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Public water systems must demonstrate that their water meets health based standards by

periodically monitoring for the presence of specific contaminants.

Approved analytical methods must be used when analyzing water samples to meet federal

monitoring requirements or to demonstrate compliance with drinking water regulations. EPAreviews and approves methods that can be used.

Laboratories that analyze these compliance samples must be certified by EPA or the State. EPA

carries out a program to ensure that laboratories are certified as qualified to conduct analyses

on drinking water samples.

Laboratory Role

Laboratories analyze public water systems !P"Ss# water samples and provide the P"Ss with

information on the quality of their water.

"ater sample types analyzed and purposes of analysis$

•Source water samples are analyzed to check for contamination and determine

general water quality characteristics that influence the treatment processes.

•Process water samples are analyzed to provide key information relevant to

treatment optimization.

•%inished water samples are analyzed to verify the water meets health&based and

aesthetic standards and periodically check for contaminants that are not

regulated in drinking water.

Water System Monitoring Frequency

'onitoring schedules differ according to the type of contaminant( the type of source water used

to produce drinking water( and the population served by the public water system. Each

regulation outlines the requirements that systems must follow. EPAs )uick *eference +uides

provide a simple overview of the monitoring requirements associated with most regulations.

Analytical Method

An analytical method is a procedure that determines the concentration of a contaminant in a

water sample.

Analytical methods generally describe$


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•,ow to collect( preserve( and store the sample.

•Procedures to concentrate( separate( identify( and quantify contaminants present in

the sample.

•)uality control criteria the analytical data must meet.

•,ow to report the results of the analysis.

-n general( an analytical method$

• -s applicable to routine analyses of samples.

• -s suitable for measuring the drinking water contaminant in the concentration range

of interest.

•Provides data with the necessary accuracy and precision to demonstrate

compliance or meet monitoring obectives in a wide variety of drinking water

matrices.

• -ncludes instructions for all aspects of the analysis from sample collection to data

reporting.• -ncorporates appropriate quality control criteria so that acceptable method

performance is demonstrated during the analysis of samples.

Drinking Water Method Developers

EPA obtains analytical methods from a variety of sources. 'any methods are developed by EPA

or other governmental organizations. /onsensus method organizations such as Standard

'ethods and AS0'( -nternational often provide methods that are suitable for drinking water

analyses. 'ethods may also be developed by university( commercial or public water system

laboratories( and by commercial vendors.

Laboratory Certiication Requirements

Laboratories analyzing drinking water compliance samples must be certified by 1.S. EPA or the

State. /ertified laboratories must successfully analyze proficiency testing samples( use

approved methods( and successfully pass periodic on&site audits.

Water System Sampling Results

Each year by 2uly 3 you should receive in the mail a short report !consumer confidence report

or drinking water quality report# from your water supplier that tells where your water comes from

and what is in it. 4ou can also contact your local supplier if you have questions about their

results of testing. -f you want to have your water tested( EPA recommends you use a lab

certified by your state.


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Laboratory Fraud

EPA recommends that state laboratory certification programs and certified labs develop fraud

detection programs to ensure that the public can have confidence in drinking water analytical

results(

"ater systems must use EPA&approved analytical methods when analyzing samples to meet

federal monitoring requirements or to demonstrate compliance with drinking water regulations.

Approved methods are listed in the /ode of %ederal *egulations after publication in a final rule

or as part of an e5pedited approval. Approved methods are developed by EPA( other

government agencies( universities( consensus methods organizations( water laboratories( and

instrument manufacturers.

Analytical Methods Approved or Drinking Water Compliance Monitoring

0he following documents list all of the methods that are currently approved by EPA for the

analysis of drinking water samples. Each document focuses on the methods that are applicable

to a specific monitoring requirement. "hen a method can be obtained by direct download from

the -nternet( the report identifies the link. EPA will update these tables periodically.

!echnical "otes on Drinking Water Methods

-n 6ctober 3778( Technical Notes on Drinking Water Methods !EPA9:;;9*&7893


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>rinking water methods must be approved by EPA before they can be used to analyze samples

to meet federal monitoring requirements or to demonstrate compliance with drinking water

regulations. ?ew drinking water methods may be submitted to EPA for evaluation under EPAs

Alternate 0est Procedure !A0P# program. 0he A0P program evaluates methods that are

alternatives to the test procedures that are listed in the drinking water regulations.

#%pedited Method Approval Requirements

0here are several requirements that must be met before a new method can be approved using

the e5pedited process.

• Public water systems must be required by federal regulation to monitor for a

contaminant that is an analyte in the new method.

• >rinking water regulations must list at least one approved method for the

contaminant !i.e.( a method that was approved using the rulemaking process#.• A comparison of the new alternative method to the approved method!s# must show

the new method to be equally effective in determining the concentration of the

contaminant.

?ew methods may be submitted for evaluation under the Alternate 0est Procedure !A0P#

program. A new method can be considered for approval using the e5pedited process( if it has

performance characteristics that fall within the range of performance characteristics obtained by

the methods listed in regulation for the same contaminant.


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