HomeMy WebLinkAbout#132 2009-final
INSPECTION REPORT ROUTING SHEET
To be attached to all inspection reports in-house only.
Laboratory Cert. #: 132
Laboratory Name: Town of Siler City WWTP Laboratory
Inspection Type: Municipal Maintenance
Inspector Name: Jeffrey R. Adams
Inspection Date: November 16, 2009
Date Report Completed: November 30, 2009
Date Forwarded to Reviewer: November 30, 2009
Reviewed by: Chet Whiting
Date Review Completed: December 15, 2009
Cover Letter to use: Insp. Initial X Insp. Reg. Insp. No Finding Insp. CP
Unit Supervisor: Dana Satterwhite
Date Received: December 16, 2009
Date Forwarded to Alberta: December 22, 2009
Date Mailed:
_____________________________________________________________________
On-Site Inspection Report
LABORATORY NAME: Town of Siler City WWTP Laboratory
NPDES PERMIT # NC0026441
ADDRESS: P.O Box 769
Siler City, NC 27344
CERTIFICATE # 132
DATE OF INSPECTION: November 16, 2009
TYPE OF INSPECTION: Municipal Maintenance
AUDITOR(S): Jeffrey R. Adams
LOCAL PERSON (s) CONTACTED: Ann Clark
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 has all the equipment necessary to perform the analyses. The system for traceability of
standard and reagent preparation is effective, thorough and easy to follow.
An inspection packet was left with the laboratory that included new certification policies and requirements.
It is recommended that the laboratory visit the NC Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification
website at dwqlab.org for future policy changes and requirements.
III. FINDINGS, REQUIREMENTS, COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
BOD – Standard Methods, 18th Edition, 5210 B
A. Finding: Extra nutrient, mineral, and buffer solutions are not added to the sample bottles
containing more than 67% sample.
Requirement: When a bottle contains more than 67% of the sample after dilution, nutrients
may be limited in the diluted sample and, subsequently, reduce biological activity. In such
samples, add the nutrient, mineral, and buffer solutions (3a through e) directly to individual BOD
bottles at a rate of 1 mL/L (0.33 mL/300-mL bottle) or use commercially-prepared solutions
designed to dose the appropriate bottle size. Ref: North Carolina W astewater/Groundwater
Laboratory Certification Policy based upon Standard Methods, 20th Edition, 5210 B. (4) (f) and
Standard Methods, 21st Edition, 5210 B. (5) (c) (2).
Recommendation: It is recommended that a powder pillow for a 300-mL sample bottle be
used. Dilution water would be prepared as it currently is and for the bottles containing more
than 67% sample, one powder pillow would be added in addition to the dilution water containing
the nutrient solutions.
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#132 Siler City WWTP
Temperature – Standard Methods, 18th Edition, 2550 B
Dissolved Oxygen – Standard Methods, 18th Edition, 4500 O G
B. Finding: The temperature sensing device on the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) meter (used to
measure reported DO and temperature values)is not checked against an NIST thermometer
annually.
Requirement: All thermometers must meet National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST) specifications for accuracy or be checked, at a minimum annually, against a NIST
traceable thermometer and proper corrections made. Ref: 15A NCAC 2H .0805 (a) (7) (O).
Total Suspended Residue – Standard Methods, 18th Edition, 2540 D
C. Finding: A minimum dried residue weight gain of 1 mg is used to determine the reporting limit.
Requirement: Choose sample volume to yield between 2.5 and 200 mg dried residue. If
volume filtered fails to meet minimum yield, increase sample volume up to 1 L. If complete
filtration takes more than 10 minutes increase filter diameter or decrease sample volume. Ref:
North Carolina Wastewater/Groundwater Laboratory Certification Policy based upon Standard
Methods, 20th and 21st Editions - Method 2540 D. (3) (b).
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 permit #NC0026441 for the following months: July, August and September, 2009. No
transcription errors were detected. The facility appears to be doing a good job of accurately
transcribing data.
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: Jeffrey R. Adams Date: November 30, 2009
Report reviewed by: Chet Whiting Date: December 15, 2009