CEPA United States Manual for the Certification of Laboratories Analyzing Drinking Water Criteria and Procedures Quality assurance Fifth edition
United States Environmental Protection Agency _________________________________________________________________________ Manual for the Certification of Laboratories Analyzing Drinking Water Criteria and Procedures Quality Assurance Fifth Edition
EPA815-R-05-004 January 2005 Manual for the Certification of Laboratories Analyzing Drinking Water Criteria and Procedures Quality assurance Fifth edition Supersedes EPA/570/9-90/008, April 1990 EPA 814-B-92-002, September 1992 EPA 570/9-90-008A. October 1991 EPA815-B-97-001. March1997 S Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water Support Cen Cincinnati. Ohio 45268 tape on
EPA 815-R-05-004 January 2005 Manual for the Certification of Laboratories Analyzing Drinking Water Criteria and Procedures Quality Assurance Fifth Edition Supersedes EPA/570/9-90/008, April 1990 EPA 814-B-92-002, September 1992 EPA 570/9-90-008A, October 1991 EPA 815-B-97-001, March 1997 US Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water Technical Support Center Cincinnati, Ohio 45268 tape on recycle logo
DISCLAIMER The U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys(EPAs)Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, in the office of Water, and the Office of Research and Development of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency prepared this manual Those Offices as well as EPas ten Regional offices have reviewed this manual. EPA intends to use this manual for its own use in certifying laboratories for analysis of drinking water contaminants. In order to assume primary enforcement responsibility for the drinking water regulations, a State must either have available laboratory facilities, certified by the Administrator, capable of conducting analytical measurements of drinking water contaminants, or establish and maintain s own program for certification of laboratories. States wishing to adapt the procedures and criteria of this manual for their own certification program should revise it to accurately reflect accurately their State certification progra This is a guidance manual and not a regulation. It does not change or substitute for any legal requirement. While epa has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the manuals discussion, the obligations of the regulated community are determined by the relevant statutes, regulations or other legally binding requirements. The manual obviously can only eflect the regulations in place at this time of its preparation. Consequently, for any definitive description of current lega obligations, the public should not rely only on the discussion in the manual. This manual is not a rule, is not legally enforceable, and does not confer legal rights or impose legal requirements upon any member of the public, States or any other Federal agency. In the event of a conflict between the discussions in this manual and any statute or regulation, this document is not controlling. The word"should"in this manual does not connote a requirement but does indicate EPas strongly preferred approach to ensure the quality of laboratory results. EPA may decide to revise this manual without public notice to reflect changes to its approach or to clarify and update the text The mention of commercial products in this manual does not constitute an endorsement of the use of that product by EPA 11
ii DISCLAIMER The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, in the Office of Water, and the Office of Research and Development of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency prepared this manual. Those Offices as well as EPA’s ten Regional Offices have reviewed this manual. EPA intends to use this manual for its own use in certifying laboratories for analysis of drinking water contaminants. In order to assume primary enforcement responsibility for the drinking water regulations, a State must either have available laboratory facilities, certified by the Administrator, capable of conducting analytical measurements of drinking water contaminants, or establish and maintain its own program for certification of laboratories. States wishing to adapt the procedures and criteria of this manual for their own certification program should revise it to accurately reflect accurately their State certification program. This is a guidance manual and not a regulation. It does not change or substitute for any legal requirement. While EPA has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the manual’s discussion, the obligations of the regulated community are determined by the relevant statutes, regulations or other legally binding requirements. The manual obviously can only reflect the regulations in place at this time of its preparation. Consequently, for any definitive description of current legal obligations, the public should not rely only on the discussion in the manual. This manual is not a rule, is not legally enforceable, and does not confer legal rights or impose legal requirements upon any member of the public, States or any other Federal agency. In the event of a conflict between the discussions in this manual and any statute or regulation, this document is not controlling. The word “should” in this manual does not connote a requirement but does indicate EPA’s strongly preferred approach to ensure the quality of laboratory results. EPA may decide to revise this manual without public notice to reflect changes to its approach or to clarify and update the text. The mention of commercial products in this manual does not constitute an endorsement of the use of that product by EPA
Acknow ledgments This edition of the manual was prepared through the efforts of many individuals, including representatives from the U.s Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water(OGwDW), Office of Research and Development (ORD), Regional Offices and the States. It has as its foundation previous editions of the manual Contributors to the previous editions of the manual are listed in EPa documents EPA 815-B-97-001 March 1997, EPA/570/9-90/008 April 1990, EPA-57019-82-002 October 1982 and EPA 600/8-78-008 May 1978. Contributors to this edition are listed below Manual revision committee Donald buckley, MA DPH Paul Berger, OGWDw Joan Burkart. LA dOHH Edward glick. ogwdw Dwayne Burkholder, PA DEP Patricia Hurr. OGWDw Isa Chamberlain Region 10 Caroline Madding, OGWDw Fred Choske CA ELAP Microbiology Subcommittee Terry Covert, ORD Paul S Berger, Chair Chris Dean NM DOH Kristen Brenner. ORD Veronica De Boer. AK Terry C. Covert, ORD Mary Dillon, NJDHSS Mary Ann Feige, OGWD Ron Donaly, ID Nancy H Hall, UI HL Charles Dyer, NH DES Stephanie Harris, Region 10 Stan Falk. AR DOH Margo hunt. OEl Charles feldmann. OGWDw Kimberly K laurie, IN DOH Ray Flores, Region 6 Ted Pass II. KY DEP Paul gray, NM DOH Gene rice. ORD Stephanie Harris, Region 1 Mark Rodgers, ORD G Haworth. NH DES Peggy ryker, Consultant Paul Hickey, NYSDOH Lois shadix. OGWDW Myron Honda, HI DOH Jim Sinclair, OG WDW Jane Jensen. CA ELAP John Standridge, WI SLH Phillip zillinger, IN DOH Cecylia Karch, VT DOH Ewa King, RI DOH Radiochemistry Subcommittee: Michael Kitto. nysdoh John Dehart, Dyno RJ Kiyokane, HI DOH John griggs, OAR Sharon Kluender. wdnr Richard Shibley, PA DEP M margaret Knight, Region 1 George Kulasingam, CA ELAP Other Manual reviewers Don LaFara NV blC Ann Marie Allen. MA DEP Mary Beth Lawhorn, IL EPA Dale Alley, RI DOH Andrew Lincoff, Region 9 Cheryl Baker, ME DHS Alan love. AK Rusty Baldwin, AR DOH Nicholas macelletil ct dhs renda barnett Delois manor. AR DOH Aimee Bennett, WA Ted Martin. ORD Eve Berry AR DOH Gerald McKenna, Region 2 Dave Bingham, WA Joseph Mierzwicki, NJDHS George Bowman, WI LOH m George Mills, VT DOH Ellen braun-Howland nysdoh Cathy Moore, AR DOH David Brierley, MA DEP Jean Munch. ORD Douglas brune, Region 7 David munch. OGWDw John Bourbon, Region 2 Thomas o'Connell. MA DPH
iii Acknowledgments This edition of the manual was prepared through the efforts of many individuals, including representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW), Office of Research and Development (ORD), Regional Offices and the States. It has as its foundation previous editions of the manual. Contributors to the previous editions of the manual are listed in EPA documents EPA 815-B-97-001 March 1997, EPA/570/9-90/008 April 1990, EPA-570/9-82-002 October 1982 and EPA 600/8-78-008 May 1978. Contributors to this edition are listed below. Manual Revision Committee: Paul Berger, OGWDW Edward Glick, OGWDW Patricia Hurr, OGWDW Caroline Madding, OGWDW Microbiology Subcommittee: Paul S. Berger, Chair Kristen Brenner, ORD Terry C. Covert, ORD Mary Ann Feige, OGWDW Nancy H Hall, UI HL Stephanie Harris, Region 10 Margo Hunt, OEI Kimberly K Laurie, IN DOH Ted Pass II, KY DEP Gene Rice, ORD Mark Rodgers, ORD Peggy Ryker, Consultant Lois Shadix, OGWDW Jim Sinclair, OGWDW John Standridge, WI SLH Phillip R Zillinger, IN DOH Radiochemistry Subcommittee: John Dehart, Dyncorp John Griggs, OAR Richard Sheibley, PA DEP Other Manual Reviewers: Ann Marie Allen, MA DEP Dale Alley, RI DOH Cheryl Baker, ME DHS Rusty Baldwin, AR DOH Brenda Barnett, WV DOH Aimee Bennett, WA Eve Berry AR DOH Dave Bingham, WA George Bowman, WI LOH Ellen Braun-Howland, NYSDOH David Brierley, MA DEP Douglas Brune, Region 7 John Bourbon, Region 2 Donald Buckley, MA DPH Joan Burkart, LA DOHH Dwayne Burkholder, PA DEP Isa Chamberlain, Region 10 Fred Choske, CA ELAP Art Clark, Region 1 Terry Covert, ORD Chris Dean, NM DOH Veronica DeBoer, AK Mary Dillon, NJDHSS Ron Donaly, ID Charles Dyer, NH DES Stan Falk, AR DOH Charles Feldmann, OGWDW Ray Flores, Region 6 Paul Gray, NM DOH Stephanie Harris, Region 10 Garry Haworth, NH DES Paul Hickey, NYSDOH Myron Honda, HI DOH Jane Jensen, CA ELAP Charles Jones, Jr., Region 3 Cecylia Karch, VT DOH Ewa King, RI DOH Michael Kitto, NYSDOH RJ Kiyokane, HI DOH Sharon Kluender, WDNR Margaret Knight, Region 10 George Kulasingam, CA ELAP Don LaFara, NV BLC Mary Beth Lawhorn, IL EPA Andrew Lincoff, Region 9 Alan Love, AK Nicholas Macelletii, CT DHS DeLois Manor, AR DOH Ted Martin, ORD Gerald McKenna, Region 2 Joseph Mierzwicki, NJDHSS William George Mills, VT DOH Cathy Moore, AR DOH Jean Munch, ORD David Munch, OGWDW Thomas O’Connell, MA DPH