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The top is in sight, don't give up now!
ICRUpdate
Jim Walasek, Editor
Technical Support Center
October 1998
Second Chance to Resubmit!
ICR Update ISSUe Number 14 - This information sheet, the ICR Update,
is the fourteenth one to be issued by the Technical Support Center (TSC) of the Office of Ground
Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW). Future issues will be distributed as needed to maintain
information flow related to the ICR.
Editor's Note: Because of some software bugs in the resubmission algorithms the data system
(ICR Fed) will be cleared and the most recent utility diskettes on hand for July 1997 (and the
July 1997 and August 1997 lab diskettes) will be uploaded to the data system. The validation
process will be run again and reports will be sent to utilities and labs. This will be your last
opportunity to review and correct your first month of ICR data. This is an important step in the
validation process. If everything goes as planned this time, it should be much easier to run
validation on the remaining data and the validation process can be accelerated. The projected
availability date for fully validated July 1997 data is early in 1999.
Two rumors are circulating that I thought might be of interest to ICR folks. The first one
sounds like deja vu(PS) all over again (remember the UPS strike a year ago); it has been
reported that Fed Ex pilots are planning a meeting to decide whether to strike during the
Christmas rush. If true this could have an impact on the shipment of samples during the last
month of ICR sampling; which brings to mind the other rumor; that being the continuation of
ICR sampling into 1999. This is not true, except in some isolated cases where it may be
necessary to start sampling on the last day of the year and continue into the first couple of days in
the New Year for the convenience of the lab(s). You see, the utility software will accept a
sampling period ending date in the year 1999, but not a starting date. Now that I think about it,
there may also be some confusion out there between ICR sampling (18 months) and the ICR
Supplemental Survey which will be collecting samples until the end of 1999. Good luck.
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ICR Update Index - An index to the ICR Update will soon be available on the
OGWDW website at www.epa.gov/OGWDW/updtindx.html. This index will list the topic
headings for each issue. You will then be able to select a topic of interest from the index and
click on the applicable ICR Update issue to read.
Data Validation Details - Thanks to the ICR utilities and laboratories that
reviewed their My 1997 data and provided EPA with resubmission diskettes by the September 9,
1998 deadline. Unfortunately, in mid-September, it became apparent that there were problems
with the resubmission software and we would not be able to reliably upload resubmission
diskettes and update information on the ICR Federal data system (ICR FED). The Technical
Support Center (TSC) looked at the options and made a decision not to delay the validation
plbcess (anymore) because of the resubmission process. Therefore, all monthly data was deleted
from the ICR FED system and the latest July 1997 diskettes from utilities plus the latest July and
August 1997 diskettes from ICR laboratories were uploaded. At this time we also uploaded
August 1997 utility diskettes and September 1997 laboratory diskettes to the ICR FED system to
begin the validation of August 1997 data. Confused? It gets worse.
Validation reports from the upload of these data will be distributed to utilities and
laboratories durin| November. As before, utilities and laboratories will submit corrections, if
needed, to EPA. By that time, the resubmission problems should be resolved and (hopefully) we
will be able to process data as designed. A second review of the validation reports will not be
needed.
Chemistry PE Study ReSUltS -Laboratories that are approved to perform
disinfection byproduct (DBF) and/or surrogate (TOC, UV, Br, and TOX) analyses for the ICR
must successfully participate in six quarterly PE studies. PE Study 8, the fifth of the six
"required" PE studies, was sent to 197 participating laboratories the week of July 27th. Many
thanks to the 192 laboratories that reported their analytical results by the September 1st due date.
Make-up samples (PE 8M) were shipped on September 15th to 56 laboratories for 84 failed
analyte groups/methods. Forty-six of these laboratories reported their data to EPA by the
September 30th due date. Unfortunately, 13 laboratories did not successfully report data for 18
analyte groups/methods and as a result they lost their approval for the failed parameters. Those
disapprovals became effective October 6th. On the positive side, as a result of their performance
in PE 8, five laboratories were able to regain six approvals that were lost due to PE Study 7
failures.
The last Chemistry PE study will begin next month. Laboratories have already been
notified to expect the samples during the week of November 2nd. The results will be due back to
EPA on December 7th. The study is timed to evaluate lab performance at the end of the 18-
month monitoring period.
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OUt Of bUSineSS Sale$ - Prior to the start of the ICR, EPA estimated
the number of calibration solution ampules that would be needed by the laboratories. We
estimated on the high side to be sure that the supply would last until the end of the 18-month
monitoring period. As a result, we are going to have some ampules left at the end of December.
If your laboratory is performing analyses of samples for ICR treatment studies, we encourage
you to contact us for a supply of these "excess" ampules. Contact Ed Glick (phone: 513-569-
7939; fax: 513-569-7191; or email: glick.ed@epa.gov) and let him know how many ampules
you want. Please be sure to provide him with your ICR Lab ID number. Your requests will be
honored as long as the supply lasts.
SDS Testing for the Treatment Studies ... Again? Articles
discussing the Simulated Distribution System (SDS) test conducted during the ICR treatment
studies have appeared in previous issues of the ICR Update. These articles have described the
parameters that define the SDS test, provided guidance on conducting these tests and discussed
the overall importance of properly conducting the SDS test. The purpose of the current article is
to clarify issues related to selecting a proper chlorine dose for the SDS test.
The SDS chlorine dose must be selected to achieve the "target" free chlorine residual at
the end of SDS incubation. If free chlorine is used in the distribution system, then this target
residual should equal the free chlorine residual at a point representative of the average residence
time in the distribution system. If chloramines are normally used in the distribution system, then
a free chlorine residual of 0.5 to 1.0 mg/L should be used as the target. Here are some pointers
that will help you to select a proper SDS dose.
The same target residual at the end of SDS incubation is applicable to both the influent
and effluent samples. However, the higher TOC concentrations in the influent sample
will require a significantly higher dose relative to the effluent sample to achieve the same
free chlorine residual at the end of incubation.
A constant SDS dose cannot be used in the SDS test unless the water quality remains
constant. The dose required to achieve the target residual must be varied to meet the
changing chlorine demand of the water. For example, in a GAC study, the TOC
concentration in the effluent will increase with time, resulting in an increased chlorine
demand that will require a higher dose to achieve the target residual.
• Many waters will have a significant chlorine demand due to inorganic compounds in the
water, such as ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, iron and manganese. This inorganic demand
must be completely satisfied in order to achieve a free chlorine residual and conduct a
proper SDS test. If your plant has high ammonia levels and normally uses a chloramine
residual in the distribution system, you may have to use significantly higher chlorine
doses than are used in practice to achieve a free chlorine residual in the SDS test.
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TIP- The chlorine demand due to ammonia is approximately equal to 7.6 x the
ammonia concentration in mg/L - N (e.g., a dose of7.6mg/L of free chorine is
required to meet the demand of 1.0 mg/L - N of ammonia).
In order to determine the chlorine demand of a water, a demand test can be conducted
under the SDS test conditions of pH, temperature and incubation time while varying
chlorine doses. The resulting relationship between chlorine dose and free chlorine •
residual can be used to select the dose that will meet the target residual at the end ol
incubation.
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Preliminary Review of ICR T S Results - in a previous ICR
Update, we described a voluntary review process for utilities participating in the ICR treatment
^udieT The purpose of this review is to provide feedback to utilities during the testing period so
that potential problems can be identified and corrected before the end of the study. This will
provide better information to both utilities and EPA.
The good news is that EPA has been able to provide detailed feedback to utilities that
have submitted their data for a preliminary review, and increased everyone's confidence in these
studies. The bad news is that only a handful of utilities have submitted their data for review so
far.
We encourage everyone conducting studies to take advantage of this voluntary
program. To participate in this review, please submit both a hard-copy and electronic copy of
the Data Collection Spreadsheets containing the data you have collected to date. EPA will
review these data and provide you with comments and suggestions as necessary. Please note
that these data will only be used by EPA staff to conduct this preliminary review. If you would
like EPA to conduct a preliminary review of your data, please send the ICR Data Collection
Spreadsheets to:
USEPA
Technical Support Center (MS 140)
26 West Martin Luther King Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45268
Attn: ICR Treatment Study Coordinator
Early Submission of Treatment Study Data - The results from
the ICR treatment studies are due by July 14,1999; however, EPA would like to get some data
earlier if possible. Specifically, EPA is interested in receiving early final submissions of the
'ICR Treatment Study Data Collection Spreadsheets.
EPA is currently working on a system for managing and analyzing the results from the
ICR treatment studies, and within a few months we will be ready to start analyzing data and
loading the results up to the database. Early submission of the spreadsheets will give EPA
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additional time to analyze the results of these studies and feed this important information into the
"rule development process."
We are not requesting early data submissions at this time, but wanted to give you
advance notice so that you might start preparing your spreadsheets if you are interested in
submitting your data prior to the deadline. We will continue to update you on our progress and
will make a formal request for early spreadsheet submissions when our data sys em is
complete If you do decide to submit your spreadsheets early, you can still wait until the July
14* (1999) deadline to submit your Summary Report. Thank you in advance for considering an
early submission, and remember an early submission of even one or two months prior to the
deadline will help!
Sampling GAC CollimnS - On September 1st a letter was mailed to all
utilities conducting GAC studies under the ICR. The purpose of this letter was to clarify the
requirements for sampling from GAC columns. The letter describes the required frequency for
sampling, approaches for determining the sampling schedule, and the impact of certain run
erminattn'criteria on the sampling schedule. If you did not receivers letter but are interested
in this information, go to the ICR homepage at www.epa.gov/OGWDW/icr/gacsmpl.html.
Supplemental Surveys and Spiking Program-Large systems
will soon find out if they have been selected for the Supplemental Survey. Recruitoent letters on
way to small systems. Utilities have collected first samples for spiking program. Method 1622
for Crypto ready for Supplemental Surveys. For details, read on.
ICR Supplemental Surveys - Recruitment for the Large and Medium System Surveys is nearly
done Large utilities can expect to hear if they were selected during the first week of October.
EPA plans to call and check with medium systems that have not yet responded to the survey
request during the last week of September. So far, the majority of systems have indicated an
interest in participating in the surveys. EPA will be sending recruitment letters to small systems
in early October. Ultimately, EPA needs the participation of 47 large, 40 medium and 40 small
plants Those plants will collect source water samples twice a month for 12 months which will
provide valuable data on Cryptosporidium (analyzed with Method 1622), bacteria, and DBF
precursors. Large and medium systems are scheduled to begin in November 1998, and small
systems should begin in December.
Lab Spiking Program - The Spiking Program continues to go well. As of mid-September, all
utilities have collected the first of their two samples for spiking. The program will continue
through December 1998. Preliminary data (only one month's worth!) suggest that average
recoveries for Crypto and Giardia using the current ICR method are similar to those achieved in
the 1995 Field Spiking Study.
Method 1622 - Great news!! The Cryptosporidium round-robin validation process for Method
1622 has been completed. The method is ready for use in the ICR Supplemental Surveys.
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However, incorporation of Giardia into Method 1 622 has been further delayed due to the need
for additional testing on the immunomagnetic separation (IMS) procedure. Tests are currently
being conducted on the IMS procedure to ensure that acceptable recovery efficiencies for both
reagent and raw water can be achieved. Round-robin validation for Giardia will commence once
these tests have been completed. Because of the delay in the validation schedule, EPA will
begin the surveys analyzing only for Crypto; hopefully we can bring Giardia on line several
months into the surveys.
If you have questions regarding the surveys or spiking program, please contact Heather
Shank-Givens at 202-260-0063 or email to givens.heather(5)epa.gov. For questions concerning
Method 1622, please contact Crystal Rodgers at 202-260-0676 or email to
rodgers.crvstal(lea.ov.
What? We've MOVed - Yes, that's right, the address for sending
your diskettes to EPA has changed.. The folks that were receiving your diskettes in Room 1111
at the East Tower have moved down the hall to Room 1115B. They have assurred us that if a
package comes in addressed to Room 1111, someone in that office will carry it down the hall to
Room 1 1 15B. So, once again, the full address for submitting diskettes (lab and utility) is:
USEPA (ICR46QO)
ICR Data Center - Attn: Ed Cottrill
Room 1115B East Tower
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
United States m^^^mi^^^mm^mmmm
Environmental Protection Agency R..... RATF
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (MS-140) pncTA^c c cccc DA,™
Cincinnati, OH 45268 fUbiA&E^sUFEES PAID
Official Business PERMIT No G-35
Penalty for Private Use «^^^^^^^^^^^^«
$300 •^^^^^^^^^••^M
EPA815-N-98-001f
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