HomeMy WebLinkAbout#5112 12-Final
INSPECTION REPORT ROUTING SHEET
To be attached to all inspection reports in-house only.
Laboratory Cert. #: 5112
Laboratory Name: Randleman WWTP
Inspection Type: Field Maintenance
Inspector Name(s): Jeffrey R. Adams
Inspection Date: November 8, 2012
Date Report Completed: November 19, 2012
Date Forwarded to Reviewer: November 19, 2012
Reviewed by: Todd Crawford
Date Review Completed: November 19, 2012
Cover Letter to use: Insp. Initial Insp. Reg.
Insp. No Finding Insp. CP
Corrected
Unit Supervisor: Dana Satterwhite
Date Received: November 19, 2012
Date Forwarded to Linda: November 20, 2012
Date Mailed: November 20, 2012
_____________________________________________________________________
On-Site Inspection Report
LABORATORY NAME: Randleman WWTP
NPDES PERMIT #: NC0025445
ADDRESS: 101 Hillary Strret
Randleman, NC 27317
CERTIFICATE #: 5112
DATE OF INSPECTION: November 8, 2012
TYPE OF INSPECTION: Field Maintenance
AUDITOR(S): Jeffrey R. Adams
LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED: Frankie Brewer and Jeff Spainhour
I. INTRODUCTION:
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:
The laboratory was clean and well organized. Records were filed in an orderly manner and readily available for
review.
The laboratory was given a packet containing North Carolina Laboratory Certification approved procedures,
quality control requirements and policies during the inspection.
Contracted analyses are performed by Research & Analytical Laboratories (Certification #34).
The requirements associated with Findings A and B are new policies that have been implemented by our
program since the last inspection.
III. FINDINGS, REQUIREMENTS, COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
Traceability
A. Finding: The laboratory needs to increase the documentation of purchased materials and
reagents (i.e., pH buffers, Total Residual Chlorine reagents and standards).
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 preparati on, 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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Proficiency Testing
B. Finding: The laboratory is not documenting Proficiency Testing (PT) sample analyses in the same
manner as environmental samples (i.e., on a laboratory benchsheet).
Requirement: All PT sample analyses must be recorded in the daily analysis records as for any
environmental sample. This serves as the permanent laboratory record. Ref: Proficiency Testing
Requirements, February 20, 2012, Revision 1.2.
Comment: The laboratory only retained a copy of the data reporting form used to submit
proficiency testing results to the vendor.
Dissolved Oxygen – Standard Methods 4500 O G – 2001
pH – Standard Methods, 4500 H+ B - 2000
Temperature – Standard Methods, 2550 B - 2000
Total Residual Chlorine – Standard Methods, 4500 Cl G - 2000
C. Finding: The laboratory is not documenting the sample site on the benchsheet.
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 benchsheets must provide a space for the signature or initials of the analyst, and proper units of
measure for all analyses. Ref: 15A NCAC 2H .0805 (g) (1).
Dissolved Oxygen – Standard Methods, 4500 O G – 2001
D. Finding: The laboratory is not documenting the meter calibration.
Requirement: The meter must be calibrated prior to analysis of samples. The meter must be
calibrated either by the air calibration method or according to the manufacturer's calibration
procedure. The laboratory must document each time that a calibration is performed. Ref: NC
WW/GW LC Approved Procedure for the Field Analysis of Dissolved Oxygen.
E. Finding: The laboratory is not documenting the calibration time.
Requirement: The following criteria must be documented whenever sample analysis is performed :
Meter calibration and time(s) of calibration. Ref: NC WW/GW LC Approved Procedure for the Field
Analysis of Dissolved Oxygen.
Total Residual Chlorine – Standard Methods, 4500 Cl G - 2000
F. Finding: The laboratory is not verifying the gel standard concentration every 12 months.
Requirement: Purchased “Gel-type” or sealed liquid ampoule standards may be used for daily
calibration verification only. These standards must be verified initially and every 12 months thereafter,
with the standard curve. Note: It is only necessary to verify the gel or sealed liquid standard which falls
within the concentration range of the curve used to measure sample concentrations. For example, if
you are measuring samples against a low range curve, a 200 g/L standard would be verified, and
not the 800 g/L standard since the 800 standard would be measured using a high range curve.
Ref: NC WW/GW LC Approved Procedure for the Field Analysis of Total Residual Chlorine.
Comment: The value of the gel standard obtained at the time of the 5 point verification, will be the
“true value” used throughout the year and until a new curve is verified. See the “Standard Solutions”
section on page 3 of the NC WW/GW LC Approved Procedure for the Field Analysis of Total
Residual Chlorine that was provided during the inspection.
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#5112 Randleman WWTP
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 the
Town of Randleman WWTP (NPDES permit #NC0025445) for July, August and September, 2012. The
following errors were detected:
Date Parameter Location
Value on Benchsheet
*Contract Data
Value on DMR
7/5/12 pH Effluent 6.9 S. U. 7.1 S. U.
7/9/12 pH Effluent 7.0 S. U. 6.9 S. U.
9/10/12 Conductivity Effluent 1060 µmhos/cm 1030 µmhos/cm
In order to avoid questions of legality, it is recommended that you contact the appropriate Regional Office
for guidance as to whether an amended Discharge Monitoring Report will be required. A copy of this report
will be made available to the Regional Office.
V. CONCLUSIONS:
Correcting the above-cited findings 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: Jeffrey R. Adams Date: November 19, 2012
Report reviewed by: Todd Crawford Date: November 19, 2012