Community Outreach
Community Projects
Torrent Laboratory provides laboratory analysis services to community organizations throughout California, Alaska, and Hawaii where environmental sustainability is a priority. We work with some of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most innovative companies and non-profit organizations focused on environmental issues today. Torrent also partners with grass-roots organizations, local schools and neighborhoods to improve their quality of life.
Contamination Assessment for Guadalupe River Project
San Jose
2005
Torrent provided its expertise and laboratory analysis services to the Guadalupe River Project, a joint development of the San Jose Redevelopment Agency with the US Army Corps of Engineers and Santa Clara Valley Water District. The $350 million project, completed in 2005, was aimed at protecting Downtown San Jose from future floods and providing an educational and recreational gathering place for the community. Before the project, Guadalupe River Park was nearly inaccessible and surrounded by blighted neighborhoods as well as aging industrial developments with contaminated soils. Today, the park boasts more than 130 developed acres, including hiking and biking trails, open space, a water play area and picnic areas. Torrent provided services at a special non-profit rate and helped with the initial site assessment testing. We are committed to ongoing support for Guadalupe River Park & Gardens in order to help educate the public about environmental issues.
Environmental Testing for Low-Income Housing Projects
San Jose, CA
2010
Torrent Laboratory volunteered its analytical services to a Habitat for Humanity project in San Jose, CA. Torrent provided free and “at cost” air, soil and water testing for three low-income housing projects. With Torrent’s assistance, these projects were able to satisfy state environmental regulations and move forward to construction. Today, these projects provide affordable housing for hundreds of residents.
Environmental Testing for Pueblo Play Park
San Jose
2014
Neighbors from the Winchester and Payne area in San Jose were motivated to create a safe, accessible park for neighborhood kids. Torrent Laboratory was pleased to offer our support for this grass-roots effort by providing free environmental testing of metals for the park site. Technicians collected the samples and brought them back to Torrent for testing. Our testing services and results gave neighbors peace of mind to move forward and build the park with the guidance and support of several non-profits, including KaBOOM!, the San Jose Parks Foundation, the Sharks Foundation, and Pueblo de Dios. Using volunteer labor, the community built the park in a single day, and it is now enjoyed by children throughout the neighborhood.
“Everything went really well with the project and Torrent’s help was appreciated. It’s so nice that you help with projects like this, since there are no funds to pull from except our personal pockets. I drive by the playground nearly everyday, and I’m so happy when I see families using it. You can share in the joy with me.”
Soil Testing For Neighborhood Park
California
2015
Torrent provided free environmental testing for another community playground and park project in California spearheaded by Gateway Community Church. Organizers collected samples and brought them back to the lab to test for metals and total petroleum hydrocarbons.
“Our deepest gratitude and thanks towards Torrent Laboratories. Your generous donation helps us to create a new outdoor space for the community to play and gather. Further propelling efforts towards our goal of creating a playground and park for our community!”
Environmental Testing for School Playground
San Jose
2015
Torrent provided free soil testing for Aspire Charter School to give them peace of mind while building its new playground.
“Thank you again for your time and generous donation of soil testing for the installation of our new playground!”
Charity Work
Our employees are active in our community and support a variety of worthy causes, from food drives to medical care to education.
Food Bank Donations
From November 2012 to December 2012, Torrent Laboratory participated in a holiday food drive for Second Harvest, a food bank serving families in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Torrent employees donated over $1000 to Second Harvest, and Torrent Laboratory matched our employee’s donations dollar for dollar.
Walkathon Sponsor
Torrent Laboratory has consistently sponsored Walkathons every year for the past ten years. With over 10,000 participants to date and raising over $5000, Torrent provided much-needed funds for a variety of worthy organizations including:
- American Cancer Society
- Milpitas Unified School District
- Children’s Hospital of Oakland
- American Heart Association
- Milpitas Police Department
- BAPS Charities (International Non Profit Organization whose mission is to provide disaster relief at the global level)
Education Outreach
Torrent supports science education by welcoming local students into our lab and offering technical assistance, testing and analysis for student science projects.
Facility Tours for Students of Tokyo College
City College of San Francisco
2014-Present
Each year, City College of San Francisco coordinates tours of Bay-area scientific facilities for exchange students from Tokyo College. Three years running, City College of San Francisco has selected Torrent Laboratory as part of their Facility Tour program. Torrent provides in-depth educational tours to these knowledge-seeking students. Tokyo College students learn about Torrent’s laboratory testing and observe testing in action. Students are encouraged to ask questions and learn about the difference between Japanese and American testing protocols.
It is refreshing to see the big smiles on their faces at the end of each tour.
Internships for Young Scientists
Bay-Area
2000-Present
Torrent is a champion of quality education for today’s youth. Particularly in the area of science, Torrent has extended opportunities to local area high schools by inviting students for intern projects at our company headquarters and in the field. Guided by our professional staff,more than 20 students have interned at Torrent. These young scientists learn fundamental principles of laboratory analysis as they perform hands-on projects including sampling, testing and analysis. At a high school Science Fair in 2005, a team of our young scientists created a ‘Carpet Cleaner Lab’ and won first place among 50 entries from ten Bay-area high schools.
Consultations and Testing for Science Fair Projects for local Bay-Area Schools
Torrent opens our laboratory to local students so that they can see science in action. Torrent encourages these “young scientists” to come up with meaningful science projects to expand their understanding of biology and life sciences and see their applications in the “real” world. Torrent is committed to fostering an understanding with these young people regarding how science can positively impact their own communities.
Torrent Laboratory has assisted individuals and groups of middle and high school students with numerous science projects, including:
- Drinking water contamination in a developing country
- Hazardous elements in lipsticks
- Hazardous elements in perfumes
- Air quality around dense industrial areas
- Lead content of soil near school yards
- Health? Impact of different carpet cleaners
Sample Student Science Projects
Torrent Laboratory worked with a local student at Magnolia Science Academy on a science fair project exploring the use of ground sesame powder leaves to remove heavy metal contamination in drinking water, particularly in regards to third-world countries. Torrent provided free testing and analysis services along with project guidance and consultation. This student was awarded a silver medal from the 21st International Environmental Project Olympiad, which is one of the highest honors awarded for student science fair projects.
Torrent Laboratory provided services and guidance for another local student on a science fair project evaluating the efficacy of stain-removing laundry sticks on a variety of stains on an assortment of different fabrics. This student was awarded second-place in the school-wide science fair.
“Thank you very much for sending the analysis report of the samples. I really appreciate your help. As I had mentioned, my daughter came up with this idea and was really in a bind as she was not sure how she would get this analyzed. Your support has made her day, and she says a big ‘Thank You’ to you and Torrent Laboratory staff.”
Guiding an Air Pollution Project
Los Gatos High School, City
Torrent Laboratory is helping the students of Los Gatos High School understand, learn and measure the air pollution resulting from single driver car usage! Students are performing these studies to measure the air pollution on the different days and times to learn the eco-impact of the “earth unfriendly” behavior of the humans!