LIFELABS
FOUNDATIONS FOR OUR FUTURE
2016
18
LifeLabs has invested over
$3M
to support innovation in
wastewater treatment.
Almost every process in diagnostic
testing relies on clean water to ensure
high quality test results. Returning
clean, safe and usable water is an
important part of our commitment to our
communities and our environment.
At LifeLabs, we are leading the
community laboratory sector in
innovations in wastewater management.
In partnership with Evoqua, we have
invested over $3 million since 2008
to develop an innovative system to
treat sodium azide. Sodium azide is
a preservation agent used in many
lab tests. It is highly hazardous and, if
not managed appropriately, can pose
significant risks to employees, facilities
and the environment. The unique system
we developed breaks down the sodium
azide and removes contaminants from
the water before it is returned to the
public system. We are the first diagnostic
testing lab in Canada to implement
this sodium azide treatment system,
demonstrating our commitment to
environmental responsibility in healthcare.
Our commitment to building healthier
communities and preserving our water
resources will continue to grow as we
work to incorporate green technologies
into our operations.
Protecting Our Water Supply
“Each year, we collect millions of
litres of wastewater containing
sodium azide, filter it and treat it
with ozone, similar to the cleaning
process used in some swimming
pools. This process destroys the
sodium azide, and the end result
is clean water that is safely
returned to the ecosystem.”
Nancy Varga, Environmental Manager
