New environmental lab will help Montgomery County fight water pollution

Dayton, Ohio (WDTN) — With increasing PFAS contamination in food and water, state and county officials have made water safety a top priority. A new $6 million environmental lab now opening in the Montgomery County Administration Building will help.

The need for a new lab arose seven years ago as the previous lab, built at Moraine about 50 years ago, began to deteriorate. This new state-of-the-art laboratory is equipped with the latest equipment to thoroughly test water samples.

This test is also applied to water that is purified at local waste treatment plants to ensure that it is returned to the environment in the cleanest possible condition.

The new facility aims to extend the county's continued success. Montgomery County has maintained her 99.2 rating from the State of Ohio for 10 years for both river and drinking water quality.

The $6 million in funding to build the new facility was provided by the American Rescue Plan. It is located on the site of a former child care facility for county employees. Moraine's old facility is still used as a life station.

Montgomery County Environmental Services Director Matt Hilliard said the facility is an important upgrade.

”[The previous lab] It was built in the ’70s,” Hilliard said. “The equipment was old…there were so many problems.”

“We wanted to be here because it was time to invest in a new lab.”

Montgomery County Commissioners Judy Dodge, Debbie Lieberman and Carolyn Rice supported the project.

“Our people deserve and need access to great drinking water. There is no need to worry,” Dodge said.

Project leaders said no one should take this for granted.

https://www.wdtn.com/news/local-news/montgomery-county-ohio-environmental-lab-water-pollution/ New environmental lab will help Montgomery County fight water pollution