Testing labs in Glimmen

WLN (Waterlaboratorium van het Noorden, or Water Laboratory of the North) is an independent, RvA-accredited water testing laboratory headquartered in Glimmen, Groningen, in the northern Netherlands. A 100% subsidiary of water utilities Waterbedrijf Groningen and WMD, WLN holds the distinction of being one of only four government-recognized drinking water laboratories (erkend drinkwaterlaboratorium) in the Netherlands. Serving customers across the three northern provinces of Groningen, Drenthe, and Friesland, WLN delivers water analyses, water research, and expert advisory services on water treatment and water installations with an independent, practical, and highly specialized approach. WLN's analytical scope covers every major water type encountered in the region: drinking water (from source to tap), groundwater, surface water, process and industrial water, wastewater, mineral water, and recreational swimming pool water (zwemwater). The laboratory offers standardized analysis packages tailored to specific applications, including dedicated packages for legionella risk assessment, swimming pool compliance testing, livestock drinking water quality, drinking water tank and installation inspection, and wastewater characterization. This breadth allows municipal utilities, healthcare facilities, agricultural operations, recreational water operators, and industrial clients to fulfill all mandatory water quality analyses through a single specialist partner. The range of parameters measured by WLN spans physical, chemical, and microbiological dimensions. Chemical analyses include organoleptic properties (color, odor, taste), physical-chemical parameters (pH, temperature, hardness), inorganic species such as nitrate, nitrite, and fluoride, and an extensive suite of toxic compounds including heavy metals (lead, mercury, and others), pesticides, herbicides, and organic micropollutants. Microbiological analyses cover indicator organisms — Escherichia coli, total coliforms, and intestinal enterococci — alongside pathogen-specific testing for Legionella pneumophila in cooling towers, hot-water systems, and other installations regulated under Dutch legionella legislation. WLN actively invests in analytical innovation to maintain measurement capabilities at the forefront of water science. The laboratory has developed RT-PCR (real-time polymerase chain reaction) methods for rapid microbiological detection capable of identifying as few as one E. coli per 100 milliliters within four hours — a dramatic improvement over conventional culture methods requiring a minimum of 24 hours. WLN has also pioneered non-target screening (NTS) using advanced mass spectrometry to detect unknown organic micropollutants, a powerful tool for source-water protection and pollution-incident investigation. These innovations demonstrate WLN's commitment to expanding the boundaries of routine water quality testing. Accreditation is central to WLN's quality framework. The laboratory holds accreditation from the Raad voor Accreditatie (RvA) — the Dutch national accreditation body — under NEN-EN-ISO/IEC 17025, with registration number L 075, maintained continuously since 1993. This accreditation covers both laboratory analyses and field sampling activities (with the exception of wastewater sampling). WLN additionally holds VCA certification (Veiligheid Checklist Aannemers), the Dutch and Belgian contractor safety standard. Its government-recognized status as an official Dutch drinking water laboratory places WLN within an elite tier of analytical facilities legally authorized to certify drinking water quality under the Dutch Drinking Water Decree (Drinkwaterbesluit). Beyond the laboratory, WLN provides specialist consultancy in water treatment (waterbehandeling) and water installation management. Advisors help clients understand treatment processes for drinking water, cooling water, boiler water, and industrial process streams, and support the development of Legionella risk management plans and Drinking Water Decree compliance programs. WLN has also won competitive public tenders for large-scale water technology projects, including water quality research for "De Ultieme Waterfabriek" (The Ultimate Water Factory), and partners internationally through organizations such as VEI, underscoring the laboratory's credibility in complex water technology environments. For prospective clients, WLN operates a dedicated customer service team (Team Klant) offering direct responses to technical and logistical inquiries, along with rush analysis services (spoedonderzoek) for urgent situations. The laboratory provides clear guidance on sample collection, preservation, and transport requirements, and can advise on correct procedures for each water matrix. Its Glimmen, Groningen facility is well positioned to serve the northern Dutch provinces efficiently. Whether the need is routine compliance monitoring, regulatory certification, Legionella risk screening, pollution investigation, or expert advisory support, WLN's combination of ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, government recognition, innovative analytical techniques, and deep regional expertise makes it a highly credible and authoritative water quality partner.