NC0072877_Lab Inspection_20120423

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North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Beverly Eaves Perdue Charles Wakild, P. E. Dee Freeman
Governor Director Secretary
April 23, 2012
5421
Mr. Jim Ballance
Town of Newton Grove
PO Box
Newton Grove, NC 28366
APR 2 a 20i2
Subject: North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification (NC WW/GW LC)
Maintenance Inspection
Dear Mr. Ballance:
Enclosed is a report for the inspection performed on February 28, 2012 by Ms. Tonja Springer. I
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
919-733-3908.
Enclosure
cc: Tonja Springer
Fayetteville Regional Office
Sincerely, ,
Dana Satterwhite
Certification Unit Supervisor
Laboratory Section
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
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An Equal Opportunity \ Affirmative Action Employer

On -Site Inspection Report
LABORATORY NAME: Town of Newton Grove WWTP
NPDES PERMIT #: • NC0072877
ADDRESS: P.O. Box 4
304 West Weeksdale Street
Newton Grove, NC 28366
CERTIFICATE #: 5421
DATE OF INSPECTION: February 28, 2012
TYPE OF INSPECTION: Field Maintenance
AUDITOR(S): Tonja Springer
LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED: Jim Ballance
I. INTRODUCTION:
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:
Current quality assurance policies for field laboratories and technical assistance documents were
provided at the time of the inspection.
The requirements associated with Findings B and C are new policies that have been implemented by our
program since the last inspection.
III. FINDINGS, REQUIREMENTS, COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
aH — Standard Methods, 18th Edition, 4500 H+ B
A. Finding: Data values are reported on the Discharge Monitoring Report to 0.01 S.U., not 0.1 S.U.
as required by the method.
Requirement: A variance of ± 0.1 pH unit represents the limit of. accuracy under normal
conditions, especially for measurement of water and poorly buffered solutions. For this reason,
report pH values to the nearest 0.1 pH unit. Ref: Standard Methods, 18th Edition, 4500 H+ B. (6)
B. Finding: Proficiency Testing (PT) sample analysis is 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.

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#5421 Town of Newton Grove
Comment: The results were only .reported on the vendor's reporting forms instead of on the
laboratory benchsheet.
C. Finding: Proficiency Testing (PT) samples are not analyzed 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.
Comment: A known PT sample was being analyzed with the unknown sample.
D. Finding: The laboratory needs to increase the documentation of purchased materials and
reagents.
Requirement: All chemicals, reagents, standards and consumablesused 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 mustinclude 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. Please submit a completed benchsheet with the response to this report to
show this Finding has been corrected.
Temperature — Standard Methods, 18th Edition, 2550 B
Comment: The temperature correction factor was not posted on the pH meter used to report
temperature measurements for permit compliance. The Technical Assistance for Field Analysis of
Temperature document states: All temperature sensing devices on meters must be calibrated against a
NIST certified or NIST traceable thermometer annually (every 12 months) and proper corrections made
and documented. The meter reading must; be 'less than 1°C from the NIST certified reading to be
acceptable. Document the serial number and manufacturer of the NIST thermometer that was used in
the comparison. Document any correction that applies (even if zero) on both the meter and on a
separate sheet to be filed. Acceptable corrective action was taken during the inspection (i.e.,
corrections were posted on the meters). No further response is necessary for the finding.
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 November and December, 2011. No transcription errors were detected. The facility
appears to be doing a good job of accurately transcribing data.

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#5421 Town of Newton Grove
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: Tonja Springer Date: April•3, 2012
Report reviewed by: Jason Smith Date: April 5, 2012