What Does ORELAP Accreditation Mean for Your Water Test?
Not all water testing is created equal. Oregon requires that water tests for most official purposes come from an ORELAP-accredited laboratory. Here is what that means and why it matters for your results.
5 min read · Waterlab Corp Laboratory Staff
Waterlab Corp holds triple accreditation
We are accredited under ORELAP, EPA, and TNI — the highest level of certification available to an Oregon environmental testing laboratory.
Oregon Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program
Required for public water system testing, real estate transaction testing. Wastewater testing does NOT require accreditation in Oregon.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Federal recognition for Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) compliance testing. Required for public water supply testing under federal law.
The NELAC Institute
National standard for environmental testing laboratories. Oregon belongs to the TNI Institute and utilizes their accreditation standards.
Why Accreditation Matters for Your Test Results
Your results are legally defensible
ORELAP accreditation means the laboratory is following a strict QA/QC program and that ORELAP is verifying that.
Strict proficiency testing requirements
Accredited labs must regularly analyze blind proficiency test samples and demonstrate accurate results within tight acceptance criteria. Labs that fail proficiency testing lose their accreditation.
Chain of custody and documentation
Accredited labs maintain rigorous chain of custody records for every sample, documenting who collected it, when, how it was transported, and what happened to it in the lab. This documentation is essential if results are ever challenged.
Method validation and QA/QC
ORELAP accreditation means the laboratory is following a Quality Control/Assurance program to best lab practices. Accredited labs must use EPA-approved analytical methods and run extensive quality control checks with every batch of samples — including blanks, spikes, and duplicates — to catch and correct any errors.
Regular state inspections
ORELAP conducts on-site inspections of ORELAP-accredited labs to verify that equipment, personnel qualifications, and procedures meet accreditation standards. Labs must also self-audit annually.
Ready to order an accredited water test?
ORELAP-accredited results from Salem's most trusted water lab since 1977.