Proficiency Testing

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Proficiency Testing

• Alfred Baquiran Water Supply
• Susan Butts Water Pollution and DMRQA

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Brief Synopsis of PT Samples

• PT Providers no longer accredited by NIST
• Providers now approved by A2LA
• PT tables created by NELAC PT Board which EPA
  endorsed
• PT tables located on our website
• WS and WP required, but RCRA may be next in the
  near future

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Brief Synopsis of PT Samples

• WS and WP samples must be part of an official
  study
• Rapid response or quick turnaround samples are
  not acceptable
• Revised results are not acceptable, except when
  the PT provider is in error

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Water SupplyNew Parameters Added for 2007

• Specific Conductance
• Heterotrophic Plate Count
• Additional analytes for WS PT could be added in
  the future (enumeration of E. coli under LT2 rule)

5
Water SupplyClarification of Organic PT
Requirements

• Volatiles and HAAs 80 of required compounds
  must pass
• Vinyl Chloride graded separately and must pass
  for volatiles certification
• THMs acceptable results required for all four
  compounds
• Any repeats must report all analytes

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Water SupplySome Common Problems

• Results reported with incorrect method number
• Results reported with incorrect or no EPA lab
  code
• This code is unique to each lab and required on
  all reported results
• Contact Charles Feldman at EPA to obtain an EPA
  lab code [phone]

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Water SupplyMicrobiology Reporting Issue

• For total coliform/E. coli presence-absence
  methods, simply report the correct method SM
  9223B, Colisure, Colitag
• Membrane filtration methods are slightly
  different because a different method is used to
  verify presence of E. coli
• Example If the method number reported for total
  coliform is 9222B, the method number 9221E should
  also be reported because it is used to verify
  presence of E. coli

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Water SupplyMiscellaneous Topics

• NELAC PT subcommittee has suggested changing
  acceptance criteria for micro PTs
• Recommended change is that laboratories must
  obtain acceptable results for all 10 samples in
  the PT
• Analysis records for WS and WP PTs must be
  available for review during an evaluation

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Water Pollution and DMRQA
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Water PollutionNew Parameters Added in 2007

• Trace Metals Barium, Boron, Hexavalent Chromium,
  Tin
• Microbiology Total Coliform, Fecal Coliform,
  and Enterococci (MF and MPN methods)
• Inorganics Surfactants (MBAS), Settleable
  Solids, Total Solids, Turbidity, Sulfide,
  Nitrate-Nitrite as N, Nitrite as N

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Water PollutionNew Parameters Added in 2007

• Organics
• Herbicides new parameter
• Pesticides additional compounds
• PCB 1221
• Volatiles additional compounds
• Semi-volatiles Base/Neutrals and Acids new
  parameter

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Water PollutionCommon Missing Parameters

• Turbidity
• Microbiological
• Semi-Volatiles

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Water PollutionPCB Issue

• For SC certification, two PCB samples are
  required.
• Two Options
• Some PT providers will send a two PCB sample set
• Must order two separate PCB samples from two
  studies must be two different PCBs

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Water PollutionMethods Update Rule

• For 2007, both the old and new methods will be
  accepted for reporting.
• For 2008, the new method must be reported as
  listed on your certificate.

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Water PollutionReporting Issues

• Reporting the correct method
• Using correct EPA Lab Code and SC Lab Code
• Each technology must be analyzed and reported
  independently, e.g. EPA Methods 200.7 and 200.8
  are two different technologies and must be
  analyzed and reported as such

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DMRQAProcess for SCDHEC

• 1) Verification of receipt respond to EPA by
  e-mail or mail
• Please also respond to the DMRQA Coordinator
• 2) Order PT samples from studies
• closing within the study dates

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DMRQAProcess for SCDHEC

• 3) Gather data package which includes the
  Permittee Data Report Forms, Chemistry/Microbiolog
  y/WET checklists, and data.
• Submit the completed data packages to PT
  provider and DMRQA coordinator
• - Due anytime during the study

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DMRQAProcess for SCDHEC

• 4) PT Provider will send final reports to the
  DMRQA coordinator for review
• 5) Negotiate any Not Acceptable data and
  submit a Corrective Action Report to the DMRQA
  Coordinator

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Common Problems with DMRQA-27

• More than one result for a parameter is being
  reported
• Results for multiple laboratories (includes
  multiple contract laboratories and facility
  laboratories)
• Problem One laboratory may fail whereas the
  other might pass corrective action is still
  needed
• Solution Report the data for the laboratory
  that analyzes the majority of the NPDES samples
  for the permit within the previous year

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Common Problems with DMRQA-27

• Multiple entries with multiple methods
• Report methods normally used for reporting NPDES
  data on the monthly DMR
• Only report parameters listed on your NPDES
  permit
• Purpose of DMRQA is to reflect what you normally
  report on the monthly DMR

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Common Problems with DMRQA-27

• Two different studies reported for the same
  laboratory one is failing one is passing
• A Corrective Action Report must still be
  submitted

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Common Problems with DMRQA-27

• EPA Lab Code is not listed or listed incorrectly
• Do not participate in the DMRQA study if not
  required use a WP study
• NPDES permit number not listed on Corrective
  Action Report

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Common Problems with DMRQA-27

• Corrective Action Reports incomplete
• Must identify problem or reason for failed
  results in report
• Must submit the corrective action performed (not
  just participation in a new study)
• Submit copies of any Corrective Action Reports
  from contract laboratories

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DMRQA-28Proposed Changes

• Study period extended
• May 1, 2008 through August 29, 2008
• Verification response April 11, 2008
• Language changed to specify that laboratories
  must not be allowed to enter data for their
  clients
• Text changed throughout to avoid confusion

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Proposed Permittee Data Report Form Study 28
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Checklists for Study 28