UL accredited by Water Quality India Association to provide testing

Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a global safety science organisation, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Water Quality India Association (WQIA), as per which UL will be recognised and accredited by WQIA to conduct product testing as per WQIA’s arrangements with its clients. This certification of products will be performed according to the WQIA Guide standard for microbiological evaluation of drinking water treatment units.
 
WQIA, an independent, not-for-profit organisation, is dedicated to providing guidelines for the evaluation of drinking water treatment devices for conformity to safety standards for use in drinking water treatment. The Water Quality Association, USA has more than 2,700 company members worldwide, including approximately 600 manufacturing/supplier companies, 1,700 dealers and 200 allies. The WQIA Microbiological Guide standard provides basic criteria to promote product performance claims and protection of the public health. 
 
UL has expanded its global water operations with a new laboratory in Bangalore, which offers exposure, extraction, chemical and microbiological testing capabilities, using the state-of-the-art instruments. In India, UL is the first and only independent, third-party certification organisation to offer local laboratory operations.
 
Suresh Sugavanam, managing director and vice president, UL South Asia, said, “We at UL are constantly identifying avenues to support global customers through our technological expertise in terms of safety testing, certification and standards development. Through this association, we will provide best in class testing services for WQIA through our India Water Laboratory.”
 
WQIA provides an independent seal of approval on a variety of drinking water treatment products, which is only awarded after rigorous laboratory tests, literature review, facility assessments and materials assessments. “With this engagement, we show our faith in UL’s India water laboratory, and its team of Indian water experts with their extensive experience in both Indian and international market requirements. We trust that UL’s portfolio of testing will be an able measure of water standards to the international industry,” said Dr K Chandrasekhar, chief operation officer of WQIA.