NC0020656_Lab Certification Inspection_20030710

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
Coleen H. Sullins, Deputy Director
Division of Water Quality
July 10, 2003
133
Mr. Robert Ellis
Leith Creek WWTP Lab.
P.O. Box 249
Laurinburg, NC 28353-0249
SUBJECT: Laboratory Certification Maintenance Inspection
Dear Mr. Ellis:
Enclosed is a report for the inspection performed on June 3, 2003 by Mr. Frederick
L. Bone. 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 for 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 ifyou have questions or need additional
information please contact us at 919-733-3908.
Sincerely,
James W. Meyer
Laboratory Section
Enclosure
cc: Frederick L. Bone
Fayetteville Regional Office..
NCl]ErNR
N. C. Division of Water Quality Laboratory Section 1623 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1623 [phone]
FAX: [phone]

On -Site Inspection Report
LABORATORY NAME: Leith Creek VVVVfP
ADDRESS:
P.O. Box 249
Covington Street Ext.
Lauinburg, NC 28353-0249
CERTIFICATE NO: 133
DATE OF INSPECTION: June 3, 2003
TYPE OF INSPECTION: Maintenance
EVALUATOR: Frederick L. Bone
LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED: Ricky Odem
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:
The laboratory is spacious and well equipped. All facilities and equipment are well maintained. Records are well kept
and most data looked good. Some further quality control procedures need to be implemented.
III. DEFICIENCIES, RECOMMENDATIONS, REQUIREMENTS, AND COMMENTS:.
Dissolved Oxygen:
A. COMMENT: The laboratory records the DO meter calibration as a "q ".
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the laboratory record the actual temperature and dissolved oxygen
reading of the meter for each daily calibration. This provides a numeric value that will verify that the calibration
has been performed.
Residual Chlorine:
1. DEFICIENCY: Each analyst that performs the Residual Chlorine analysis has not generated an annual
analytical curve. Only the primary analyst has generated an analytical curve in the past year. Backup operators
have not generated Residual Chlorine curves.
REQUIREMENT: For colorimetric analyses, a series of five standards for a curve prepared annually or three
standards for curves established each day or standards as set forth in the analytical procedure must be
analyzed to establish a standard curve. The curve must be updated as set forth in the standard procedures,
each time the slope changes by more than 10 percent at mid -range, each time a new stock standard is
prepared or at least every twelve months. Each analyst performing the analytical procedure must produce
a standard curve. Ref: 15A NCAC 2H .0800 (a) (7) (I).
Settleable Solids:
B. COMMENT: Settleable Solids must be allowed to settle for a total of one hour. The laboratory does not
document that the sample is allowed to settle for this length of time. The laboratory records the time that the
analysis is started but does not record an ending time.

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REQUIREMENT/RECOMMENDATION: Both a starting time and ending time of the analysis must be recorded
in order to demonstrate .that the proper settling time has been achieved. Settle for 45 minutes, gently agitate
sample near the sides of the cone with a rod or by spinning, settle 15 minutes longer, and record volume of
settable solids in the cone as milliliters per liter. Ref: Standard Methods, 18th Edition 2540F 3a p. 2-57.
C. COMMENT: Both Turbidity and Settleable Solids are recorded on the same analytical worksheet. It is
unclear, from the analytical benchsheet, that the same analyst that performed the Turbidity analysis also
performed the Settleable Solids analysis.
RECOMMENDATION/ REQUIREMENT: The laboratory must clearly identify the analyst that performs the
Settleable Solids analysis. 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. Ref: 15A NCAC 2H .0800 (a) (7) (h).
BOD:
D. COMMENT: The laboratory does not list which edition of Standard Methods is being referenced on the
laboratory benchsheet.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the laboratory clearly list exactly which method is being used to
perform each analysis. Due to various quality control criteria within each of the different promulgated editions
of Standard Methods, it is necessary to specify exactly which edition is being followed.
E. COMMENT: The seed controls being used by the laboratory to establish the seed correction factor do not
meet the method stated criteria of a residual DO of at least 1 mg/L and a DO uptake of at least 2 mg/L after 5 d
incubation.
REQUIREMENT: Dilutions that result in a residual DO of at least 1 mg/L and a DO uptake of at least 2 mg/L
after 5 d incubation produce the most reliable results. Make several dilutions of a prepared sample to obtain
DO uptake in this range. Ref: Standard Methods, 18th Edition. 5210B. (4)(F) p. 5-4.
IV. PAPER TRAIL INVESTIGATION:
This consisted of comparing data reported on DMR's submitted to this Division with the values obtained on
laboratory bench worksheets. Data reviewed for the months of January, March, and April 2003 indicated no
problems in proper data reporting.
V. CONCLUSIONS:
Correcting the above deficiencies and comments and implementing the recommendations should help this lab
to produce quality data and meet certification requirements.
Please Respond to all Deficiencies and lettered Comments cited in this report.
Report prepared by: Frederick L. Bone Date: June 13, 2002