Field Parameter Procedures and Technical Assistance
Facilities with Ammonia and/or Fluoride Monitoring Requirements
It is the responsibility of the permittee to ensure that monitoring is conducted according to test procedures approved under 40 CFR Part 136 even if the permittee does not operate the laboratory that performs the analytical testing on the waste stream. In terms of Ammonia Nitrogen and Fluoride monitoring, this means that the permittee must ensure that their effluent is appropriately characterized as to whether distillation is required. See the following Ammonia/Fluoride Distillation Policy and Ammonia/Fluoride Distillation Technical Assistance document.
Approved Procedures for the Analysis of Field Parameters
These documents are intended to provide the approved procedures and requirements for measurement of field parameters. You may refer to the approved method reference, instrument manufacturer's manual or other resources for additional information.
| Field Parameter | Reference Method(s) | Revision |
|---|---|---|
| Total Residual Chlorine : DPD Colorimetric (no longer includes Hach 10014) | SM 4500 Cl G-2011 and Hach 8167 | 11/2023 |
| Total Residual Chlorine : DPD Colorimetric (Hach 10014) | Hach 10014 | 11/2023 |
| Total Residual Chlorine : Regular Level Amperometric Titration | SM 4500 Cl D-2011 | 4/2021 |
| Total Residual Chlorine: Low Level Amperometric Titration | SM 4500 Cl E-2011 | 4/2021 |
| Free Available Chlorine: DPD Colorimetric | SM 4500 Cl G-2011 and Hach 8021 | 11/2023 |
| Free Available Chlorine: Regular Level Amperometric Titration | SM 4500 Cl D-2011 | 4/2021 |
| pH | SM 4500 H+B-2011 | 11/2023 |
| Dissolved Oxygen | SM 4500 O G-2016, Hach 10360, In Situ 1002-8-2009, ASTM D888-12 (B) and (C), SM 4500 O H-2016 | 11/2023 |
| Temperature | SM 2550 B-2010 | 11/2023 |
| Specific Conductance | SM 2510 B-2011 | 3/2024 |
| Settleable Residue | SM 2540 F-2011 | 3/2021 |
| Turbidity | SM 2130 B-2011 | 3/2024 |
| Salinity | SM 2520 B-2011 | 3/2024 |
| VAR Option 5: Aerobic Processes at Greater than 40°C | VAR Option 5 | 3/2021 |
| VAR Option 6: Addition of Alkali | VAR Option 6 | 6/2023 |
| VAR Option 12: Raising the pH of Domestic Septage | VAR Option 12 | 3/2021 |
SOP Templates
*Check back often for new templates*
These templates are provided to assist Field Laboratories in fulfilling the requirement of having an SOP for each Certified parameter. If choosing to use a template, they are to be filled out with each facility's specific information where applicable.
| Field Parameter | Method |
|---|---|
| Total Residual Chlorine - DPD colorimetric | SM 4500 Cl G-2011 |
| Total Residual Chlorine - DPD colorimetric, ultra low level | Hach 10014 |
| Total Residual Chlorine | SM 4500 Cl D-2011 |
| Total Residual Chlorine - low level amperometric titration | SM 4500 Cl E-2011 |
| Free Available Chlorine | SM 4500 Cl G-2011 |
| pH | SM 4500 H+B-2011 |
| pH | SW-846 9040C |
| pH | SW-846 9045D |
| Dissolved Oxygen : Membrane Electrode | SM 4500 O G-2016 |
| Dissolved Oxygen : LDO | Hach 10360, SM 4500 O H-2016 |
| Temperature | SM 2550 B-2010 |
| Specific Conductance | SM 2510 B-2011 |
| Settleable Residue | SM 2540 F-2011 |
| Turbidity | SM 2130 B-2011 |
| Salinity | SM 2520 B-2011 |
| VAR Option 5: Aerobic Processes at Greater than 40°C | VAR Option 5 |
| VAR Option 6: Addition of Alkali | VAR Option 6 |
| VAR Option 12: Raising the pH of Domestic Septage | VAR Option 12 |
Policies
Policies are regarded as required quality assurance practices and are meant to clarify existing legislative rules or to provide guidance where a legislative rule does not exist. They are intended to insure data produced is accurate, reliable and documented appropriately. Policies applicable to certified laboratories are found on this page of the Laboratory certification website. Policies with an asterisk ( * ) next to the title are applicable to Field Laboratory certification, depending on the Parameter Methods the Field Laboratory is certified for.
Tools for Field Laboratories
| Item | Revision Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Example Benchsheet for Field Analyses | 1/11/2024 | An example of a benchsheet used to record the information used to generate field testing results. |
| Example Benchsheet with data | 1/11/2024 | The example benchsheet that has 'data' to show the proper use. |
| Fixed Pipettor Calibration Worksheet | 05/21/2009 | An Excel® spreadsheet for use when calibrating fixed-volume mechanical volumetric liquid-dispensing devices. |
| Adjustable Pipettor Calibration Worksheet | 05/21/2009 | An Excel® spreadsheet for use when calibrating adjustable volume mechanical liquid-dispensing devices. |
| Total Hardness (mg/L CaCO3) Calculator | 06/16/2010 | An Excel® spreadsheet for calculating Total Hardness (mg/L as CaCO3) using the Calcium and Magnesium values reported by your certified contract laboratory. |
| Free Available Chlorine (FAC) Curve Calculator | 2/12/2020 | An Excel® spreadsheet for calculating the percent recoveries of standards used to verify the instrument calibration. The worksheet may also be used to document the process and satisfy record retention requirements. |
|
Total Residual Chlorine (TRC) Curve Verification Calculator
|
2/12/2020 | An Excel® spreadsheet for calculating the percent recoveries of standards used to verify the factory-set instrument calibration. The worksheet may also be used to document the process and satisfy record retention requirements. |
|
TRC User-Generated Curve Calculator |
2/12/2020 | An Excel® spreadsheet for calculating the correlation coefficient and percent recoveries of standards used for instrument calibration with a user-generated curve. The worksheet may also be used to document the process and satisfy record retention requirements. |
Guidance for Field Laboratories
| Item | Revision Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| NC Climate Office Website | n/a | Link to a database of weather stations throughout North Carolina. |
| LDO Daily Calibration Verification | 6/16/2009 | A document describing the procedure for verifying the calibration of Luminescence Dissolved Oxygen (LDO) meters with solubility table. |
| Pipettor Calibration Procedure | 7/30/2009 | An example gravimetric procedure for determining the measurement error of mechanical liquid-dispensing devices. |
| Total Residual Chlorine Instrument Sensitivity Letter | 8/14/2001 | A letter from the NC DWQ Point Source Branch Supervisor to NPDES Permittees requiring the use of instruments that will detect levels below permit discharge requirements. |
| Total Residual Chlorine Compliance Limit Memo | 5/01/2008 | A memo from the NC DWQ Point Source Branch Supervisor to NPDES Permittees regarding the TRC Compliance Limit of 50 µg/L. |
| Total Residual Chlorine Detection and Compliance Level Letter | 3/11/2015 | A letter from the NC WW/GW Laboratory Certification program restating the Division's policies for Total Residual Chlorine Detection and Compliance Levels. |
| Stormwater Permitting Letter on Field Lab Certification Requirements | 2/14/2008 | Only facilities classified in accordance with Classification of Water Pollution Control Systems Rules found in 15A NCAC 08G .0300 must be certified, however, monitoring of discharges under an NPDES permit (including stormwater) must be conducted in accordance with 40 CFR Part 136. |
| Corrective Action Response to Audit Findings Guidance | 3/4/2020 | A document describing the corrective action response and documentation needed for labs to address Findings from audits. |
| Corrective Action Response (CAR) example | 11/07/2016 | This document provides guidance on root cause analysis and corrective action response and includes an example of a CAR form (this form is not required) |
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DMR Guidance Links
Link to National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permitting Guidance and Directions for Completing a Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR). Look under Compliance Forms. You can also find a link to the Significant Figures and Their Use on DMRs document and list of Parameter Codes.[NOTE: The parameter code for any Fecal coliform regardless of technology (e.g., Colilert-18, MF, MPN/100 mL, etc.) code is now 31616]
DMR Units of Measure Descriptions - 2015
DMR Sample Type Code Descriptions - 2015
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