UL Acquires Premier Water-Testing Laboratory.

Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL), one of the world's foremost product safety-testing and certification organizations, has acquired Environmental Health Laboratories (EHL). Located in South Bend, Indiana, EHL is a leading facility for compliance testing and analysis of drinking water.

EHL provides chemical and microbiological analyses of drinking water for municipalities throughout the United States. The company is accredited in 47 states and Puerto Rico, and has helped more than 7,000 public-water supplies, both domestic and abroad, comply with the U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). EHL provides similar services for environmental engineers, government agencies, water and beverage bottlers, industrial clients, and other laboratories.

The acquisition of EHL adds analysis of drinking-water samples in accordance with U.S. EPA requirements to UL's growing portfolio of environmental and public-health certification programs. UL's current environmental and public-health services include the testing and certification of food service equipment, drinking-water-system components, component materials, and treatment additives.

"The acquisition of one of the premier drinking-water test facilities in the country acknowledges that water safety--especially drinking water--is a major concern for all of us and cannot be taken for granted," said Todd Denison, general manager of UL's Environmental and Public Health Program. Jerry Thoma, president of EHL, said, "We are extremely proud of our efforts to assist thousands of public water supplies in providing safe drinking water to U.S. consumers. With UL's global presence, name recognition, and stellar reputation, we look forward to moving beyond our borders and assisting water supplies worldwide."

The acquisition allows EHL access to UL's global network of customers, laboratories, inspection centers, and standards development expertise. UL plans to expand EHL's testing capabilities, continue to support research of contaminants that cannot readily be measured by current technology and potentially develop a global standard for drinking water.

Worldwide, the UL family of companies includes more than 190 inspection centers in 72 countries; an affiliate in Canada; and subsidiaries in Mexico, Brazil, and countries throughout Europe and Asia.