Monitoring Quality of Wastewater and Storm Water Data-dealing with Multiple Permits, States, and Analytical Laboratories
Oral Presentation
Prepared by J. Flaherty1, J. Bell2
1 - Corporate Environmental Solutions LLC, PO Box 427, Cecil, PA, 15321, United States
2 - Koppers Inc., 1005 William Pitt Way, Pittsburgh, PA, 15238, United States
Contact Information: [email protected]; 512-529-7680
ABSTRACT
Koppers Inc. (Koppers) is a multi-national producer of tar products and wood preservatives. It has locations throughout the United States, each with wastewater and storm water permits for compliance monitoring. Because of the unique chemistries involved at each location, the potential exists for substantial interferences with routinely used analytical procedures listed in 40CFR Part 136. Corporate Environmental Solutions LLS (CES) has worked with Koppers to develop a program using certified reference materials spiked into representative waste streams, or synthetic wastewaters, to evaluate the potential interferences. The results are used to determine the most appropriate analytical technique for monitoring and to implement clean-up techniques and other procedures to remove interferences. In some cases methods were modified or new methods developed and approved by the regulatory agency prior to implementation. As permits expire, we are seeing new permits with more restrictions on discharge limits. As such, the reference standard program will continue to be an integral part of Koppers overall QA Plan for effluent monitoring. This paper will present examples of how the use of certified reference materials enabled Koppers to develop a program that provides the highest quality analytical data for environmental monitoring and gives specific examples of how the program was able to reduce permit violations by using appropriate analytical techniques for the matrices being tested.
Oral Presentation
Prepared by J. Flaherty1, J. Bell2
1 - Corporate Environmental Solutions LLC, PO Box 427, Cecil, PA, 15321, United States
2 - Koppers Inc., 1005 William Pitt Way, Pittsburgh, PA, 15238, United States
Contact Information: [email protected]; 512-529-7680
ABSTRACT
Koppers Inc. (Koppers) is a multi-national producer of tar products and wood preservatives. It has locations throughout the United States, each with wastewater and storm water permits for compliance monitoring. Because of the unique chemistries involved at each location, the potential exists for substantial interferences with routinely used analytical procedures listed in 40CFR Part 136. Corporate Environmental Solutions LLS (CES) has worked with Koppers to develop a program using certified reference materials spiked into representative waste streams, or synthetic wastewaters, to evaluate the potential interferences. The results are used to determine the most appropriate analytical technique for monitoring and to implement clean-up techniques and other procedures to remove interferences. In some cases methods were modified or new methods developed and approved by the regulatory agency prior to implementation. As permits expire, we are seeing new permits with more restrictions on discharge limits. As such, the reference standard program will continue to be an integral part of Koppers overall QA Plan for effluent monitoring. This paper will present examples of how the use of certified reference materials enabled Koppers to develop a program that provides the highest quality analytical data for environmental monitoring and gives specific examples of how the program was able to reduce permit violations by using appropriate analytical techniques for the matrices being tested.
