Donald Masuku

NMI South Africa

SADCMET Regional Co-ordinator

A Water Proficiency Testing Scheme to ensure safe drinking Water in Africa

18 July 2011

AFRIMETS TCQM, NAIROBI, KENYA

Outline of Report

Overview and Background Why SADC Water PT was established Scope  Membership Structure

Funding Mechanism Challenges Conclusion

Reasons for Establishment of SADC Water PT

To check the potability of existing water supplies and newly developed sources ‐ water analysis is indispensable 

To ensure the quality of water, two PT schemes have been set up in SADC and EAC countries and this has been expanded to most countries in Africa

The two PTs include• Chemistry Analysis (Elemental Composition ) – 7th year• Microbiology Analysis– 3rd year

Chemistry PT Scheme In 2004, with assistance from PTB, Germany, a  PT scheme 

for the chemistry analysis of water was started with 22 labs mainly from the NSBs of SADC and EAC countries.

Objective of establishing a Proficiency Testing Scheme for water testing laboratories

A Namibian Water Utility ‐ NAMWATER was  nominated to be the PT provider after undergoing training in Germany

The PT is now in its 7th Year with over 60 laboratories participating

PT is facilitated by PTB sponsored consultant Dr Michael Koch, Head: Dept of Hydochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Germany

Parameter Concentration in mg/l

Calcium 25 – 80

Magnesium 13 – 50

Sodium 11 – 55

Potassium 3.5 – 12

Iron 0.1 – 4.6

Manganese 0.1 – 2.5

Aluminium 0.1 – 4

Sulphate 18 – 60

Chloride 30 – 75

Fluoride 0.15 – 2.5

3 different levels for each parameter

Parameter Concentration in mg/l

Lead 0.1 – 2.6

Copper 1 – 4

Zinc 1.4 – 5.8

Chromium 0.25 – 2

Nickel 0.3 – 3.5

Phosphate 4.5 – 28

Arsenic 0.15 – 0.9

Cadmium 0.15 – 1.8

Cobalt

Nitrate

Scope: Most important chemical ground water parameters

Microbiology PT In 2005 a decision was taken to extend the Water PT to include microbiology analysis

Nominated Uganda : UNBS to be the pilot lab 3 personnel (2 from UNBS and 1 from ZIMLAB) were trained as PT providers in Germany

PT is facilitated by another PTB sponsored consultant Dr Katrin Luden, Research Microbiologist and PT Provider from Germany

1st round microbiology PT started in 2008 with 27 laboratories participating in the first round

The PT is in its 4th round this year and 43 laboratories have registered to participate this year

Parameter Method

Coliforms/Ecoli (mainly enumeration methods)

Total Plate Count (TPC) (Total plate count methods)

Other parameters e.g.Enterococci to be added in future depending on laboratories needs

Scope: Microbiology

SADC WATERLAB ASSOCIATION

In 2005 it was decided to formalize the Water PT Scheme and an association of Water testing labs called SADC WATERLAB ASSOCIATION was established through an MoU

The MoU was finalized in 2008 and all participating labs are now signatories

The Association is coordinated by the SADCMET Secretariat located at, NMISA, South Africa

MoU is available on the SADCMET website on www.sadcmet.org

SADC WATERLAB ObjectivesThe association is a regional not for profit

organization. Its major aims are:

To facilitate technical cooperation and collaboration amongst regional labs involved in water testing

To run a proficiency testing scheme for water analysis To provide an organized interface at the regional level between these labs and other SQAM structures involved in conformity assessment issues 

To promote development and harmonization of measurement, test and analytical methods

Capacity building and development of competence Promote accreditation of participating labs

MEMBERSHIP

Members are those labs, labs associations and any organisations who subscribe to the objectives and values of the association.

MEMBERSHIP – 2 categories Ordinary members: Labs & Lab Associations in SADC countries involved in water testing and analyses

Associate members: Labs and Lab Association in non‐SADC countries involved in water testing and analyses

Membership fees: Currently no membership fees (focus is on capacity building and competence development of participating labs)

Ordinary Members

Other Participating Countries include:

KenyaUgandaRwandaEthiopiaBurundiGhana

SADC WATERLAB STRUCTURE

General AssemblyProject Management Committee (PMC) which consist of :

Chair: TanzaniaVice Chair: ZimbabweSecretariat : South Africa (NMISA)Four elected PMC Members

BotswanaMadagascarZambiaMauritius

2 Ex‐officio members:  Namibia ‐ NAMWATER: PT provider for Chemical analysis 

and Uganda ‐ UNBS:  PT provider for Microbiology analysis 

Local Coordinators Local Coordinators have been appointed in each participating country to coordinate and promote PT scheme at national level for both Chemical and Microbiology

Roles and responsibilities of Local Coordinators include: Promote the PT schemes at the national level Organise the local distribution of samples Organise the payment for PT in their countries where necessary Dissemination of information from PT workshops Link between PT provider and participating labs at country level

Brochures have been developed and are used by Local Coordinators for promotional purposes

ToT Programme The Association has put in place a Train of Trainer Programme and trained 2 people from each participating country in Quality Assurance in Analytical Chemistry to carry out national workshops and train others at a national level

28 participants have been trained and 4 countries (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Seychelles) have already started rolling out national workshops

We  have also introduced a bi‐annually newsletter to communicate the activities of the water PT 

Database of all the Trainers on the SADCMET website

Responsibilities of PT Providers

Notification of the PT rounds normally in February

Calculation of target values Preparation of stock solutions  Weighing of stock solutions  Preparation of bulk samples  Dispensing of samples  Labeling of bottles & packing & distribution 

Evaluation and Assessment

The assessment of performance is based on z-scores

Calculation of standard deviation – According to ISO 13528 using robust statistical methods

Where the calculated value is higher, the fitness-for-purpose value is used.

NMISA assigns the inorganic analysis values for the Chemistry PT and from 2011 Rand Water is the expert lab and will assign values for Micro PT

Reporting of results

Graphical display of lab. results vs. assigned value to assist in corrective actions

Method specific information is given Detail presentation on problems,

improvements and corrective actions Assistance is given for corrective actions Annual evaluation workshops are

conducted

Project Overview February 2004 First workshop in Windhoek, Namibia, with participants from 16 countries with

training on basic issues of quality

End 2004 1st PT round; Evaluation workshop (Pretoria)

2005 2nd PT round; Evaluation workshop with training on measurement uncertainty (Dar es Salaam)

2006 3rd PT Round; Evaluation workshop with training on method validation and control charts (Gaborone)

2007 4th PT round; Evaluation workshop (Dar es Salaam) with training on method validation and measurement uncertaintyOctober: Poster presentation at the Eurachem Workshop for “Proficiency testing in analytical chemistry, microbiology and laboratory medicine” in Rome

2008 5th PT round; Evaluation workshop (Kampala) with training on 17025 management requirements1st PT for Microbiology with training on basic quality issue

2009 6th round; Evaluation workshop (Seychelles) with training on Corrective Actions

2nd round Micro, training on Uncertainty of measurement

2010 7th round; Evaluation workshop in Namibia, training on method validationPresented a paper at the NCSLI in Rhode Island, USA3rd round in Micro; training on method validationNext Evaluation workshop for 2011 will take place in Mauritius 14-18 Nov 2011

Participation per country2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Angola 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1

Botswana 2 2 2 4 2 3 3 5

Burundi 0 0 0 1 2 2 3 4

DR Congo 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 9

Ghana 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3

Ethiopia 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 2

Kenya 2 2 4 3 3 7 6 7

Lesotho 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 2

Madagascar 0 0 2 2 3 3 1 2

Malawi 2 2 2 3 1 2 2 4

Mauritius 1 3 4 3 5 6 5 5

Namibia 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 5

Rwanda 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 2

Seychelles 1 2 2 1 1 1 2 3

Participation per country2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

South Africa 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1

Swaziland 1 1 0 1 2 3 2 3

Tanzania 2 8 5 12 11 12 11 13

Uganda 1 3 6 5 5 5 5 8

Zambia 1 4 2 3 1 3 3 3

Zimbabwe 2 3 3 5 5 5 5 7

Growth of the PT Scheme

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8Series2 22 38 39 48 48 58 63 89

22

38 39

48 48

5863

89

No

of L

abs

Growth of PT 2004-2011

% Representation / Country

Angola 0%

Botswana 5%

Burundi5%

DR Congo10%

Ethiopia 2%

Ghana2%

Kenya 10%

Lesotho 2%

Madagascar 2%Malawi

3%

Mauritius 8%

Mozambique 0%

Namibia5%

Republic of Seychelles3%

Rwanda3%

Swaziland3%

South Africa 2%

Tanzania17%

Uganda8%

Zambia5% Zimbabwe

8%

% Representation/Country

Funding Mechanism

Since its inception, the scheme has been funded by PTB which includes: Transportation and distribution of samples Training of PT providers and participants Consultancy fees for PT facilitators Participation of delegates in the Evaluation workshops

Participating labs pay U$150 participation fees which is used for preparation of samples by the PT provider

ChallengesWhilst significant progress has been made, the scheme has

the following challenges: Lack of sustainable funding mechanism Lack of understanding of fundamentals of the PTs by the

labs Insufficient capacity and resources in the member states Access to equipment and support providers Lack of quality management systems in most labs Customs problems with transportation of samples Communication infrastructure

Conclusion

The SADC Water PT is a good possibility for the participants to compare with peers and with stated fitness-for-purpose criteria

SADCWater lab association is a good platform for networking and mutual help to improve the quality

The results of many laboratories are still not satisfactory but there is progress made

Emphasis is being put on corrective actions after unsatisfactory participation

For more info:www.sadcmet.org

Thank you!

dmasuku@nmisa.org