MANUAL

FOR

CHEMICAL AND RADIOCHEMICAL

CERTIFICATION OF DRINKING WATER LABORATORIES

IN

GEORGIA

(rev 9/03)

PURPOSE

The purpose of this manual is to provide information to representatives of chemical and radiochemical laboratories seeking Drinking Water Certification in the state of Georgia. Certification will comply with the Georgia Safe Drinking Water Act.

DEFINITIONS

1.  A2LA or AALA: American Association for Laboratory Accreditation

2.  Accredit: To supply with credentials or authorize. The Third Party Agent (TPA)

will accredit laboratories before they will be eligible for certification by the

Georgia Environmental Protection Division.

3.  Accreditation: The formal recognition of a laboratory’s competence to carry out

specific tests, or series of tests by a Third Party Agent.

4.  Analyte/Parameter: Element, compound or mixture for which the sample is

being analyzed.

5.  Certification: Official recognition by the Georgia Environmental Protection

Division of a laboratory’s ability to perform chemical/radiochemistry analyses on

drinking water samples per the “Georgia Safe Drinking Water Act of 1977,

(Act No. 231) and the “Manual For the Certification of Laboratories Analyzing

Drinking Water Criteria and Procedures Quality Assurance EPA-815-B-97-001.

6.  EPA: United States Environmental Protection Agency.

7.  EPD: Georgia Environmental Protection Division.

8.  NELAC/NELAP: National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference

/Program.

9.  NVLAP/NIST: National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program/National

Institute of Standards and Technology.

10. NSF International: Formerly National Sanitation Foundation International

11. Provisional Certification: A laboratory that has deficiencies but demonstrates

its ability to consistently produce valid data.

12.  TPA: Third Party Agent, an organization that accredits laboratories for

analyses of drinking water samples.

13.  Reciprocity: Mutually acceptable certification among primacy states.

14.  SDWA: Refers to the Georgia Safe Drinking Water Act.

INTRODUCTION

The Georgia Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) of 1977, Act No. 231 (H.B. 23-HCS) authorizes the Environmental Protection Division (EPD), Georgia Department of Natural Resources to review and certify laboratories which analyze drinking water samples from public water system supplies for compliance.

All procedures contained herein are prescribed in the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s “Manual for Certification of Laboratories Analyzing Drinking Water, Criteria and Procedures Quality Assurance”; Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 19th and 20th Editions and 40 CFR part 141.21-.30.

Procedures for Issuing Chemical/Radiochemical Certification

There will be no on-site evaluations by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division of chemical

or radiochemical laboratories

1.0  Third Party Agent: Laboratories seeking certification/reciprocity must have certification or accreditation from one of the following authorities:

§  U.S. EPA

§  Primacy State

§  National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP)

§  American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA)

§  NSF International Inc.

(see Attachment C)

2.0  A completed application package must be received from the laboratory requesting certification. This package should include:

§  A completed application (see Attachment A).

§  A completed Application Analyte Checklist (see Attachment B).

2.1 A copy of the most current certification /accreditation document(s), and

corrective data directly from the certifying/accreditation body to

the Division as well as

§  A copy of the scope listing analytes.

§  Effective date

§  Expiration date

Application packages will not be processed until all data is received.

Processing shall not exceed 45 days from the time all data is submitted for review.

A analyte checklist listing analytes and expiration dates will be maintained for

each laboratory.

3.0  Issuing of Certification/Reciprocity: All laboratories located within the state of

Georgia will be issued a “Certificate of Certification”, as Georgia is the Primacy State, as well as a list of all certifiable analytes .

3.1 All out-of-state laboratories will receive a certification by reciprocity document

acknowledging receipt of their application package. This document shall include:

§  The name(s) of the Primacy State or accreditor that issued the certification/accreditation.

§  The time period that each certification/accreditation is valid. Laboratories may be certified and accreditied by multiple authorities for different analytes.

§  Upon request a list of all certifiable analytes will be included.

§  This document will be issued under signature of the Laboratory Certification Coordinator(LCC) and Program Manager of the Drinking Water Compliance Program (see attachment).

§  Copy of the proper reporting format designed by EPD as well as the web site address.

3.2 All laboratories with reciprocity will be responsible for submitting a new

application package for reciprocity prior to the date(s) of expiration to ensure

continued certification by reciprocity in Georgia.

4.0 Laboratories must successfully participate in Water Supply Proficiency Tests

at least annually for all analytes which certification/reciprocity is sought. Sample

providers must be NVLAP/NIST approved.

5.0 In the case of denial of certification/reciprocity, the laboratory can appeal the

decision by written request to the State Laboratory Certification Group

(Program Managers I, II, and the LCC of the Drinking Water Program).

Laboratory Guidelines for Maintaining Certification/Reciprocity

6.0  Provisionally certified/accredited laboratories will not be eligible for certification

in Georgia.

6.1 Analytical test results for compliance with the SDWA shall be reported using a

format designed by EPD.

6.2 In the event of major equipment/instrument failure or loss of key personnel

(instrument operator) which may affect test results for compliance with the

SDWA, a certified laboratory may temporarily contract with another EPD certified

laboratory. EPD must be notified in writing of this arrangement.

6.3  The laboratory and TPA shall allow authorized representatives of EPD access to all

records, files and documentation relating to certification.

6.4  When changes in laboratory personnel, location, equipment/instrumentation occur,

the certified laboratory must notify the TPA with copy to EPD within thirty (30)

days.

6.5  Certification/Reciprocity will be valid for a maximum of three (3) years.

Certification/Reciprocity may be downgraded or revoked per the “Manual

for the Certification of Laboratories Analyzing Drinking Water, Criteria and

Procedures Quality Assurance”.

6.6  A laboratory’s certification will be denied or suspended for falsification of data

provided on the application or on any document associated with certification,

including laboratory results.

6.7  EPD assumes no responsibility associated with the payment of fees to third party

Accreditors . There will be no charge for the certification/reciprocity process

by the EPD.

6.8  Mail the completed application and analyte checklist to:

Loretta M. Lambert/Kendra Stanciel

Drinking Water Compliance and

Enforcement Unit

Environmental Protection Division

Floyd Tower East, Suite 1362

2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, S.E.

Atlanta, Georgia 30334-4100 404-651-9590 Fax

Loretta Lambert-Laboratory Certification Coordinator

404-651-5164 Phone

E-mail:

Kendra Stanciel-Certification Officer

404-651-5186 Phone

E-mail:

DNR Web Page: www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/environ

Attachment A

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Environmental Protection Division

Drinking Water Compliance and Enforcement Program

2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, S.E., Floyd Towers East, Suite 1362

Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Application for Chemical/Radiochemical Certification of Drinking Water Laboratories

1. Name of Laboratory/Facility:______

2. If Public Water System Laboratory, give system ID#:______

3. Laboratory Street Address:______

______

4. Laboratory Mailing Address:______

______

5. Telephone Number:(__)______Fax Number:(__)______

6. Laboratory Director:______

7. Mailing Address:______

______

8. Laboratory Owner:______Telephone:(__)______

9. Mailing Address:______

______

10. Contact:______Telephone:(__)______

11. Primacy State/Third Party Agent:______

12. Date of Certification/Accreditation:______Expiration Date:______

13 Personnel:

Position/Title Name Specialty Years

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

14. Are all analyses for which you are seeking certification in Georgia performed at the

address? Yes_____ No_____

15. If not, list categories of analyses, names, addresses and certification/accreditation

status of the laboratory(ies) performing these analyses for you.

______

Attachment A-1

(This page should be on Laboratory Letterhead or attached to a document

with Laboratory Letterhead)

I______(Director) certify that all laboratory personnel are knowledgeable of EPA /State approved methodologies and quality control procedures; that the equipment necessary to perform these analyses is available in the laboratory, and that all analyses

will be performed using EPA/State approved methods.

I hereby agree that the limitations of certification that may be prescribed by the Environmental Protection Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources will be strictly, clearly and prominently stated whenever any reference to such certification is represented to prospective clients, whether through individual contracts publication or other media. “Limitations” as used above refers to the fact that any certification by the Environmental Protection Division as a result of this application will apply only to the analytes approved in the certification document, and whose measurements are required by the Georgia Safe Drinking Water Act of 1977. Such parameters are required to

be measured only in samples from public water systems. Violation of this Agreement will constitute grounds for revocation of certification.

______

Date Signature of Director

Witness my hand and official seal at ______day of ______20___.

My commission expires:______

______

Notary Public:

Attachment B

APPLICATION ANALYTE CHECKLIST

Type / Analyte / Code / Certified /Accredited by / EPA APPROVED
METHOD /
IOC / ALUMINUM / 1002
IOC / ANTIMONY / 1074
IOC / ARSENIC / 1005
IOC / ASBESTOS / 1094
IOC / BARIUM / 1010
IOC / BERYLLIUM / 1075
IOC / BISMUTH / 1078
IOC / BORON / 1079
IOC / BROMATE / 1011
IOC / BROMIDE / 1004
IOC / CADMIUM / 1015
IOC / CALCIUM / 1016
IOC / CARBON / 1018
IOC / CHLORATE / 1007
IOC / CHLORIDE / 1017
IOC / CHLORITE / 1009
IOC / CHROMIUM / 1020
IOC / CHROMIUM, HEXAVALENT / 1080
IOC / COBALT / 1081
IOC / COPPER / 1022
IOC / CYANIDE / 1024
IOC / CYANIDE, FREE / 1023
IOC / FLUORIDE / 1025
IOC / IRON / 1028
IOC / IRON, DISSOLVED / 1082
IOC / IRON, SUSPENDED / 1029
IOC / LEAD / 1030
IOC / LITHIUM / 1083
IOC / MAGNESIUM / 1031
IOC / MANGANESE / 1032
IOC / MANGANESE, SUSPENDED / 1033
IOC / MERCURY / 1035
IOC / MOLYBDENUM / 1084
IOC / NEW IOC ORTHOPHOSPHATE / IC44
IOC / NICKEL / 1036
IOC / NITRATE (AS N) / 1040
IOC / NITRATE+NITRITE (AS N) / 1038
IOC / NITRITE (AS N) / 1041
IOC / NITROGEN, TOTAL KJELDAHL (AS N) / 1037
IOC / NITROGEN-AMMONIA (AS N) / 1003
IOC / PHOSPHATE (AS PO4) / 1043
IOC / PHOSPHATE, REACTIVE / 1073
IOC / PHOSPHORUS / 1093
IOC / PHOSPHORUS, SOLUBLE / 1072
IOC / POTASSIUM / 1042
IOC / SELENIUM / 1045
IOC / SILICA / 1049
IOC / SILVER / 1050
IOC / SODIUM / 1052
IOC / SULFATE / 1055
IOC / THALLIUM / 1085
IOC / TIN / 1086
IOC / TITANIUM / 1087
IOC / VANADIUM / 1088
IOC / ZINC / 1095
OC / 1,1,1,2-TETRACHLOROETHANE / 2986
OC / 1,1,1-TRICHLORO-2-PROPANONE / 2956
OC / 1,1,1-TRICHLOROETHANE / 2981
OC / 1,1,1-TRICHLOROPROPANONE / 2464
OC / 1,1,2,2-TETRACHLOROETHANE / 2988
OC / 1,1,2-TRICHLOROETHANE / 2985
OC / 1,1-DICHLORO-2-PROPANONE / 2957
OC / 1,1-DICHLOROETHANE / 2978
OC / 1,1-DICHLOROETHYLENE / 2977
OC / 1,1-DICHLOROPROPANONE / 2463
OC / 1,1-DICHLOROPROPENE / 2410
OC / 1,2,3 - TRIMETHYLBENZENE / 2419
OC / 1,2,3-TRICHLOROBENZENE / 2420
OC / 1,2,3-TRICHLOROPROPANE / 2414
OC / 1,2,4-TRICHLOROBENZENE / 2378
OC / 1,2,4-TRIMETHYLBENZENE / 2418
OC / 1,2-DIBROMOETHYLENE(EDB, Ethylene
Dibromide, 1,2-Dibromoethane) / 2232
OC / 1,2-DICHLOROETHANE / 2980
OC / 1,2-DICHLOROPROPANE / 2983
OC / 1,2-DIPHENYLHYDRAZINE / 2268
OC / 1,3,5-TRICHLOROBENZENE / 2377
OC / 1,3,5-TRIMETHYLBENZENE / 2424
OC / 1,3-DICHLOROPROPANE / 2412
OC / 1,3-DICHLOROPROPENE / 2413
OC / 1,3-DICHLOROPROPYLENE / 2655
OC / 1,4-DIOXANE / 2049
OC / 1-CHLOROBUTANE / 2086
OC / 1-CHLOROHEXANE / 2087
OC / 1-METHYL-NAPHTHALENE / 2315
OC / 1-NAPTHOL (1-HYDORXYNAPTHTHALENE) / 2259
OC / 2,2-DICHLOROPROPANE / 2416
OC / 2,3,7,8 TCDD (DIOXIN) / 2063
OC / 2,4 DIMETHYLPHENOL / 2336
OC / 2,4,5-T / 2111
OC / 2,4,5-TP (SILVEX) / 2110
OC / 2,4,5-TRICHLOROPHENOL / 2242
OC / 2,4,6-TRICHLOROPHENOL / 2332
OC / 2,4,DB / 2106
OC / 2,4-D / 2105
OC / 2,4-DICHLOROPHENOL / 2334
OC / 2,4-DINITROPHENOL / 2328
OC / 2,4-DINITROTOLUENE / 2270
OC / 2,6-DINITROTOLUENE / 2266
OC / 2-CHLOROETHYLVINYL ETHER / 2234
OC / 2-CHLORONAPHTHALENE / 2258
OC / 2-CHLOROPHENOL / 2344
OC / 2-HEXANONE / 2269
OC / 2-METHYL NAPHTHALENE / 2241
OC / 2-METHYL-4,6-DINITROPHENOL / 2227
OC / 2-METHYLPHENOL / 2233
OC / 2-NITROANILINE / 2200
OC / 2-NITROPHENOL / 2340
OC / 2-NITROPROPANE / 2469
OC / 3,3-DICHLOROBENZIDINE / 2320
OC / 3,4-DICHLOROBENZOIC ACID / 2109
OC / 3-HYDROXYCARBOFURAN / 2066
OC / 3-NITROANILINE / 2201
OC / 4,6-DINITRO-O-CRESOL / 2346
OC / 4-BROMOPHENYL PHENYL ETHER / 2276
OC / 4-CHLORO-PHENYL-PHENYL ETHER / 2318
OC / 4-CHLOROANILINE / 2239
OC / 4-METHYLPHENOL / 2235
OC / 4-NITROANILINE / 2203
OC / 4-NITROPHENOL / 2342
OC / ACENAPHTHENE / 2261
OC / ACENAPHTHYLENE / 2260
OC / ACETALDHYDE / 2470
OC / ACETIC ACID (ETHANOIC ACID) / 2449
OC / ACETONE / 2243
OC / ACIFLUORFEN / 2108
OC / ACROLEIN / 2238
OC / ACRYLAMIDE / 2265
OC / ACRYLONITRILE / 2240
OC / ACTECHLOR / 2027
OC / ALACHLOR (LASSO) / 2051
OC / ALACHLOR ESA / 2004
OC / ALDICARB / 2047
OC / ALDICARB SULFONE / 2044
OC / ALDICARB SULFOXIDE / 2043
OC / ALDRIN / 2356
OC / ALLYL CHLORIDE / 2402
OC / AMIBEN / 2620
OC / AMPA, AMINOMETHYLPHOSPHONIC ACID / 2097
OC / AMYL ACETATE / 2081
OC / ANILINE / 2230
OC / ANTHRACENE / 2280
OC / AOC/BDOC / 2485
OC / AROCLOR 1016 (PCB) / 2388
OC / AROCLOR 1221 (PCB) / 2390
OC / AROCLOR 1232 (PCB) / 2392
OC / AROCLOR 1242 (PCB) / 2394
OC / AROCLOR 1248 (PCB) / 2396
OC / AROCLOR 1254 (PCB) / 2398
OC / AROCLOR 1260 (PCB) / 2400
OC / ATRAZINE / 2050
OC / AZINPHOS-METHYL (GUITHON) / 2059
OC / AZOBENZENE / 2204
OC / BENEZENE 2 / 9999
OC / BENFLURALIN (BENETIN) / 2207
OC / BENTAZON (BASAGRAN) / 2625
OC / BENZALDEHYDE / 2479
OC / BENZENE / 2990
OC / BENZIDINE / 2292
OC / BENZO (A) ANTHRACENE / 2300
OC / BENZO (A) PYRENE / 2306
OC / BENZO (B) FLUORANTHENE / 2302
OC / BENZO (G,H,I) PERYLENE / 2312
OC / BENZO (K) FLUORANTHENE / 2304
OC / BENZOIC ACID / 2237
OC / BENZYL ALCOHOL / 2231
OC / BHC-ALPHA / 2348
OC / BHC-BETA / 2350
OC / BHC-DELTA / 2354
OC / BHC-GAMMA (LINDANE) / 2010
OC / BIS(2-CHLOROETHOXY) METHANE / 2250
OC / BIS(2-CHLOROETHYL) ETHER / 2222
OC / BIS(2-CHLOROISOPROPYL) ETHER / 2244
OC / BIS(2-ETHYLHEXYL) PHTHALATE / 2298
OC / BIS(CHLOROMETHYL) ETHER / 2324
OC / BOLSTAR / 2635
OC / BROMACIL / 2098