Laboratory Certification Branch

NOTICE: The NC EMC is proposing an amendment to Certification rule 15A NCAC 02H .0804 to add “Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)” as a certifiable Parameter.  The proposed rule can be viewed here.  The Regulatory Impact Analysis may be viewed here. 

Reason for Proposed Action:  A multitude of emerging contaminants broadly known as “Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)” are of great concern for NC regulators and the general public at large. The NC WW/GW Laboratory Certification Branch does not currently have the authority to certify for the parameter known as “PFAS”. This parameter must be added to Certification rule 15A NCAC 02H .0804 (d).

Proposed Effective Date:  July 1, 2024

Public Hearing:
Date:  March 20, 2024
Time:  6:00 p.m.
Location:  Ground Floor Hearing room in the Archdale Bldg., 512 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27603

Comments may be submitted to:  Laboratory Certification Branch Manager, 1623 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1623; email DEQ.WR.CertificationRuleComments@deq.nc.gov

Comment period ends:  April 30, 2024

Procedure for Subjecting a Proposed Rule to Legislative Review: If an objection is not resolved prior to the adoption of the rule, a person may also submit written objections to the Rules Review Commission. If the Rules Review Commission receives written and signed objections in accordance with G.S. 150B-21.3(b2) from 10 or more persons clearly requesting review by the legislature and the Rules Review Commission approves the rule, the rule will become effective as provided in G.S. 150B-21.3(b1). The Commission will receive written objections until 5 p.m. on the day following the day the Commission approves the rule. The Commission will receive those objections by mail, delivery service, hand delivery, or facsimile transmission. If you have any further questions concerning the submission of objections to the Commission, please call a Commission staff attorney at 919-431-3000.

NC Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification

The North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification (NC WW/GW LC) program is a branch of the Water Sciences Section, and serves as a vital component in the effort to ensure the quality of analytical data used for regulatory purposes by a diversity of programs within the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Various Divisions within DEQ rely on the services of the NC WW/GW LC program to support a multitude of scientific, regulatory and administrative decisions.

The NC WW/GW LC program operates pursuant to authority contained in G.S. 143-215.3(a)(1) and 143-215.3(a)(10). The Director or their delegate, is authorized to issue Certifications, reject applications for Certification, renew Certification, issue Recertification, issue Decertification, and issue reciprocity Certification. It is a fee-supported program managed by the Division of Water Resources (DWR), Water Sciences Section (WSS). The rule governing laboratory certification is North Carolina Administrative Code, 15A NCAC 2H .0800.

The program certifies approximately 700 environmental laboratories in North Carolina and throughout the United States under the following categories:

• Municipal
• Industrial
• Commercial
• Other
• Field
• Field Commercial

The State Laboratory will maintain a current list of certified laboratories.

Efforts to improve the quality of monitoring data rank among the most important functions of the NC WW/GW LC staff. In addition to certification, staff also provide technical support and training to environmental laboratory personnel to assist in improvement of laboratory operations, quality systems and understanding of the framework of regulatory requirements which govern laboratory operations.

Initial Application Procedures

Information regarding initial application to the program can be found at the following links:

Field Laboratory Certification

Field laboratory certification applies to laboratories, its agents or employees seeking to analyze samples for field parameters only. These parameters include Total Residual Chlorine, Conductivity, Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Settleable Residue, Temperature, Turbidity, Salinity, Sulfite, Free Available Chlorine and VAR Options 5, 6 & 12. Field commercial certification applies to a laboratory, its agents, or employees seeking to analyze field parameters only for others for a fee.

Non-field Laboratory Certification

Non-field laboratory certification applies to Municipal, Industrial, Commercial and Other laboratories, its agents or employees seeking to analyze parameters beyond the scope of field parameters. Commercial certification applies to a laboratory, its agents or employees seeking to analyze parameters, beyond the scope of field parameters, for others for a fee.

Certified Laboratories

Lists of certified laboratories may be found at the following link:

Certified Laboratory Listings