The Mower County water lab will close at the end of 2009, a decision made final by the county board Tuesday.

The lab tests water for a number of clients, including small towns and private customers, who will now have to look to the private sector.

County officials said the private sector provides the same services and can do it cheaper — the move is expected to save the county $60,000 a year.

Only Mower and Olmsted counties have water labs in the region.

The move will shift one full-time employee from the lab to the nearby recycling center, commissioner Ray Tucker said.

The recycling center will also have to be remodeled some to accommodate the changes, which could cost roughly $5,000.

No jobs are expected to be lost in the transition.

The board will also notify clients, as well as local real-estate agents and attorneys that might be impacted, that the lab will be closing.

That notification will include a listing of where they can go for services after the Mower County facility shuts down.