#5082 - 03 - 2012 - 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:
5082
City of Lowell
Maintenance
Chet Whiting
March 22, 2012
April 24, 2012
May 1, 2012
Jason Smith
May 1, 2012
Cover Letter to use: _ Insp. Initial X Insp. Reg. _ Insp. No Finding _ Insp. CP _Corrected
Unit Supervisor: Gary Francies
Date Received: 5/1/2012
Date Forwarded to Linda: 5/4/2012
Date Mailed: 5 /I LQ__

s A
NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Beverly Eaves Perdue
Governor
5082
Mr. Dan Dougherty
City of Lowell
101 First Street
Lowell, NC 28098
Division of Water Quality
Charles Wakild, P. E.
Director
May 7, 2012
Dee Freeman
Secretary
Subject: North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification (NC WW/GW
LC) Maintenance Inspection
Dear Mr
Enclosed is a report for the inspection performed on March 22, 2012 by Chet Whiting.
apologize for the delay in getting this report to you. 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
828-298-4877.
Sincerely,
G
Gary Francies
Certification Unit Supervisor
Laboratory Section
Enclosure
cc: Master File
Chet Whiting
DENR DWO 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] one
Internet: www.dwglab.org
North Caro1 ina
An Equal Opportunity \ Affirmative Action Employer Natullaily

LABORATORY NAME:
NPDES PERMIT #:
ADDRESS:
CERTIFICATE #:
DATE OF INSPECTION:
TYPE OF INSPECTION:
AUDITOR(S):
LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED:
I1!111:Z6]B11L*NNIL1
On -Site Inspection Report
City of Lowell
NCO025861
101 First Street
Lowell, NC 28098
5082
March 22, 2012
Field Maintenance
Chet Whiting
Dan Dougherty
This laboratory was inspected to verify its compliance with the requirements of 15A NCAC 2H .0800 for
the analysis of environmental samples.
GENERAL COMMENTS:
The facility is neat and well organized and has all the equipment necessary to perform the analyses.
Benchsheets are well designed, easy to follow and concise. Records are well organized and easy to
retrieve.
Findings A and B are new policies that have been implemented by our program since the last inspection.
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. A system (e.g., traceable identifiers) must be in
place that links standard/reagent preparation information to analytical batches in which the
solutions are used. Documentation of solution preparation must include the analyst's initials,
date of preparation, the volume or weight of standard(s) used, the solvent and final volume of
the solution. This information as well as the vendor and/or manufacturer, lot number, and
expiration date 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.

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#5082 City of Lowell
B. Finding: Proficiency testing (PT) samples are not documented in the same manner as
environmental samples.
Requirement: The analysis of PT samples is designed to evaluate the entire process used to
routinely report environmental analytical results. Therefore, PT samples must be analyzed and
the process documented in the same manner as environmental samples. Ref: Quality
Assurance Policies for Field Laboratories.
Total Residual Chlorine — Standard Methods, 18t" Edition, 4500 Cl G
Recommendation: The Total Residual Chlorine instrument used on -site is a DR-2000. The technology
for this instrument is no longer supported by the manufacturer. In addition, some independent companies
no longer support the technology as parts can be difficult to obtain. It is recommended that the laboratory
consider purchasing a newer instrument.
IV. PAPER TRAIL INVESTIGATION:
The paper trail consisted of comparing 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 NPDES permit # NC0025861 for July and August, 2011. No transcription errors were
defected The aci Ity appears to a oing a goo - jo o accura a y- ranscrl Ing a a.
V. CONCLUSIONS:
Correcting the above -cited findings and implementing the recommendation will help this lab to produce
quality data and meet certification requirements. The inspector would like to thank the staff for its
assistance during the inspection and data review process. Please respond to all findings.
Report prepared by: Chet Whiting Date: April 24, 2012
Report reviewed by: Jason Smith Date: May1, 2012