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 ParameterReference 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 1001411/2023
Total Residual Chlorine : Regular Level Amperometric TitrationSM 4500 Cl D-20114/2021
Total Residual Chlorine: Low Level Amperometric TitrationSM 4500 Cl E-20114/2021
Free Available Chlorine: DPD ColorimetricSM 4500 Cl G-2011 and Hach 802111/2023
Free Available Chlorine: Regular Level Amperometric TitrationSM 4500 Cl D-20114/2021
pH

SM 4500 H+B-2021

New revision for 2024 MUR- Editorial updates only,  no procedural changes

5/2024
Dissolved Oxygen

SM 4500 O G-2021, Hach 10360, In Situ 1002-8-2009, ASTM D888-18 (B) and (C), SM 4500 O H-2021

New revision for 2024 MUR- Editorial updates only,  no procedural changes

5/2024
TemperatureSM 2550 B-201011/2023
Specific Conductance

SM 2510 B-2021

New revision for 2024 MUR- Editorial updates only,  no procedural changes

5/2024
Settleable Residue

SM 2540 F-2020

New revision for 2024 MUR- Editorial updates only,  no procedural changes

5/2024
TurbiditySM 2130 B-20113/2024
SalinitySM 2520 B-20113/2024
VAR Option 5: Aerobic Processes at Greater than 40°CVAR Option 53/2021
VAR Option 6: Addition of AlkaliVAR Option 66/2023
VAR Option 12: Raising the pH of Domestic SeptageVAR Option 123/2021

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 ParameterMethod
Total Residual Chlorine - DPD colorimetricSM 4500 Cl G-2011
Total Residual Chlorine - DPD colorimetric, ultra low levelHach 10014
Total Residual Chlorine SM 4500 Cl D-2011
Total Residual Chlorine - low level amperometric titrationSM 4500 Cl E-2011
Free Available ChlorineSM 4500 Cl G-2011
  
pHSM 4500 H+B-2011
pHSW-846 9040C
pHSW-846 9045D
Dissolved Oxygen : Membrane ElectrodeSM 4500 O G-2016
Dissolved Oxygen : LDO Hach 10360, SM 4500 O H-2016
TemperatureSM 2550 B-2010
Specific ConductanceSM 2510 B-2011
Settleable ResidueSM 2540 F-2011
TurbiditySM 2130 B-2011
SalinitySM 2520 B-2011
VAR Option 5: Aerobic Processes at Greater than 40°CVAR Option 5
VAR Option 6: Addition of AlkaliVAR Option 6
VAR Option 12: Raising the pH of Domestic SeptageVAR 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

ItemRevision DateDescription
Example Benchsheet for Field Analyses1/11/2024An example of a benchsheet used to record the information used to generate field testing results.
Example Benchsheet with data1/11/2024The example benchsheet that has 'data' to show the proper use.
Fixed Pipettor Calibration Worksheet05/21/2009An Excel® spreadsheet for use when calibrating fixed-volume mechanical volumetric liquid-dispensing devices.
Adjustable Pipettor Calibration Worksheet05/21/2009An Excel® spreadsheet for use when calibrating adjustable volume mechanical liquid-dispensing devices.
Total Hardness (mg/L CaCO3) Calculator06/16/2010An 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 Calculator2/12/2020An 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

2/12/2020An 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

2/12/2020An 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

ItemRevision DateDescription
NC Climate Office Websiten/aLink to a database of weather stations throughout North Carolina. 
LDO Daily Calibration Verification6/16/2009A document describing the procedure for verifying the calibration of Luminescence Dissolved Oxygen (LDO) meters with solubility table.
Pipettor Calibration Procedure7/30/2009An example gravimetric procedure for determining the measurement error of mechanical liquid-dispensing devices.
Total Residual Chlorine Instrument Sensitivity Letter8/14/2001A 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 Memo5/01/2008A 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 Letter3/11/2015A 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 Requirements2/14/2008Only 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 Guidance3/4/2020A document describing the corrective action response and documentation needed for labs to address Findings from audits. 
Corrective Action Response (CAR) example11/07/2016This 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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This page was last modified on 10/09/2024