland State Delegate Greg Wims. “It reflects the utility’s ongoing commitment to innovation, water quality, and public health. This investment ensures that residents of Prince George’s and Montgomery counties continue to receive safe, reliable water while strengthening WSSC Water’s role as a trusted community partner.”

“This incredible, technologically advanced facility that we celebrate today is much more than a laboratory, it’s a monument to the talent and dedication of the people who work here,” said Prince George’s County Chief Administrative Officer Maxene M. Bardwell. “While your work is so often done out of sight, it is never out of mind. You are so many ways unsung heroes who keep the promise of public health.”

“This facility is more than just bricks, mortar, and high-tech instruments,” said WSSC Water Commission Chair Mark J. Smith. “It’s a promise kept – to protect public health, support economic development, and uplift our communities. In total, this project supported 350 local jobs and invested $5.6 million with our diverse business partners, and that is music to my ears.”

WSSC Water previously relied on contract laboratories for critical and regulatory analyses due to space, infrastructure and instrument limitations. The expansion dramatically increases in-house testing capability and reduces reliance on outside testing: faster results at a lower cost.

“This expanded laboratory is where science meets service,” said WSSC Water General Manager and CEO Kishia L. Powell. “The quality of the work done in this lab ensures that when families in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties fill a glass, cook a meal or bathe their children, they can trust their taps because of our dedicated employees and steadfast commitment to public health.”

The upgraded and newly expanded facility also includes overnight accommodations for lab staff during emergencies and meets LEED Gold certification standards, meaning a much more efficient building with significantly lower climate impacts.

Grunley Construction, the lead contractor on this project, has been involved since the 2022 groundbreaking, playing a key role in delivering this state-of-the-art laboratory. 

“It’s been exciting to see this project come full circle from the first shovel in the ground to completion,” said Michael Thiele, Contract Executive for Grunley Construction. “As a local company with employees and subcontractors in the community, we take great pride in delivering what matters, a culture of trust and respect while performing with the highest standard of excellence. Partnering with WSSC Water on this state-of-the-art laboratory has been an honor, and it demonstrates what strong partnerships can achieve in strengthening essential infrastructure and the communities it serves.”