Standard Operating Procedures

1. Standard Operating Procedures • At www.dep.state.fl.us/labs/qa/sops.htm • Call for help at • 407-893-3313 Orlando Office • 850-488-2796 Tallahassee

2. Chapters of Interest • FS2400 Wastewater Sampling • FT1000 Field Testing General • FT1100 Field pH • FT1400 Temperature • FT1500 Field Dissolved Oxygen • FT1600 Field Turbidity • FT1900 Continuous Monitoring • FT2000 Field Chlorine (TRC)

3. Calibration Field pHFT1100 • Quarterly • And the good news, THERE ARE NO QUARTERLY CALIBRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR pH • Monthly • and for more good news, THERE ARE NO MONTHLY CALIBRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR pH

4. Calibration of pH meter • Weekly - Cannot be done with all meters, calibrate and check meter’s % slope. • Should be 90% or greater • Record date, time , analyst, ph buffer readings after calibration, buffer lot # , buffer expiration date, temperature, and slope

5. Daily Calibration • Calibrate with at least 2 buffers • Use 7 buffer first then 4 or 10 • Second buffer will bracken most samples • For meters using 2 point calibration, use third buffer as check

6. Field Calibration • In the field, as minimum, check meter with 7 buffer. • Record readings • Return from the field as minimum, check meter with 7 buffer • No more than 0.2 pH units off from standard

7. Continuous pH meter calibration • Perform an initial calibration • before installation • whenever taken off-line • after failed QC check • Daily checks • compare pH of grab sample taken at same location as in-line monitor • grab sample pH measured with calibrated meter

8. Document, Document, Document • If its not written down you did not do it! • Date and time • Analyst • Reading from continuous meter • Reading from calibrated meter • No more than 0.2 pH units different than calibrated meter reading

9. TemperatureFT1400 • Variety of thermometers for field • capable of reading 0.1 degree Celsius • Laboratory thermometer • NIST-traceable reading 0.1 • degree Celsius

10. Temperature Calibration • Temperature should agree within 0.1 degree Celsius • Keep records of checks and sample measurements

11. TurbidityFT1600 • Meter specifications are in EPA Method 180.1 or FT1600 • Daily Checks • Quarterly Checks

12. Quarterly Calibration • Used to validate the secondary standards • Use properly calibrated nephelometer • Use primary standard for each range of secondary standard • Refer to FT1600 3.2 for acceptable limits for secondary standards • This calibrates the secondary standards

13. Daily Calibration • Used for assurance meter is operating properly • Check each range with primary or secondary standard • Refer to FT1600 3.2 for acceptable limits for secondary standards

14. Record Keeping • Type of standards and concentrations • Date, Time, Analyst • result of each check • Lot # and expiration date for all bought standards • Lot # and expiration date for • all bought reagents

15. IN-line Turbidity Calibration • Initial calibration • Before installation • when taken off-line • when fails QC criteria • Daily Check • grab sample, measure with calibrated meter and compare

16. In-line Turbidity • write it down!! • date, time, analyst • reading from in-line meter and other meter • should be no more than 20 % difference • use caution with very low readings

17. Total Residual ChlorineFT2000 • DEP recommends using DPD colorimetric method for concentrations between 0.2 and 4.0 mg/L • DEP does not recommend equipment • Can’t use gel stds for <0.5 requirements • Color wheel comparison kits are unacceptable

18. Quarterly Calibration • Used to calibrate/check the meter • Meter is checked with primary standards • At least one standard for each range • Refer to FT2011 for acceptable limits for primary standards • Can be performed by a laboratory certified in residual chlorine or Class A or B operator

19. Quarterly Paperwork • If you took the time to do it, be able to prove it!!! • Date, time, analyst • Lot # and expiration date of chemicals used • True value of standard and meter reading

20. Monthly Calibration • Used to validate the secondary standards • Use properly calibrated meter • Use primary standard for each range of secondary standard • Refer to FT2011 for acceptable limits for secondary standards • This validates the secondary standards • Can be performed by a laboratory certified in residual chlorine or Class A or B operator

21. Monthly paperwork • when you write it down you make me so happy!!! • Date, time, analyst • Lot # and expiration date of standards used • True value of standard and meter reading

22. Daily Calibration • Commercial secondary standards or primary standards • Zero with blank • Read the other three standards • Date, time, analyst • Lot # and expiration date of standards used • True value of standard and meter reading

23. In-Line Calibration • Calibrate • initially • when taken off-line • when QC checks failed • Check against calibrated meter daily • should be no more than 20 % difference