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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

TemperatureFT1400

Variety of thermometers for field• capable of reading 0.1 degree Celsius

Laboratory thermometer• NIST-traceable reading 0.1• degree Celsius

Temperature Calibration

• Temperature should agree within 0.1

degree Celsius

• Keep records of checks and sample

measurements

TurbidityFT1600

Meter specifications are in

EPA Method 180.1 or

FT1600 Daily Checks Quarterly Checks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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