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INSPECTION REPORT ROUTING SHEET
To be attached to all inspection reports in-house only.
Laboratory Cert. #: #5404
Laboratory Name: Johnston Co. Public Utilities, WTP Holding Pond
Inspection Type: Field Maintenance
Inspector Name(s): Jeffrey R. Adams
Inspection Date: September 28, 2011
Date Report Completed: October 6, 2011
Date Forwarded to Reviewer: October 6, 2011
Reviewed by: Chet Whiting
Date Review Completed: November 29, 2011
Cover Letter to use: Insp. Initial X Insp. Reg. Insp. No Finding Insp. CP __ Corrected
Unit Supervisor: Dana Satterwhite
Date Received: November 29, 2011
Date Forwarded to Linda December 2, 2011
Date Mailed: December 2, 2011
_____________________________________________________________________
On-Site Inspection Report
LABORATORY NAME: Johnston Co. Public Utilities, WTP Holding Pond
NPDES PERMIT #: NC0084735
ADDRESS: P.O. Box 2263
Smithfield, NC 27577
CERTIFICATE #: 5404
DATE OF INSPECTION: September 28, 2011
TYPE OF INSPECTION: Field Maintenance
AUDITOR(S): Jeffrey R. Adams
LOCAL PERSON(S) CONTACTED: Debra Cutler
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 was clean and well organized. The facility has all of the necessary equipment to perform
the analyses; however, some quality control procedures need to be implemented. The laboratory
benchsheets were neat, well organized and easy to follow. Proficiency testing samples have been
analyzed for all certified parameters for the 2011 proficiency testing calendar year and the graded results
were 100% acceptable.
The laboratory was given a packet containing North Carolina Laboratory Certification quality control
requirements and policies during the inspection.
Finding A is a new policy that has 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, as well as, documentation of standards and reagents prepared in the laboratory.
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
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#5404 Johnston Co. Public Utilities, WTP Holding Pond
standards are included in this requirement. Ref: Quality Assurance Policies for Field
Laboratories.
Comment: The laboratory prepares the quality control (QC) check standards it uses for Total
Residual Chlorine analyses.
Temperature – Standard Methods, 20th Edition, 2550 B
Comment: The certification for the digital thermometer used for temperature analysis had expired.
The thermometer had not been recalibrated or verified against an NIST certified or traceable
thermometer. 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 1ºC 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. (NOTE:
Other certified laboratories may provide assistance in meeting this requirement.) NIST traceable
thermometers used for temperature measurement must be recalibrated in accordance with the
manufacturer’s recalibration date. If no recalibration date is given, the NIST traceable thermometer
must be recalibrated annually. Notification of acceptable corrective action (i.e., documentation of the
digital thermometer calibration) was received by fax on October 3, 2011. No further response is
necessary for this finding.
IV. PAPER TRAIL INVESTIGATION:
The paper trail consisted of comparing laboratory benchsheets and contract lab reports to Discharge
Monitoring Reports (DMRs) submitted to the North Carolina Division of Water Quality. Data were
reviewed for the Johnston County Public Utilities, WTP Holding Pond (NPDES permit #NC0084735) for
the following months: June, July and August, 2011. No transcription errors were detected. It appears
the laboratory is doing a good job of accurately transcribing data.
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: October 6, 2011
Report reviewed by: Chet Whiting Date: October 10, 2011