Technical review of water-quality laboratories providing analytical services for the Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey

Abstract

Protocols for reviewing the quality assurance practices of water-quality laboratories providing analytical services for the Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey are documented. The responsibilities associated with quality assurance reviews, procedures, and records management are defined. Evaluation, method, and instrumentation forms used to obtain technical and quality assurance information about the operation of a water-quality laboratory are included. INTRODUCTION As part of the continuing effort to provide the public and local, State, and Federal agencies with accurate and precise hydrologic data, the Water Resources Division (WRD) of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has established the Branch of Quality Assurance (BQA) (table 1). The primary function of the BQA is to develop protocols for the collection and analysis of accurate and precise hydrologic data. As part of this primary function, the BQA, in conjunction with the Office of Water Quality (OWQ), has the responsibility for developing protocols for reviewing the quality assurance practices of waterquality laboratories providing analytical services for the WRD of the USGS. All water-quality laboratories providing analytical data for storage in the National Water Data Storage and Retrieval System (WATSTORE) of the USGS (Hutchison, 1975) are technically reviewed by the BQA. This report documents a formal and consistent process for technically reviewing water-quality laboratories providing analytical services for the WRD of the USGS. The responsibilities associated with technical reviews, procedures, and records management are defined. Evaluation, method, and instrumentation forms used to obtain technical and quality assurance information about the operation of a water-quality laboratory are included.