#5235_09_2014_FINAL

INSPECTION REPORT ROUTING SHEET
To be attached to all inspection reports in-house only.
Laboratory Cert. #:
Laboratory Name:
Inspection Type:
Inspector Name(s):
Inspection Date:
Date Report Completed:
Date Forwarded to Reviewer:
Reviewed by:
Date Review Completed:
Cover Letter to use:
Unit Supervisor/Chemist III:
Date Received:
Date Forwarded to Linda:
Date Mailed:
5235
Mecklenburg County Water Quality Program
Field Maintenance
Beth Swanson, Gary Francies
September 3, 2014
9/22/2014
9/22/2014
GWF
9/25/2014
❑ Insp. Initial ® Insp. Reg.
❑ Insp. No Finding ❑ Insp. CP
❑ Corrected ❑ Insp. Reg. Delay
lease send to wes.bellamcdenr.aov
Gary Francies
9/25/2014 DS
9/26/2014
'I L

LABORATORY NAME:
ADDRESS:
CERTIFICATE #:
DATE OF INSPECTION:
TYPE OF INSPECTION:
AUDITOR(S):
LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED:
I. INTRODUCTION:
On -Site Inspection Report
Mecklenburg County Water Quality Program
700 N. Tryon St
Suite 205
Charlotte, NC 28202
5235
September 3, 2014
Field Maintenance
Beth Swanson and Gary Francies
David Buetow, Olivia Edwards, and Alex Hattaway
This laboratory was inspected by a representative of the North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater
Laboratory Certification (NC WW/GW LC) program to verify its compliance with the requirements of 15A
NCAC 2H .0800 for the analysis of environmental samples.
II. GENERAL COMMENTS:
This laboratory analyzes ambient waters from the county and maintains voluntary certification. Their
proficiency testing study for 2014 is complete and the results were 100% acceptable. This laboratory
operates with numerous instruments and technicians in the field. When analyzing Proficiency Testing
(PT) samples, the functioning instruments are calibrated by various sample technicians, and the PT
sample is then analyzed by a primary analyst on each instrument. The median result is used for reporting.
Since the last inspection, the laboratory has obtained Luminescence Dissolved Oxygen (LDO) probes for
the multi -meters. Method ASTM D 888-09 C (LDO) has been added to the facility's certification. The staff
was easy to work with and knowledgeable and proud of their program.
III. FINDINGS, REQUIREMENTS, COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
Documentation
A. Finding: The laboratory needs to increase the documentation of purchased materials and
reagents.
Requirement: All chemicals, reagents, standards and consumables used by the laboratory
must have the following information documented: Date Received, Date Opened (in use),
Vendor, Lot Number, and Expiration Date. This information must be retained for chemicals,
reagents, standards and consumables used for a period of five years. Consumable materials
such as pH buffers and lots of pre -made standards are included in this requirement. Ref:
Quality Assurance Policies for Field Laboratories.
Comment: Vendor and lot numbers of pH buffers and conductivity standards need to be
recorded.

Page 2
#5235 Mecklenburg County Water Quality Program
Conductivity —Standard Methods 2510 B-1997
Dissolved Oxygen — Standard Methods 4500 O G-2001
PH — Standard Methods 4500 H+ B-2000
Temperature — Standard Methods 2550 B-2000
B. Finding: The laboratory benchsheet was lacking pertinent data: sample collection time,
analysis time, and units of measure.
Requirement: Data pertinent to each analysis must be maintained for five years. Certified
Data must consist of date collected, time collected, sample site, sample collector, and sample
analysis time. The field bench sheets must provide a space for the signature or initials of the
analyst, and proper units of measure for all analyses. Ref: 15A NCAC 02H .0805 (g) (1).
Comment: Since analyses are performed in situ, the time collected and time analyzed need to
be clarified as being the same. A single time was entered on the stream field data sheet labeled
as "time collected" and in the lake book labeled as "time". This requirement may be fulfilled by
adding a statement to the benchsheet indicating that the time documented is both collection
and analysis time.
Comment: Units were missing from the stream field data sheet, but included in the lake book.
Conductivity —Standard Methods 2510 B-1997
C. Finding: The Automatic Temperature Compensator (ATC) has not been verified annually (every
12 months).
Requirement: The ATC must be verified annually (i.e., every twelve months) and the process
documented. The ATC must be verified by analyzing a standard at 25 °C (the temperature that
conductivity values are compensated to) and a temperature(s) that brackets the temperature
ranges of the samples to be analyzed. This may require the analysis of a third temperature
reading that is > 25 *C. Ref: NC WW/GW LC Approved Procedure for Field Analysis of Specific
Conductance (Conductivity).
Requirement: Data pertinent to each analysis must be maintained for five years. Ref: 15A
NCAC 02H .0805 (g) (1).
Comment: The ATC had been verified on 9/2/2014 and in the past, but the laboratory could not
produce a record of consistent annual checks.
Temperature — Standard Methods 2550 B-2000
D. Finding: The temperature sensing device on the multi probe meter, used to obtain reported
temperature values, has not been calibrated against a National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) traceable thermometer annually (every 12 months).
Requirement: Thermometers and temperature measuring devices, used to measure
temperature for compliance monitoring, must be checked every 12 months against a NIST
traceable thermometer. The thermometer/meter readings must be less than or equal to 1 °C
from the NIST traceable thermometer reading. The documentation must include the serial
number of the NIST traceable thermometer that was used in the comparison. Document any
correction that applies on both the thermometer/meter and on a separate sheet to be filed. Ref:
NC WW/GW LC Approved Procedure for the Analysis of Temperature.

IV.
Page 3
#5235 Mecklenburg County Water Quality Program
E. Finding: The temperature correction has not been posted nor has the correction been applied
to the documented temperature reading.
Requirement: The following must be documented in indelible ink whenever sample analysis is
performed. 7. The temperature correction (even if it is zero) must be posted on the meter as
well as in hard copy format (to be retained for five years). Ref: NC WW/GW LC Approved
Procedure for the Analysis of Temperature.
Requirement: The following must be documented in indelible ink whenever sample analysis is
performed. 5. Document sample temperature measurements with any applicable temperature
corrections applied. Ref: NC WW/GW LC Approved Procedure for the Analysis of Temperature.
PAPER TRAIL INVESTIGATION:
No paper trail performed since the laboratory holds certification voluntarily and data is not reported to the
State.
V. CONCLUSIONS:
Correcting the above -cited findings will help this lab to produce quality data and meet certification
requirements. The inspectors would like to thank the staff for its assistance during the inspection and
data review process. Please respond to all findings.
Report prepared by: Beth Swanson
Report reviewed by: Gary Francies
Date: September 22, 2014
Date: September 24, 2014

A14 �' IPA
-North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Pat McCrory John E, Skvarla, III
Governor Secretary
September 29, 2014
5235
Mr. David Buetow
Mecklenburg County Water Quality Program
700 N. Tryon St. Suite 205
Charlotte, NC 28202
Subject: North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification (NC WW/GW LC)
Maintenance Inspection
Dear Mr. Buetow:
Enclosed is a report for the inspection performed on September 3, 2014 by Gary Francies and
Beth Swanson. Where finding(s) are cited in this report, a response is required. Within thirty days
of receipt, please supply this office with a written item for item description of how these finding(s)
were corrected. If the finding(s) cited in the enclosed report are not corrected, enforcement actions
may be recommended. For certification maintenance, your laboratory must continue to carry out
the requirements set forth in 15A NCAC 2H .0800.
Copies of the checklists completed during the inspection may be requested from this office. Thank
you for your cooperation during the inspection. If you wish to obtain an electronic copy of this
report by email or if you have questions or need additional information, please contact us at (828)
296-4677.
Attachment
cc: Beth Swanson
Master File
Sincerely,
Gary Francies, Technical Assistance/Compliance Specialist
Division of Water Resources
Water Sciences Section
INC Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification Branch
1623 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1623
Location: 4405 Reedy Creek Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607
Phone: [phone] FAX: [phone]
Internet: www,dwalab.oro
An Equal Opportunity 1 Affirrnative Action Employer