NC0020656_Lab Inspection_20050420

April 20, 2005
133
Mr. Robert Ellis
Leith Creek WWTP Lab.
P.O. Box 249
Laurinburg, NC 28353-0249
SUBJECT: Laboratory Certification Maintenance Inspection
Dear Mr. Ellis:
Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Alan W. Klimek, P.E. Director
Division of Water Quality
RECEIVES
APR 22 2005
DENR - FAYE7hVILLEREGIONAL OFFICE
Enclosed is a report for the inspection performed on March 9, 2005 by Mr. Norm Good. Where
deficiencies are cited in this report, a response is required as well as for all lettered comments and/or
recommendations. Within thirty days of receipt, please supply this office with a written item for item
description of how these deficiencies, comments and/or recommendations were corrected. If the
deficiencies cited in the enclosed report are not corrected, enforcement actions will 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 919-733-
3908.
Sincerely,
James W. Meyer jr
Laboratory Section
Enclosure
cc: Norm Good
Fayetteville Regional Office
Laboratory Section 1623 Mail Service Center; Raleigh, NC 27699-1623
4405 Reedy Creek Road; Raleigh, NC 27607
Phone [phone] / FAX [phone] / Internet: www.dwglab.org
NorthCarolne ina
Naturally
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer— 50% Recycled/10% Post Consumer Paper

LABORATORY NAME:
ADDRESS:
CERTIFICATE NO:
DATE OF INSPECTION:
TYPE OF INSPECTION:
EVALUATOR:
LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED:
I. INTRODUCTION:
On -Site Inspection Report
Leith Creek VVWTP Lab
P.O. Box 249
Laurinburg, NC 28353-0249.
133
03/09/2005
Maintenance
Norman L. Good
Ricky Odom, Robert Ellis
This laboratory was inspected to verify its compliance with the requirements of 15A NCAC 2H
.0800 for the analysis of environmental samples.
II. GENERAL COMMENTS:
The laboratory is spacious and well equipped. All facilities and equipment are well maintained.
Documentation is well kept and most data looked good. Some further quality control
procedures need to be implemented.
III. DEFICIENCIES, REQUIREMENTS, COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS :
Coliform (Fecal - MF):
1. Deficiency: The laboratory is not performing consumables testing on media, pads or filters.
Requirement: Whenever a new source or lot of water, media or pads is put into service
comparison tests should be made. These tests should be performed on the current lot in use
(reference lot) and the new lot (test lot). For guidance on procedure and interpretation of test
results see Standard Methods 9020B (4) (e).
A. Comment: The laboratory is not documenting the removal of chlorine from samples.
Samples are dechlorinated using "thio tabs".
Recommendation: Include a column or space that must be'marked in some fashion indicating
that the thiosulfate has been included for sample dechiorination.
B. Comment: Duplicates are analyzed but not statistically evaluated.
Recommendation: Use a reasonable ± percentage for measuring the degree of agreement
between duplicate measurements. 25% is an acceptable value for countable .plates. Very low
coliform counts will yield much higher degree of variability.

Page 2
RESIDUAL CHLORINE:
C. Comment; At the present time residual chlorine analysis is conducted down to the level of
100 pg/L. The Division of Water Quality has issued an exemption of 18 months for this'
laboratory to meet the low level chlorine analytical requirements.
Requirement; Additional equipment may be required in order to meet the desired sensitivity.
AMMONIA:
2. Deficiency: The laboratory does not have a current study available indicating the
comparison between distilled versus undistilled sample results.
Requirement: Initially analyze four samples distilled and. undistilled from each discharge and
thereafter analyze one sample a year from each effluent. Maintain copies of studies on file for
5 years and have them available for review upon request.
3. Deficiency: Influent samples are sometimes above the high standard of 10 mg/L.
Requirement: Dilute samples if necessary to bring into range of calibration curve. Ref: Standard
Methods 18th.ed. 4500 NH3 (4) (e).
SLUDGE ANALYSIS:
4. Deficiency: All units of measure are not included on the Sludge Analysis Worksheet.
Requirement: Printed bench sheets are required that include space to record the units of
measure. Some entries are labeled correctly, but a few need to be added. In particular, under
the Fecal Coliform section include "cfu" or # of colonies counted for the blank. Under the section
for the Oxygen Consumption Rate add units for the dissolved oxygen measured and the
temperature. Under the Total Solids and % Dry Solids. section add units to the volume filtered
and some of the weights recorded.
IV. PAPER TRAIL INVESTIGATION:
Paper trail investigation consisted of comparison of laboratory bench sheets and chain of
custody documentation to discharge monitoring reports for November 20004, December 2004
and January 2005. No errors in transcription or inconsistencies were observed.
V. CONCLUSIONS:
Correcting the above cited •deficiencies and comments and implementing the
recommendations will help this lab to produce quality data and meet certification requirements.
Please respond to all numbered deficiencies and lettered comments.
Report prepared by: Norman L. Good Date: 04/19/2005