Articles & Resources

Missed Peta Thiel at WIOA 2026? Here’s what you need to know. Drawing on recent GAC and BAC projects, Peta unpacked why commissioning can still be challenging — even when filter media meets every specification. In this article, we’ve captured the key insights to help operators better understand, interpret, and manage filter performance during those critical early stages.

Earthy or musty tasting drinking water is often caused by MIB and Geosmin — naturally occurring compounds produced by algae and bacteria in source waters. Learn what they are, why they occur, and how monitoring and treatment help utilities manage taste and odour events.

Biological Activated Carbon (BAC) filters play a crucial role in modern water treatment systems. They combine physical filtration with biological processes to remove organic contaminants, improve water quality, and ensure safety. However, to get the best out of BAC filters, we need to focus on optimising their performance. This means understanding how they work, monitoring their condition, and applying practical strategies to maintain their efficiency over time. In this post,

After more than 20 years in water treatment, Peta Thiel has seen every “next big contaminant” come and go — from algal toxins and DBPs to endocrine disruptors and now PFAS. As Founder and Principal Chemist at Research Laboratory Services (RLS), she helps councils, utilities, and engineers move beyond reactive decision-making and into evidence-based, practical solutions that actually work. This blog shares Peta’s journey, her approach to filtration media analysis and treatmen

Is your BAC still doing the job you think it is? As carbon ages, performance shifts in ways that iodine number alone can’t capture. This blog introduces BAC Aging Profiles and the key indicators that help operators understand true in-service performance.

When it comes to producing safe, clean drinking water, one of the most important processes is coagulation and flocculation . But how do...

In an era marked by rapid technological advancements and evolving regulatory landscapes, local councils face unprecedented challenges and opportunities. Peta Thiel, Founder, Research Laboratory Services and prominent figure in the realm of regulatory compliance, is at the forefront of guiding these councils through the complexities of new regulations. With her extensive expertise and innovative approach, Theil is not only helping local governments navigate these uncharted wat