Code of Maryland Regulations › Title 26 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT › Part 2 - SUBTITLES 08-12 › Subtitle 08 - WATER POLLUTION › Chapter 26.08.05 - Certification of State Water Quality Laboratories › Section 26.08.05.05 - General Requirements for a Certified Water Quality Laboratory

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 14, July 12, 2024
A. Quality
				  Assurance Manual - Minimum Criteria.
(1)
				  Space Requirements. Each certified water quality laboratory shall have adequate
				  space, facilities, and equipment to provide test results with accuracy,
				  precision, and safety.
(2) Use of
				  Approved Procedures. All certified water quality laboratories shall use
				  analytical procedures approved by the Certification Authority or the U.S.
				  Environmental Protection Agency.
(3) Collection and Preservation Procedures.
(a) A water quality laboratory shall collect
				  and preserve water samples in accordance with procedures approved by the U.S.
				  Environmental Protection Agency for the analysis of drinking water samples as
				  incorporated by reference in Regulation .02 of this chapter, and "Standard
				  Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater" as approved by U.S.
				  Environmental Protection Agency, American Public Health Association, National
				  Technical Information Service, or other approved agency.
(b) A water quality laboratory shall identify
				  and describe its sample collection procedures in its Quality Assurance
				  Manual.
(c) Water samples collected
				  for the purpose of compliance with these regulations shall be collected by an
				  individual approved by the Department.
(d) A water quality laboratory that is
				  certified shall accept only samples that are properly labeled, and for which
				  there is assurance that the samples have been collected, preserved, processed,
				  stored, and transported in such a manner as to assure the identity and the
				  stability of the sample with respect to the requested tests or analyses, or if
				  the stability of the sample has not been assured, the water quality laboratory
				  shall refuse the sample.
(e) A
				  supervisor of a certified water quality laboratory shall implement and document
				  sample rejection policies and procedures for each sample that is not suitable
				  for analysis.
(4)
				  Reporting of Laboratory Results.
(a) A water
				  quality laboratory report of analytical results shall be signed by the water
				  quality laboratory supervisor or the supervisor's designee.
(b) Internal water quality laboratory records
				  shall identify the person actually performing the analyses and the Maryland
				  Laboratory Identification Number. The water quality laboratory shall make
				  internal water quality laboratory records available to the
				  Department.
(c) When a water
				  quality laboratory reports compliance results on behalf of a public water
				  system, the water quality laboratory shall comply with the reporting
				  requirements specified in 40
				  CFR §
													141.31.
(5) Tests to be Performed by Qualified
				  Analysts. The water quality laboratory supervisor shall assure that all tests
				  are performed by qualified analysts.
(6) Supervisors Limited to Two Laboratories.
				  A water quality laboratory supervisor may not be responsible for the
				  supervision of more than two certified water quality laboratories.
(7) Maintenance of Laboratory Records. Each
				  certified water quality laboratory shall comply with the following
				  requirements:
(a) A suitable record of each
				  test result shall be kept for a period of at least 5 years or until the next
				  certification data audit is completed;
(b) If the laboratory reports on behalf of a
				  public water system, records for chemistry and radiochemistry shall be held for
				  10 years (40 CFR §
													141.33) and records for lead and copper shall
				  be held for 12 years (40 CFR
				  §
													141.91);
(c) All records shall be maintained in a
				  manner that permits ready identification and accessibility;
(d) Certified water quality laboratory
				  records and reports shall identify samples sent to other certified water
				  quality laboratories for analyses, and shall identify the certified water
				  quality laboratory performing the test; and
(e) Laboratory records shall be available to
				  the Department for inspection.
(8) Changes in ownership, mergers, or
				  laboratory closures do not eliminate the requirements in §A(7) of this
				  regulation.