#531 - 02 - 2012 - FINAL

INSPECTION REPORT ROUTING SHEET
To be attached to all inspection reports in-house only.
Laboratory Cert. #:
531
Laboratory Name:
City of Asheville — North Fork WTP Laboratory
Inspection Type:
Municipal Maintenance
Inspector Name(s):
Jason Smith
Inspection Date:
February 21, 2012
Date Report Completed:
March 19 2012
Date Forwarded to Reviewer: March 19 2012
Reviewed by:
Chet Whiting
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March 70 7019
Cover Letter to use: _
Insp. Initial _ Insp. Reg. _ Insp. No Finding _ Insp. CP XCorrected
Unit Supervisor:
Gary Francies
Date Received:
3/20/2012
Date Forwarded to Linda:
Date Mailed:
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NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural
Division of Water Quality
Beverly Eaves Perdue
Governor
Charles Wakild, P. E.
Director
March 21, 2012
531
Ms. Brenna Cook
City of Asheville — North Fork WTP Laboratory
3374 North Fork — Left Fork Road
Black Mountain, NC 28711
Dee Freeman
Secretary
SUBJECT: North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification (NC WW/GW LC)
Maintenance Inspection
Dear Ms. Cook:
Enclosed is a report for the inspection performed on February 21, 2012 by Jason Smith. Since
the finding(s) cited during the inspection were all corrected prior to the completion of the
enclosed report, a response is not required. The staff is commended for taking the initiative in
correcting the findings in such a timely manner. 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 electronic mail, or if you have questions or need additional information please
contact me at 828-296-4677.
Sincerely,
Gary Francies
Certification Unit Supervisor
Laboratory Section
Enclosure
CC: Master File
Gary Francies
DENR DWQ Laboratory Section NC Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification Branch
1623 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1623
Location: 4405 Reedy Creek Road. Raleigh, North Carolina 27607-6445
Phone: [phone] \ FAX: [phone]
Internet: www,dwglab.org
One
NorthCarolina
An Equal Opportunity \ Affirmative Action Employer

On -Site Inspection Report
LABORATORY NAME:
NPDES PERMIT #:
ADDRESS:
CERTIFICATE #:
DATE OF INSPECTION:
TYPE OF INSPECTION:
AUDITOR(S):
LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED:
I. INTRODUCTION:
City of Asheville — North Fork WTP Laboratory
NC0035807, NC0056961, and NCO085511
3374 North Fork — Left Fork Road
Black Mountain, NC 28711
531
February 21, 2012
Municipal Maintenance
Jason Smith
Brenna Cook
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 equipment is well maintained. Records are well kept and
data appeared accurate. In addition to their own samples, the laboratory also analyzes samples for the
Debruhl Water Treatment Plant and the Mills River Water Treatment Plant. Laboratory personnel
communicate well with sample collectors and coordinate sample analyses effectively to manage workload
and holding times for all three facilities.
III. FINDINGS, REQUIREMENTS, COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
Documentation
Comment: Error corrections were not dated. Also, some instances of overwriting were noted. North Carolina
Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification Policy states: All documentation errors must be corrected
by drawing a single line through the error so that the original entry remains legible. Entries shall not be
obliterated by erasures or markings. Wite-Out®, correction tape or similar products designed to obliterate
documentation are not to be used. Write the correction adjacent to the error. The correction must be
initialed by the responsible individual and the date of change documented. All data and log entries must be
written in indelible ink. Pencil entries are not acceptable. This requirement is a new policy that has been
implemented by our program since the last inspection. Notification of acceptable corrective action (i.e., the
laboratory supervisor implemented this policy and discussed with staff at the monthly staff meeting) was
received by email on February 22, 2012. No further response is necessary for this finding.
Comment: Units of measure were not consistently documented for pH. The units of measure for Total
Residual Chlorine were incorrect on one benchsheet. Incorrect units of measure were documented for the
weight difference of the filter for Total Suspended Solids. The North Carolina Administrative Code, 15A NCAC
2H .0805 (a) (7) (H) states: All laboratories must use printed laboratory bench worksheets that include a space
to enter the signature or initials of the analyst, date of analyses, sample identification, volume of sample
analyzed, value from the measurement system, factor and final value to be reported and each item must be
recorded each time samples are analyzed. The date and time BOD and coliform samples are removed from
the incubator must be included on the laboratory worksheet. Demonstration of acceptable corrective action
(i.e., updated benchsheets with correct units of measure) was received by email on March 16, 2012. No
further response is necessary for this finding.

Page 2
City of Asheville — North Fork WTP Laboratory
Total Residual Chlorine — Standard Methods, 19th Edition, 4500 CI G
Comment: A post analysis blank and mid -range standard were not analyzed. North Carolina
Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification Policy based upon Standard Methods, 20th Edition, 1020 B.
(10) (c), 3020 B. (2) (b), and 4020 B. (2) states: The calibration blank and calibration verification standard (mid-
range) must be analyzed initially (i.e., prior to sample analysis), after every tenth sample and at the end of each
sample group to check for carry over and calibration drift. If either fall outside established quality control
acceptance criteria, corrective action must be taken (e.g., repeating sample determinations since the last
acceptable calibration verification, repeating the initial calibration, etc.). This requirement is a new policy that
has been implemented by our program since the last inspection. Demonstration of acceptable corrective
action (i.e., an updated benchsheet including a post analysis blank and mid -range standard) was received
by email on February 22, 2012. No further response is necessary for this finding.
Settleable Solids — Standard Methods, 19th Edition, 2540 F
Comment: The forty five minute stir time was not adequately documented. This is considered pertinent
information. The North Carolina Administrative Code, 15A NCAC 2H .0805 (a) (7) (A) states: All analytical data
pertinent to each certified analysis must be filed in an orderly manner so as to be readily available for
inspection upon request. The laboratory was documenting the forty five minute stir time in a manner that was
acceptable in the past which was a statement on the benchsheet that all samples are stirred after forty five
minutes. . IVUIUI %�arvnna vvastewaterrvrounawater Laboratory Certification Policy now requires the analyst to
indicate that the sample was stirred for each analysis. Demonstration of acceptable corrective action (i.e., an
updated benchsheet including a space for the analyst to document the forty five minute stir time) was
received by email on February 22, 2012. No further response is necessary for this finding.
Total Suspended Solids — Standard Methods, 19th Edition, 2540 D
Comment: The laboratory was using the wrong acceptance criteria to determine if the blank is acceptable.
North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification Policy based upon Standard Methods, 20th
Edition, 2540 D. (3) (a) states: If pre -prepared filters are not used, the method requires that filters must be
weighed to a constant weight after washing. In lieu of this process, it is acceptable to analyze a single daily dry
filter blank (i.e., no additional rinsing during the analysis). The acceptance criterion for the blank is a weight
change of less than 4% of the filters initial weight or 0.5 ma whichever is less. Since the laboratory's filters are
generally around 120 mg, the acceptance criteria should be ± 0.5 mg. Notification of acceptable corrective
action (i.e., the laboratory now uses a blank acceptance criterion of ± 0.5 mg) was received by email on
March 16, 2012. No further response is necessary for this finding.
IV. PAPER TRAIL INVESTIGATION:
The paper trail consisted of comparing laboratory benchsheets, field testing records, and contract lab
reports to Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) submitted to the North Carolina Division of Water Quality.
Data were reviewed for North Fork WTP (NPDES permit #NC0035807), Debruhl WTP (NPDES permit
#NC0056961), and Mills River WTP (NPDES permit #NC0085511) for August, 2011. No transcription errors
were detected. The facility appears to be doing a good job of accurately transcribing data.
V. CONCLUSIONS:
All findings noted during the inspection were adequately addressed prior to the completion of this report.
The inspector would like to thank the staff for its assistance during the inspection and data review process. No
response is required.
Report prepared by: Jason Smith Date: March 19, 2012
Report reviewed by: Chet Whiting Date: March 20, 2012