Plan Your Wastewater Lab Project the Right Way
Renovating or building a wastewater treatment plant laboratory is a complex project with regulatory, safety, and procurement requirements that differ from typical facility work. Missing a critical planning step can mean costly change orders, compliance gaps, or a lab that doesn’t support your testing needs.
This planning checklist covers every phase of a wastewater lab project — from initial needs assessment through installation and commissioning. Use it to ensure nothing gets overlooked.
Phase 1: Needs Assessment
Regulatory Requirements
- ☐ List all current NPDES permit parameters and required analytical methods
- ☐ Identify any upcoming permit changes or additional parameters (check with state agency)
- ☐ Document current and anticipated PFAS testing requirements
- ☐ Review state lab certification requirements (if applicable)
- ☐ Confirm compliance standards: OSHA, EPA, state health department
Current Lab Assessment
- ☐ Document current lab square footage and layout
- ☐ Photograph existing casework condition (for funding applications)
- ☐ List all failing, damaged, or inadequate furniture and equipment
- ☐ Identify safety hazards (inadequate ventilation, corroded surfaces, insufficient chemical storage)
- ☐ Document current sample volume (daily, weekly, monthly)
- ☐ Project future sample volume (3–5 year horizon)
- ☐ List all analytical instruments currently in use and planned
Operational Requirements
- ☐ Define required functional zones (wet chemistry, metals, microbiology, instruments, sample receiving, storage)
- ☐ Identify cross-contamination risks between testing areas
- ☐ Determine if PFAS testing requires a dedicated zone with stainless steel casework
- ☐ Assess need for phased construction (can the lab shut down or must it remain operational?)
- ☐ Identify staff workspace needs (desks, data entry, reporting areas)
Phase 2: Space Planning & Design
Layout Planning
- ☐ Create functional zone layout with logical sample flow (receiving → prep → analysis → data → waste)
- ☐ Separate incompatible activities (acid digestion away from sensitive instruments)
- ☐ Plan balance/weigh room isolated from vibration and HVAC drafts
- ☐ Design microbiology area with separate clean zone
- ☐ Locate chemical storage accessible but separated from lab work areas
- ☐ Include emergency eyewash and safety shower within 10 seconds of travel from any work area
- ☐ Plan for ADA accessibility requirements
Casework & Surfaces
- ☐ Select casework material by zone:
- Wet chemistry → phenolic casework
- Metals prep → stainless steel casework
- PFAS prep → stainless steel (PFAS-free)
- Instruments → steel casework
- ☐ Specify countertop material by zone (epoxy resin, phenolic resin, stainless steel)
- ☐ Include base cabinets, wall cabinets, and overhead storage as needed
- ☐ Specify sink type and material (epoxy or polypropylene for acid areas)
- ☐ Plan for chemical storage cabinets — acids, flammables, corrosives separated
Fume Hoods & Ventilation
- ☐ Determine number of ducted fume hoods needed based on testing methods
- ☐ Specify hood interior material (polypropylene or epoxy for acid service)
- ☐ Plan exhaust fan capacity and ductwork routing
- ☐ Determine if VAV system is cost-effective (generally yes for 3+ hoods)
- ☐ Ensure HVAC system can provide make-up air for all exhausted air
- ☐ Plan for 6–12 air changes per hour in lab spaces
- ☐ Maintain negative pressure in lab relative to adjacent spaces
Utilities
- ☐ Map electrical requirements: dedicated circuits for instruments, emergency power for refrigerators/incubators
- ☐ Plan compressed gas supply: air, nitrogen, argon for analytical instruments
- ☐ Design DI water distribution system with adequate flow rate
- ☐ Plan hot and cold water supply to sinks and equipment
- ☐ Map data/network connections at instrument locations for LIMS
- ☐ Plan waste drainage: acid waste neutralization if needed
Phase 3: Funding & Procurement
Funding Sources
- ☐ Check Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) eligibility — contact state administering agency
- ☐ Investigate EPA PFAS/emerging contaminant grants (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding)
- ☐ Check USDA Rural Development programs (if community under 10,000)
- ☐ Include lab renovation in facility Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
- ☐ Document project need for funding applications (condition photos, compliance gaps, safety issues)
- ☐ Submit project to state Intended Use Plan / priority list (annual deadline — plan ahead)
For detailed funding guidance, see our wastewater lab renovation funding guide.
Procurement
- ☐ Determine procurement method: competitive bid (RFP), cooperative purchasing contract, or sole source (if justified)
- ☐ Develop furniture and equipment specifications with SEFA 8 compliance requirements
- ☐ Include chemical resistance test data requirements in specifications
- ☐ Specify warranty requirements (minimum 10-year casework, 5-year hardware)
- ☐ Include installation, delivery, and commissioning scope in procurement documents
- ☐ Verify Buy American compliance if using federal funding (CWSRF, WIFIA, EPA grants)
- ☐ Check cooperative purchasing availability to streamline procurement
Phase 4: Construction & Installation
Pre-Construction
- ☐ Complete environmental survey for pre-1980 buildings (asbestos, lead paint)
- ☐ Verify structural floor load capacity for casework and equipment
- ☐ Confirm HVAC, electrical, and plumbing capacity for new lab loads
- ☐ Develop phased construction plan to maintain lab operations during renovation
- ☐ Set up temporary lab space if full shutdown is required
- ☐ Coordinate furniture delivery schedule with construction milestones
Installation
- ☐ Professional leveling and anchoring of all casework
- ☐ Plumbing connections for sinks, eyewash stations, and DI water
- ☐ Electrical connections for fume hoods, instruments, and outlets
- ☐ Gas connections for compressed air, nitrogen, argon
- ☐ Fume hood commissioning: face velocity testing, ASHRAE 110 verification
- ☐ Verify all safety equipment (eyewash, shower, fire extinguisher) is operational
Commissioning
- ☐ Walk-through inspection of all casework, surfaces, and hardware
- ☐ Verify all fume hoods meet specified face velocity
- ☐ Test all utility connections (water, gas, electrical, data)
- ☐ Confirm ventilation system provides required air changes
- ☐ Document all installed items with serial numbers, warranty information, and maintenance schedules
- ☐ Train staff on new equipment, fume hood use, and safety features
Get Expert Help With Your Project
Labs USA provides free planning support for wastewater lab projects at any stage:
- Free lab design: CAD layouts optimized for your facility’s footprint and workflow
- Furniture specification: Material selection matched to your specific testing methods
- Cost estimates: Preliminary budgets for funding applications
- Procurement support: Specification-ready documentation for municipal RFP processes
- Professional installation: Phased delivery and setup to minimize lab downtime
Related resources:
- Wastewater Treatment Plant Lab Furniture — Complete Guide
- Wastewater Lab Design Guide
- Chemical-Resistant Casework for Water Labs
- Fume Hood Requirements for NPDES Testing
- Laboratory Casework Revit Blocks & CAD Files
Ready to Start Planning?
Labs USA offers free lab design, furniture specification, and project planning support for municipal wastewater labs. Contact us to discuss your project.