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N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources

NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Water Quality - Sample Submission Procedures

Water Quality

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Time-Sensitive Sample Restrictions

 

2012 Sample Restriction Calendars
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Sample Submission Procedures

INTRODUCTION 

The NC DWQ Laboratory Section Sample Submission Guidance Document is designed to provide a uniform set of procedures for sample submission to the NC DENR/DWQ Laboratory Section. The protocols outlined in this document are applicable to parties responsible for the collection, handling, field screening, documentation, packaging, shipping and receipt of samples. Efforts to improve current procedures will continue and this document will be revised, as needs dictate. Similar procedures should be followed when submitting samples to the DWQ laboratories located in the Asheville and Washington Regional Offices.

The primary goal of this document is to promote the use of procedures that will ensure data reported by the laboratory is accurate and able to withstand legal and technical challenges. Many of the errors in environmental analysis result from incorrect sample handling and lack of supporting documentation. Four factors that may ultimately affect the integrity of reported data include: 1) obtaining a representative sample, 2) preventing contamination of the sample, 3) providing legal documentation of the sampling event, and 4) protecting the sample from chemical, physical or biological change prior to analysis.

The DWQ Laboratory Section is committed to providing the highest quality data and the best overall service in environmental testing. To ensure that the results produced and reported meet the requirements of the data users and comply with state and federal regulations, a quality management system must be implemented that is clear, effective, well-communicated, and supported at all levels of the Division. 

Click here to download a printable version of the NC DWQ Laboratory Section

Sample Submission Guidance Document

 

Additional Sample Submission Resources

Top 10 List of Sample Submission Errors 

Surface Water Protection Preservation and Hold Time Table

Aquifer Protection and UST Preservation and Hold Time Table

Sample Preservation Guidance

VOA Labeling Guidance

Field Sheets and Chain of Custody Forms

VOA Trip Blanks

 Time-Sensitive Samples: Submittal Restrictions and Notification

The following guidance is provided regarding sample submission for time-sensitive parameters to the Central Laboratory in Raleigh. Please check this document prior to submitting samples for the following parameters:

Biochemical Oxygen Demand - 5 day (BOD5) Metals (groundwater only)
Chlorophyll a Methylene Blue Active Surfactants (MBAS)
Coliform - Total and Fecal by Membrane Filtration (MF) Nitrite (NO2)
Color - ADMI and Platinum Cobalt (PtCo) Orthophosphate (PO4)
Hexavalent Chromium (Cr VI) Turbidity

The document may be viewed by clicking the link below.

Time-Sensitive Samples: Submittal Restrictions and Notification

2012 Sample Submission Restriction Calendars

 
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