Three capacity building missions (December 2007, March 2008 and November 2008) have been carried out in RMI after the initial scoping and assessment visit in August 2006. Training during these missions were on proper water sample collection and testing techniques, setting up quality assurance and quality control procedures (QA/QC), assisting with standard operating procedures (SOPs), use of the hydrogen sulfide (PathoScreen) water test kits and result interpretation. These have assisted the Majuro EPA laboratory strengthen and improve their water quality monitoring role. 

In March 2008, the US EPA certification (voluntary) team performed an audit of the RMI EPA water laboratory and certified both the laboratory and technicians for Colilert and Enterolert testing in drinking water and coastal waters respectively. This was a great milestone for the WQM. The template below was designed to show baseline capacity of participating country laboratories and indicate progress of  WQM implementation. The RMI EPA Majuro water laboratory improved from rating as around satisfactory in 2006 (initial assessment) to near good in 2008. 

 

Key features	Ideal lab	RMI EPA Majuro Water Laboratory
		Aug 2006	Mar 2008	April 2010
1. Proper lab space	3	2	3	3
2. QA/QC in place	3	1	2.5	2.5
3. Instruments being calibrated	3	0	2	2
4. Basic equipment present	3	2	3	3
5. Reagent supply	3	3	3	3
6. Staff knowledge/training	3	2	3	3
7. Analysis SOPs	3	0	3	3
8. Sample traceability (log-in)	3	2	3	3
9. Data storage	3	2	2	2.5
10. Funding	3	3	3	3
Total	30	17	27.5	28

Score:                         Poor-0                        Fair- 1             Satisfactory- 2                       Good- 3

The commitment from both the laboratory technicians and the management has been outstanding and they have made good use of the assistance provided under WQM to advance their water quality monitoring. Further support is being provided to assist strengthen the laboratory’s chemical testing capacity and data management.