Water Sciences Laboratory

Water Sciences Laboratory
Contact Us Portal Price List

The Water Sciences Laboratory resumed operations in May. The staff are available between the hours of 8:30 am and 5:30 pm. Building is unlocked during modified COVID-19 related operations as per the University guidelines.

Arrangements to pick up sample containers or delivery of samples must be made in advance by email sbiswas8@unl.edu or dsnow1@unl.edu.

The Water Sciences Laboratory’s mission is to provide technology, expertise, services, and training in advanced analytical science supporting today’s water and natural resources students, researchers, and stakeholders. The Lab is part of the Nebraska Water Center.

WSL News

Water Sciences Lab Celebrates Memorable 30th Year

The Water Sciences Lab (WSL) had a landmark year in 2020. The lab celebrated its 30th anniversary in style with new equipment, a renovated interior and commemorative publications. Then the global pandemic forced it to reconfigure operations. With numerous samples on deadline to be analyzed, WSL...

NRES 439 - Environmental Laboratory Instrumentation and Methods

1 credit hour When: Fall Semester Where: Online and Water Science Laboratory View Handout Course Description Following this course students will be able to: Have a solid understanding of environmental laboratory methods and understand and practice lab safety Participate in lab housekeeping and...

Environmental Mass Spectrometry for Sustainable Water Resources

Co-sponsored by Waters Corporation, Milford, MA USA and the University of Nebraska Water Sciences Laboratory, Nebraska Water Center, a part of the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, Lincoln, NE April 14, 2021 10:00 am CDT Zoom MeetingMay 12, 2021 10:00 am CDT Zoom Meeting View Handout (PDF)...

Client Portal

The Nebraska Water Sciences Laboratory Client Services portal is for current and potential clients of the lab, a current user of the laboratory facilities or those seeking information about lab training. If you are not a current user of the lab, and would like to learn more, please contact us.

Our Laboratory

The lab is located on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus. The facility opened in the summer of 1990 to provide a convenient working environment for collaborative research on water-related projects. The lab is run by a technically skilled staff who together perform 140 analytical methods on $3 million worth of equipment for a spectrum of clients.

Training New Scientists

The lab has become an incubator for young water scientists, training 25 students in 2018 alone. Learn more

Developing Methods

The lab staff are able to perform 140 analytical methods on $3 million worth of equipment for a spectrum of clients.

Supporting Water Research

WSL analytical services support university research projects with funding from various agencies.

Read our brochure Facilities and Equipment

Our Work

Nebraska Vadose Zone program

In 2017 and 2018, Chris Olson, the program’s manager, drove 17,000 miles to meet with students and teachers in 10 Nebraska towns to help them understand and participate in the science of groundwater and drinking water. Follow the know your well project on Facebook and Twitter.

Know Your Well program

WSL Enhances Pesticide Research

Evapotranspiration, or ET, is loss of water through evaporation from the earth's surface, including open water and plant surfaces, and plant transpiration, or how a plant grows by passing water from its roots up through its stem and leaves to the atmosphere (Source: Derrel Martin, UNL Biological Systems Engineering. Watershed Water Balance: The Role of ET and Consumptive Use.)