San Juan Bay Estuary Program
Point and Nonpoint Source
Pollutants Loading Study
of The San Juan Bay Estuary, Puerto Rico
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"Quality Assurance Project Plan'
Prepared by:
ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
C S A
MERCANTIL PLAZA-MEZZANINE SUITE. SAN JUAN. PR 00918 (787) 754-6800. Fax 753-7330
AND
Roy F, Weston, Inc.
March 1998
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CSA ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION II
Quality Assurance Project Plan
"Point and Nonpoint Source Pollutants Loading Study
of the San Juan Bay Estuarine System, Puerto Rico"
(Field Sampling Activities)
Date:
Tere Rodriguez, San Juan Bay Estuary Program Director, (787) 725-8162
Date:
Ferdinand Quinones, CSA Architects & Engineers, Project Manager iand
Quality Assurance Officer, (787) 754-6800
Date:
Jose J. Terrasa-Soler, CSA Architects & Engineers, Assistant Project Manager and
Coordinator of Field Sampling, (787) 754-6800
Date:
Jose R. Fuentes, EQLab, Inc., Project Manager for Lab Services, (787) 725-5333
Date:
Susan Osofsky, USEPA Region II Project Officer, (212) 637-3795
Date:
Dennis McChesney, USEPA Region II Quality Assurance Officer, (732) 321-6729
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 4
1.1 Background 4
1.2 Technical Approach 6
2. TECHNICAL DESIGN 8
2.1 Purpose and Objectives 8
2.2 Tributary Sampling 8
2.3 Atmospheric Deposition Sampling 13
3. PROJECT ORGANIZATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES 15
4. PROJECT SCHEDULE 16
5. FIELD SAMPLING INFORMATION 17
6. FIELD SAMPLING PROCEDURES 23
6.1 Tributary Sampling 23
6.1.1 Water Quality Sampling 23
6.1.1.1 Water Sampling for Laboratory Parameters 24
6.1.1.2 In Situ Measurements 25
6.1.2 Sediment Quality Sampling 26
6.2 Atmospheric Deposition Sampling 27
6.2.1 Wet Deposition Sampling 28
6.2.2 Dry Deposition Sampling 28
7. SAMPLE CUSTODY 30
8. ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES 32
9. DATA QUALITY OBJECTIVES 36
10. PEER REVIEW 38
11. CALIBRATION PROCEDURES / PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE 39
12. ASSESSMENTS 40
13. DATA REVIEW, VALIDATION, AND USABILITY 42
14. DOCUMENTATION 43
15. REFERENCES 46
EXHIBITS AND ATTACHMENTS 47
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Table 1
Table 2
Table 3
Table 4
Table 5
Table 6
Table 7
Table 8
Table 9
Table 10
LIST OF TABLES
Proposed new sampling stations within the San Juan Bay Estuary
Basin, Puerto Rico
List of chemical, physical, and biological parameters to be
determined at sampling stations in the watershed of the San Juan
Bay Estuary, Puerto Rico
Project organization and responsibilities
Schedule for field sampling activities
General project schedule
Water quality field sampling information
Sediment quality field sampling information
Atmospheric deposition quality field sampling information
Water sample analytical procedures
Sediment sample analytical procedures
Figure 1
LIST OF FIGURES
Major features of San Juan Bay Estuary Basin and location of proposed
sampling stations
Exhibit 1
Exhibit 2
LIST OF EXHIBITS
Example of Chain of Custody Record
Field data collection log formats
Attachment 1
Attachment 2
Attachment 3
LIST OF ATTACHMENTS
EQLab, Inc., Annual Quality Assurance Report 1996-1997
EQLab, Inc., Quality Assurance Manual
EQLab, Inc., Response to Mr. McChesney's Comments
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CSA ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
Point and Nonpoint Source Pollutants Loading Study
of the San Juan Bay Estuarine System, Puerto Rico
(Field Sampling Activities)
1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
1.1 Background
The San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE), Puerto Rico, has been designated as an "estuary
of national significance" and included in the National Estuary Program^ (NEP)
managed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The NEP's goal is
to promote the development of comprehensive conservation and management plans
(CCMP) to foster and conserve the ecological integrity of designated estuaries.
USEPA created the San Juan Bay Estuary Program (SJBEP) to achieve the goals of
the NEP program for the estuarine system within the Greater San Juan Area, Puerto
Rico. The goals of the SJBEP are to:
• Establish a comprehensive water quality policy. This policy will insure the
integrity of marine resources and terrestrial ecosystems while supporting
human activities in the San Juan Bay Estuary.
• Develop for the SJBE an effective administrative and regulatory
framework that will serve as a model for other estuary systems,
especially for tropical systems.
® Optimize the social, economic, and recreational benefits which have been
associated with the San Juan Bay Estuary.
• Prevent further degradation and improve the system's water quality to
help insure healthy terrestrial and aquatic communities and the social
well-being.
• Minimize health risks associated to direct human contact with surface
waters and through the consumption of fish and shellfish.
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The SJBE includes a relatively small basin (Figure 1) with a drainage area of about
251 square kilometers, within the municipalities (municipios) of San Juan, Toa Baja,
Catano, Bayamon, Guaynabo, Carolina, Lofza, and Trujillo Alto. The population of
the basin is about 622,000 inhabitants (an average of 2,476 persons per square
kilometer). Most of the basin is urbanized, including areas that discharge
stormwater runoff and sewage into SJBE, impacting the water quality and natural
resources of the San Juan Bay Estuarine System (SJBES). Point and nonpoint
sources of pollution include wastewater treatment plant effluents; discharges from
non-sewered areas along banks; stormwater discharges; seepage from the San
Juan Municipal Landfill; sludge deposits of organic matter; industrial effluenjs; and
others.
CSA Architects & Engineers, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Roy F. Weston, Inc., West
Chester, PA (CSA/Weston) are conducting a study to identify point and nonpoint
sources of pollution and evaluate the impact of existing land use, land cover, and
approved projects on water quality and living resources in the SJBES. The project,
performed on behalf of the SJBEP, is known as "Point and Nonpoint Source
Pollutants Loading Study of the San Juan Bay Estuarine System, Puerto Rico." This
study is a first step in determining trends and providing insight on actions which
will restore and protect the estuary.
The overall objective of the Point and Nonpoint Source Pollutants Loading Study is
to produce technically defensible estimates of the input of nutrients and toxic
contaminants to the estuary system. These estimates will be produced using
USEPA's BASINS watershed modeling system (USEPA 1996). Pollutant loading
estimates will help develop a Watershed Management Strategy to control and
prevent problems which arise from inappropriate land use management, point and
nonpoint sources of pollution, and the elimination of natural areas.
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PAGE NOT
AVAILABLE
DIGITALLY
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The results of this study will be used in conjunction with the results of the
following studies being performed by other organizations:
• A three-dimensional hydrodynamic/water quality mathematical model of
the estuarine system proper;
• An ecological assessment;
• A water and sediment quality study; and,
• A sewage discharge inventory.
Combined, all these studies will provide the needed information for the
development of a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for
the SJBES.
1.2 Technical Approach
CSA/Weston will use USEPA's BASINS watershed modeling system (BASINS v.
2.0b; USEPA 1 996) to achieve the goals of the Pollutants Loading Study. BASINS
is a comprehensive modeling system capable of evaluating the sources, transport,
and fate of point and nonpoint source pollutants. BASINS integrates several
USEPA-approved water quality models and user-created databases under an
ArcView Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. Thus, BASINS
provides a powerful tool for the modeling and estimation of pollutant loads.
Spatial, temporal, and statistical analyses of pollutant loads to the San Juan Bay
and Estuary will be produced using this modeling system.
CSA/Weston is creating a large database containing hydrological, land use,
hydrographic, topographic, and water/sediment quality data, as well as other
geographic information, from the whole San Juan Bay Estuary Basin. Water and
sediment quality data were obtained from USEPA's STORET database, the National
Sediment Inventory database, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the US Geological
Survey, and the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board. Standard quality
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CSA ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
assurance/quality control procedures were applied to these databases by their
originating agencies to insure data quality. The BASINS model for the San Juan
Bay Estuarine System will be calibrated and run using all available information plus
limited field data that will be collected by CSA/Weston.
Field data collection for the Pollutants Loading Study is not intended as a
monitoring program. The required data is intended to supplement the large
database that is being assembled for the SJBES BASINS model. Data collected
under the field sampling activities of this project should be precise, accurate,
representative, complete, and comparable to data obtained from similar studies.
Sampling and analytical methods for this field sampling effort have been chosen to
achieve these data quality objectives, consistent with technical and financial
limitations. Most of the sampling and analytical methods selected for this project
are standard methods approved by the USEPA or APHA, and routinely used in
comparable studies (Kennedy et al. 1996; USEPA 1983; APHA 1992). USEPA
methods to be used, as well as other methods, are detailed and referenced
elsewhere in this document. The methodology selected for this sampling effort
(described in Sections 5, 6, and 8 of this document) should provide data of similar
quality to those data obtained in previous studies of the SJBES basin and compiled
in the BASINS database created for this project.
Other sections of this document explain in detail the methods to be used and how
the proposed technical approach will achieve the desired objectives. This quality
assurance project plan addresses specifically the environmental sampling activities
that are part of the San Juan Bay pollutants loading modeling effort. A separate
quality assurance project plan for the modeling tasks of this project will be
submitted to USEPA Region II. All issues related to the model being employed and
the modeling processes developed for this effort will be discussed therein.
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2. TECHNICAL DESIGN
2.1 Purpose and Objectives
The purpose of the field sampling activities of the Pollutants Loading Study of
SJBES is to supplement data already collected for the development of a watershed
model (BASINS v. 2.0b; USEPA 1996) to estimate point and nonpoint source
pollutant loads into SJBES and investigate water quality patterns in the basin. The
sampling program will supplement data that will be used in the initial calibration of
the model and that have already been collected and developed by CSA/Weston and
governmental agencies (see 1.2 above). After review of all available, data,
CSA/Weston considers that only limited field sampling will be necessary for the
calibration and validation of the model.
The objective of the sampling activities is to obtain point estimates of physical,
chemical, and biological parameters for water and sediments at specific tributaries
for which there is no or very limited data. In addition, the nutrients contribution of
dry and wet atmospheric deposition to the watershed wi!! be estimated. Note that
the objective of this sampling is not to directiy compare the values obtained
between stations or between time periods. The objective is strictly to obtain
additional data for modeling purposes, and in this sense, it is not a monitoring
program. The intended principal users of these field data are CSA/Weston
personnel developing the BASINS watershed model for the SJBES.
2.2 Tributary Sampling
Five tributaries to the San Juan Bay Estuarine System have been identified for
sampling (Stations 1 through 5 in Table 1). These sites were selected after
reviewing all available data and determining: (1) that no significant information is
available for those tributaries; and, (2) that their respective catchment areas (sub-
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CSA ARCHITECTS &. ENGINEERS
basins) probably contribute significant amounts of pollutants to SJBES (based on
land use, population density, etc.) The selection was based both on review of
available data and best professional judgment. The data obtained will be used to
calibrate and validate pollutant load estimates produced by BASINS for those sub-
watersheds (for a detailed account see the modeling QAPP submitted separately).
The tributaries targeted for sampling are small, freshwater, urban creeks that flow
into the SJBES. All of these creeks have portions that have been channelized (open
concrete channels or closed underground conduits) and that flow through densely
populated areas. The sampling locations listed in Table 1 for Stations 1 through 5
are all at bridge crossings and the exact location of sampling can be„ easily
specified.
Table 1. Proposed new sampling stations within the San Juan Bay Estuary Basin, Puerto Rico.
Station
ID
Number
Station Name
Latitude (N) /
Longitude (W)
Location*
Type of
Station
1
Quebrada Buena Vista at
Galileo St. Bridge
18°24'1 7"/66°04'04"
Rio Piedras
WQ; BSQ
2
Canal La Malaria at Road PR-
888 Bridge
18°26'59"/66°08'10"
Catafio
WQ; BSQ
3
Quebrada Juan Mendez at
Vergel St. Bridge
18°25'40"/66°02'28"
Hato Rey
WQ; BSQ
4
Quebrada San Anton at
Iturregui Ave. Bridge
18°24'56766°00'30"
Carolina
WQ; BSQ
5
Baldorioty de Castro
Pumping Station Outfall
18°26'53"/66o02'37"
Santurce
WQ; BSQ
6
Mercantil Plaza Building
18°26,05"/66o03'36"
Hato Rey
PQ
7
Cupey #1
18°21,23"/66°03'01"
Cupey
PQ
WQ = water quality BSQ = bottom sediment quality PQ = precipitation quality
* See Figure 1 also.
Tributary sampling at each of the five sites (Stations 1 through 5) will include: (a) in
situ determination of field parameters (pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific
conductance, and salinity); (b) water sampling for laboratory analyses; and, (c)
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CSA ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
sediment sampling for laboratory analyses. Parameters to be determined are listed
in Table 2, along with the total number of analyses to be performed per matrix.
Parameters were selected to provide the maximum amount of information possible,
considering financial constraints. Parameters in Table 2 are mostly those
specifically required by the SJBEP Contract for this study, plus priority pollutants,
and other parameters that have been demonstrated to be important in SJBES
(Kennedy et al. 1996; Webb and Gomez-Gomez 1998).
Both stormflows and baseflows will be targeted for sampling in tributaries. Three
stormflow and three baseflow sampling events will be performed. During each
sampling event all five tributary stations (Stations 1 through 5 in Table 1)„will be
sampled; each sampling event will occur within a 9-hour period. At each site, in
situ determination of field parameters and water sampling for laboratory analyses
will be done simultaneously. One depth-integrated, grab water sample per sampling
event will be collected at each site. Field parameters will be measured
simultaneously with water sample collection. Measurements will be done using an
electronic multimeter at mid-depth and at the center of the channel width (see Field
Sampling Procedures section). The same procedures will be used for baseflow
conditions.
One sediment sample will be collected following water sampling at each site during
two of the baseflow sampling events (a total of 10 sediment samples or two
samples per site). Sediment samples will be collected using an Ekman-type
sediment sampler from the top 2 cm of the channel bottom and at the center of the
channel width.
Stormflow sampling will occur only when conditions are appropriate in the five sub
basins. "Appropriate" means that a storm of sufficient magnitude to generate
stormflows throughout the basin occurs within the limits of the SJBES watershed.
The threshold magnitude has been determined to be 7.6 mm (0.3 inches) of rain
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CSA ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
(Mr. Eloy Colon, National Weather Service hydrologist, personal communication).
Storm conditions will be identified using near real-time meteorological data from the
National Weather Service, including Doppler radar (NEXRAD) maps. Given the
nature of manual stormflow sampling, only one sample per sampling station wili be
collected in any one storm event. Baseflow conditions will be determined similarly
from meteorological data and in the field. Because all sampling sites are close to
CSA/Weston offices (within 15 minutes by car), quick response to appropriate
meteorological conditions is possible. Field equipment and crew will be ready at all
times during the duration of the sampling activities. Because of safety concerns, all
sampling will be performed during daylight hours only. Sampling activities are
estimated to require nine (9) weeks: from late March through May 1998.
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CSA ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
Table 2. List of chemical, physical, and biological parameters to be determined at
sampling stations in the watershed of the San Juan Bay Estuary, Puerto Rico.
Total Number of Analyses per Matrix* ' 1
Water
Precipitation
Sediment 1
1. Common Ions
1
1.1 Calcium
30
12
0
1.2 Magnesium
30
12
0
1.3 Sodium
30
12
0
1.4 Potassium
30
12
0
1.5 Sulfide
30
0
0
1.6 Sulfate
30
12
0
1.7 Bicarbonate
30
12
0
1.8 Chloride
30
12
0
1.9 Fluoride
30
0
0
1.10 Silica
30
12
0
1.11 Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
30
12
0
1.12 Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
30
0
0
2. Nutrients and Biochemical Parameters
2.1 Total Organic Carbon (TOC)
30
0
10
2.2 Total Inorganic Carbon (TIC)
30
12
10
2.3 BOD5
30
0
0
2.4 COD
30
0
0
2.5 Nitrite
30
12
10
2.6 Nitrate
30
12
10
2.7 Ammonia
30
12
10
2.8 Total Nitrogen
30
12
10
2.9 Total Phosphorus
30
12
10
2.1C Total and Fecal Coliforms
30
0
0
3. Trace Elements
3.1 Antimony
30
0
10
3.2 Arsenic
30
0
10
3.3 Barium
30
0
10
3.4 Beryllium
30
0
10 .
3.5 Cadmium
30
0
10
3.6 Total and Hexavalent Chromium
30
0
10
3.7 Cobalt
30
0
10
3.8 Copper
30
0
10
3.9 Lead
30
0
10
3.10 Mercury
30
0
10
3.11 Nickel
30
0
10
3.12 Selenium
30
0
10
3.13 Silver
30
0
10
3.14 Thallium
30
0
10
3.15 Zinc
30
0
10
(Cont.)
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Table 2. completed
PARAMETERS
Total Number of Analyses per Matrix*
Water Precipitation ' Sediment
4. Field Determinations
4.1 pH
30
12
0
4.2 Dissolved Oxygen
30
0
0
4.3 Specific Conductance
30
0
0
4.4 Salinity
30
0
0
4.5 Temperature
30
0
0
5. Priority Pollutants
5.1 Volatile Organic Compounds
30
0
0
5.2 Acid, Base/Neutrals
30
0
10
5.3 Pesticides/PCB's
30
0
10
* Water Sampling: 6 sampling events., 5 samples per event ( = 3
0 total)
Precipitation Sampling: 12 sampling events, 1 sample per event ( = 12 total)
Sediment Sampling: 2 sampling events, 5 sample per event (=10 total)
Does not include QC analyses.
2.3 Atmospheric Deposition Sampling
The Pollutant Loading Study of the San Juan Bay Estuarine System will include
estimates of atmospheric deposition of common ions and nutrients over the basin.
These estimates will be included in the modeling of pollutant loads. Atmospheric
deposition sampling will include grab samples of both wet and dry deposition for
laboratory analyses. Parameters to be determined are listed in Table 2.
Two precipitation sampling stations will be installed at the two locations described
in Table 1 (Stations 6 and 7). Station 6 is located in the middle of the San Juan
Bay Estuarine System (next to Cano Martin Pena; see Figure 1) and Station 7 is
located at the headwaters of the SJBES basin (Cupey sector of San Juan; see
Figure 1). These locations are representative of coastal and upland conditions
found in the SJBES basin. Each station will include a National Weather Service-
approved rain gage to measure daily precipitation, and two clean plastic collectors
to obtain dry and wet deposition samples. Daily precipitation amount will be
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CSA ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
manually recorded at each of the two stations throughout the duration of field
sampling activities.
Wet deposition samples will be obtained three times at each precipitation sampling
station (three sampling events per station). Samples will be collected from the
plastic collectors directly into sample bottles. Only storms equal to 25 mm of daily
precipitation or greater will be sampled. Stations will be sampled as frequently as
the required magnitude storms occur until the three samples are obtained.
Three dry deposition samples will be collected per precipitation sampling station
(three sampling events per station). Dry deposition samples will be obtained by
thoroughly rinsing the two plastic collectors with deionized water (ultrapure grade)
until a final volume of 3,000 mL is obtained (per sample). The dry deposition
samples will be collected after the cleaned collectors are exposed to the
atmosphere for a rainless period of 72 consecutive hours. See the Field Sampling
Procedures section for a detailed account.
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CSA ARCHITECTS &. ENGINEERS
3. PROJECT ORGANIZATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Table 3. Project organization and responsibilities.
Person
Agency
Phone
Number
Area of
Responsibility
Ms. Tere Rodriguez
San Juan Bay
Estuary Program
(787) 725-
8162
• Program Director
Mr. Ferdinand Quinones, PE
CSA Architects
& Engineers,
San Juan, PR
(787) 754-
6800
• Project Manager
• Quality Assurance
Officer
Mr. Ronald Ragan, PE
Roy F. Weston,
Inc., West
Chester, PA
(610) 701-
3133
• Direction ana
Coordination of
Modeling Effort |
Mr. Jose Terrasa, EPI, CE
CSA Architects
& Engineers,
San Juan, PR
(787) 754-
6800
• Assistant Project J
Manager
• Coordination of
Field Sample and
Data Collection
Mr. Jose Fuentes, PE
EQLab, Inc.,
San Juan, PR
(787) 725-
5333
• Project Manager
for Laboratory
Services
Mr. Juan C. Perez, ME
CSA Architects
& Engineers,
San Juan, PR
(787) 754-
6800
• Sampling
Activities
Mr. Roberto Leon, EIT
CSA Architects
& Engineers,
San Juan, PR
(787) 754-
6800
• Sampling
Activities
Mr. Angel Garcia, PE
CSA Architects
& Engineers,
San Juan, PR
(787) 754-
6800
• Sampling
Activities
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4. PROJECT SCHEDULE
The schedule for field sampling and data gathering activities is presented in Table 4 and the general project schedule
in Table 5. Field sampling and field data gathering activities are scheduled to last nine (9) weeks: from late March
through May 1 998.
Table 4. Schedule for field sampling activities.
TASKS
1998
Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Water and Sediment Sampling
Atmospheric Deposition Sampling
Data Tabulation and Entry into Model
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Table 5. General project schedule.
TASKS
1997
1998
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Work Plan Development
Data Gathering
Field Sampling
Model Development
Model Runs and Analysis
Report Preparation
Project Management and Coordination
XXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXX XXXXX
XXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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5. FIELD SAMPLING INFORMATION
Tables 6, 7, and 8 give field sampling information for tributary water sampling,
tributary sediment sampling, and atmospheric deposition sampling, respectively.
The "total number of samples" column in each table includes field QC samples. All
samples will be collected and handled according to SOP (APHA 1992).
Field QC samples will be collected as follows:
• Field Duplicates will be collected on 5% of all water samples (1 in every
20), and on 5% of all sediment samples (1 in every 20).
• One (1) Field Blank will be collected per sampling event (for VOC's).
• One (1) Trip Blank will be collected per trip from the laboratory to the field
and back to the laboratory (for VOC's).
• Three (3) Equipment Rinsate Blanks will be collected (one from each of
the samplers for the entire study). One rinsate blank will be collected
from water sampling equipment; one from sediment sampling equipment;
and, one from precipitation sampling equipment.
Some preservation techniques involve acidulation of the sample. The following
procedure will be used to determine the amount of acid necessary to achieve the
desired final pH:
1. Collect a test sample from the source in a clean container of the same
size as the actual sample container.
2. Using an EPA-approved meter to monitor pH, slowly add the preservative
with a graduated pipette while stirring the test sample continuously.
3. After the pH reading stabilizes at the desired value, record the volume of
the applicable preservative to be added to the actual sample, from the
amount dispensed by the graduated pipette.
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Table 6. Water quality field sampling information.
Site
Sample
Matrix
Total No.
Samples
Sample
Volume
(mL)
Sample
Container
Analyte/
Parameter
Preservation
Method
Max.
Holding
Time
Tributaries
Water
30
In situ
In situ
Temperature
None
None
Tributaries
Water
30
In situ
In situ
PH
None
None
Tributaries
Water
30
In situ
In situ
Dissolved
Oxygen
None
None
Tributaries
Water
30
In situ
In situ
Specific
Conductance
None
None
Tributaries
Water
30
In situ
In situ
Salinity
None
None
Tributaries
Water
34
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Calcium
HNO, pH < 2, Ice
"to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Water
34
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Magnesium
HN03 pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
1.80 days
Tributaries
Water
34
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Sodium
HN03 pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Water
34
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Potassium
HN03 pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Water
34
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Lead
HN03 pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Water
34
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Silver
HN03 pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Water
34
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Zinc
HN03 pH < 2, ice
to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Water
34
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Chromium Total
HNOj pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Water
34
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Cadmium
HN03 pH <2, Ice
to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Water
34
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Antimony
HN03 pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Water
34
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Arsenic
HN03 pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Water
34
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Barium
HN03 pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Water
34
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Beryllium
HN03 pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Water
34
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Cobalt
HN03 pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Water
34
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Copper
HN03 pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Water
34
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Nickel
HN03 pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Water
34
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Selenium
HN03 pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
180 days
San Juan Bay Estuary Program San Juan Puerto Rico
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CSA ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
Table 6. continued
Site
Sample
Matrix
Total No.
Samples
Sample
Volume
(mL)
Sample
Container
Analyte/
Parameter
Preservation
Method
Max.
Holding
Time
Tributaries
Water
34
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Thallium
HN03 pH<2, Ice
to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Water
34
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Mercury
HN03 pH<2, Ice
to 4 C
28 days
Tributaries
Water
34
3000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Chromium
Hexavalent
Ice to 4 C
24 hours
Tributaries
Water
34
3000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Silica
Ice to 4 C
28 days
Tributaries
Water
34
3000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
TDS
Ice to 4 C
7 days
Tributaries
Water
34
3000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
TSS
Ice to 4 C
7 days
Tributaries
Water
34
3000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Bicarbonate
Ice to 4 C
14 days
Tributaries
Water
34
3000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
ESODg
Ice to 4 C
48 hours
Tributaries
Water
34
3000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Sulfate
Ice to 4 C
28 days
T ributaries
Water
34
3000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Chloride
Ice to 4 C
28 days
Tributaries
Water
34
3000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Nitrite
Ice to 4 C
24 hours
Tributaries
Water
34
3000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Nitrate
Ice to 4 C
48 hours
Tributaries
Water
34
3000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Fluoride
Ice to 4 C
28 days
Tributaries
Water
34
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
TOC
H2S04 pH<2, Ice
to 4 C
28 days
Tributaries
Water
34
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
COD
H2S04 pH<2, Ice
to 4 C
28 days
Tributaries
Water
34
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Ammonia
H2S04 pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
28 days
Tributaries
Water
34
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Nitrate
+ Nitrite
H2S04 pH<2, Ice
to 4 C
28 days
Tributaries
Water
34
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Total
Phosphorus
H2S04 pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
28 days
Tributaries
Water
34
8 ounces
Whirl Pack
Fecal & Total
Coliforms
. Ice to 4 C
6 hours
Tributaries
Water
34
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Sulfide
NaOH,ZnOAc
Ice to 4 C
7 days
Tributaries
Water
45
80
Glass Vial
Volatile Organic
Compounds
HCI pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
14 days
Tributaries
Water
34
1000
Amber Glass
Acids,
Base/Neutrals
Ice to 4 C
7 days/
40 days
Tributaries
Water
34
1000
Amber Glass
Pesticides,
PCB's
Ice to 4 C
7 days/
40 days
San Juan Bay Estuary Program San Juan Puerto Rico
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CSA ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
Table 6. completed
Site
Sample
Matrix
Total No.
Samples
Sample
Volume
(mL)
Sample
Container
Analyte/
Parameter
Preservation
Method
Max.
Holding
Time
Tributaries
Water
Calculation
Calc.
Calculation
TIC
Calculation
Calculation
Tributaries
Water
Calculation
Calc.
Calculation
Total Nitrogen
Calculation
Calculation
Table 7. Sediment quality field sampling information.
Site
Sample
Matrix
Total No.
Samples
Sample
Volume
(mL)
Sample
Container
Analyte/
Parameter
Preservation
Method
Max.
Holding
Time
Tributaries
Sediment
11
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Lead
Ice to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Sediment
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Silver
Ice to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Sediment
11
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Zinc
Ice to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Sediment
11
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Chromium,
Total
Ice to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Sediment
11
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Cadmium
Ice to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Sediment
11
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Antimony
Ice to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Sediment
11
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Arsenic
Ice to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Sediment
11
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Barium-
Ice to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Sediment
11
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Beryllium
Ice to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Sediment
11
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Cobalt
Ice to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Sediment
11
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Copper
Ice to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Sediment
11
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Nickel
Ice to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Sediment
11
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Selenium
Ice to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Sediment
11
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Thallium
Ice to 4 C
180 days
Tributaries
Sediment
11
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Mercury
Ice to 4 C
28 days
Tributaries
Sediment
11
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Chromium,
Hexavalent
Ice to 4 C
24 hrs
Tributaries
Sediment
11
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Nitrite
Ice to 4 C
24 hrs
Tributaries
Sediment
11
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Nitrate
Ice to 4 C
48 hrs
San Juan Bay Estuary Program San Juan Puerto Rico
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CSA ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
Table 7. completed
Site
Sample
Matrix
Total No.
Samples
Sample
Volume
(mL)
Sample
Container
Analyte/
Parameter
Preservation
Method
Max.
Holding
Time
Tributaries
Sediment
11
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
TOC
Ice to 4 C
28 days
Tributaries
Sediment
11
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Ammonia
Ice to 4 C
28 days
Tributaries
Sediment
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Total
Phosphorus
Ice to 4 C
28 days
Tributaries
Sediment
11
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Acids,
Base/Neutrals
Ice to 4 C
14 days
Tributaries
Sediment
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Pesticides,
PCB's
Ice to 4 C
14 days
Tributaries
Sediment
11
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
TIC
Ice to 4 C
28 days
Tributaries
Sediment
Calculation
Calc.
Calculation
Total Nitrogen
Calculation
Calculation
San Juan Bay Estuary Program San Juan Puerto Rico
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CSA ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
Table 8. Atmospheric deposition quality field sampling information.
Site
Sample
Matrix
Total No.
Samples
Sample
Volume
(mL)
Sample
Container
Analyte/
Parameter
Preservation
Method
Max.
Holding
Time
Precipitation
Stations
Water
12
In situ
In situ
pH
None
None
Precipitation
Stations
Water
12
In situ
In situ
Quantity
None
None
Precipitation
Stations
Water
14
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Calcium
HN03 pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
180 days
Precipitation
Stations
Water
14
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Magnesium
HN03 pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
180 days
Precipitation
Stations
Water
14
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Sodium
HN03 pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
180 days
Precipitation
Stations
Water
14
500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Potassium
HN03 pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
180 days
Precipitation
Stations
Water
14
1500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
TDS
Ice to 4 C
"7 days
Precipitation
Stations
Water
14
1500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Bicaibonate
Ice to 4 C
14 days
Precipitation
Stations
Water
14
1500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Sulfate
Ice to 4 C
28 days
Precipitation
Stations
Water
14
1500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Chloride
Ice to 4 C
28 days
Precipitation
Stations
Water
14
1500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Silica
Ice to 4 C
28 days
Precipitation
Stations
Water
14
1500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Nitrite
Ice to 4 C
24 hours
Precipitation
Stations
Water
14
1500
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Nitrate
Ice to 4 C
48 hours
Precipitation
Stations
Water
14
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Ammonia
H2S04 pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
28 days
Precipitation
Stations
Water
14
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
Total
Phosphorus
H2S04 pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
28 days
Precipitation
Stations
Water
14
1000
HDPE or
Amber Glass
TIC
H2S04 pH < 2, Ice
to 4 C
28 days
Precipitation
Stations
Water
Calculation
Calc.
Calculation
Total Nitrogen
Calculation
Calculation
San Juan Bay Estuary Program San Juan Puerto Rico
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CSA ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
6. FIELD SAMPLING PROCEDURES
Field sampling will be performed by CSA/Weston personnel based at CSA
Architects & Engineers offices, Mercantil Plaza Building, Mezzanine Suite, Hato
Rey, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918, Tel. (787) 754-6800. See Table 3 for a list of
personnel working on the project, their telephone numbers, and responsibilities.
There are a total of seven sampling stations, five of which are located at bridge
crossings over freshwater urban creeks draining into the SJBES (tributaries). The
other two are dedicated precipitation sampling stations. See Table 1 and Figure 1
for the location of all stations.
6.1 Tributary Sampling
Sampling at each of the five tributary sites (Stations 1 through 5, Table 1) will
include: (a) in situ determination of field parameters (pH, temperature, dissolved
oxygen, specific conductance, and salinity); (b) water sampling for laboratory
analyses; and, (c) sediment sampling for laboratory analyses. Parameters to be
determined are listed in Table 2, along with the total number of analyses to be
performed per matrix.
6.1.1 Water Quality Sampling
Both stormflows and baseflows will be targeted for sampling in tributaries.
Three (3) stormflow and three (3) baseflow sampling events will be
performed. A sampling event consists of sampling all five tributary stations
during the same hydrological event (storm or baseflow) and during the same
day. The order in which stations are sampled will be reversed for every
sampling event (e.g., the order of sampling might be Stations 1-2-3-4-5
during the first sampling event, and Stations 5-4-3-2-1 the next). In this way
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CSA ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
some "averaging" of conditions might be achieved as the same station could
be sampled at different stages of the hydrograph.
At each site, in situ determination of field parameters and water sampling for
laboratory analyses will be done concurrently. All samples and
measurements will be taken at the center of the channel width. The
sampling site will be located in the downstream side of each bridge and
clearly marked with a permanent marker on the side of the structure.
Stormflow sampling will occur when conditions are appropriate in the SJBES
basin. Storm conditions will be identified using near real-time meteorological
data from the National Weather Service, including Doppler radar (NEXRAD)
maps. A "storm" will be defined as a rainfall event of 7.6 mm (0.3 inches)
of rain or more (Mr. Eloy Colon, National Weather Service hydrologist,
personal communication). Baseflow conditions will be determined from
meteorological data and in the field. Because all sampling sites are close to
CSA/Weston offices (within 15 minutes by car), quick response to
appropriate meteorological conditions is possible. Field equipment and crew
will be ready at all times during the duration of the sampling activities.
Because of safety concerns, all sampling will be performed during daylight
hours only. Sampling activities are estimated to require nine (9) weeks: from
late March through May 1998.
6.1.1.1 Water Sampling for Laboratory Parameters
During each sampling event, one depth-integrated, grab water sample
will be collected per sampling station. The sample will be taken from
the center of the channel width with a clean, field-rinsed, USGS-type
Depth-integrating Sampler (Rickly Hydrological Company, Model US-
DH-76TM). The sampler will be lowered into the stream and raised at
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CSA ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
a constant rate to obtain a depth-integrated grab sample. All water
samples will be collected according to SOP as described in APHA
(1992). Samples will be transferred directly from the sampler to
sample bottles already labeled and containing appropriate preservatives
(see Table 6). Sample bottles will be provided by EQLab, Inc.
(analytical laboratories) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Sample bottles will
be cleaned and prepared according to SOP described in APHA (1992).
After sample collection, all sample bottles will be placed in an icebox,
cooled to 4°C, stored in the dark, and hand-delivered within six (6)
hours to EQLab, Inc., in San Juan, Puerto Rico. A Chain of Custody
Record will be prepared and will accompany the samples until they
reach EQLab (see Exhibit 1). The field sampling coordinator will retain
and archive a copy of the Chain of Custody Record.
6.1.1.2 In Situ Measurements
In situ determination of field parameters will be performed concurrently
with water sample collection at each sampling station. Field
parameters will be measured using a HYDROLAB Minisonde electronic
multimeter unit at mid-depth and at the center of the channel width.
Field parameters to be measured with the HYDROLAB unit are: pH
(units), Temperature (°C), Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L), Salinity (%o), and
Specific Conductance (/yS/cm). The HYDROLAB Minisonde will be
allowed to equilibrate before any readings are taken. All
measurements and observations will be recorded on a waterproof field
notebook previously prepared with appropriate tables to hold the data
(see Exhibit 2).
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CSA ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
All field instruments will be cleaned and calibrated following
procedures described in their respective user's manual. Calibration of
all instruments will be done routinely before each sampling event and
appropriately recorded in the maintenance and calibration log.
All field equipment and apparatus will be cleaned and maintained according
to manufacturer's recommendations. Standard cleaning procedures include
decontamination with a phosphate-free detergent and rinsing at least ten (10)
times with tap water and three (3) times with deionized water. All
equipment will be cleaned between use at different sampling sites to prevent
cross-contamination. A log of cleaning and maintenance procedures will be
maintained.
6.1.2 Sediment Quality Sampling
A single sediment sample will be collected at each tributary sampling station
(Stations 1 through 5, Table 1) following water sampling. Sediment samples
will be collected only during the first two (2) baseflow sampling events; that
is, a total of ten (10) sediment samples will be collected, two per station.
Sediment samples will be collected using a stainless steel Ekman dredge
(Forestry Suppliers No. 77933 type). Samples will be taken from the bottom
of each stream at the center of the channel width. Because all sampling will
be done in shallow water, the dredge will be lowered into the stream bottom
using a 5-foot aluminum handle. The dredge will be lowered exactly 6 cm
into the bottom sediment before closing the dredge. The dredge will then be
closed and removed from the stream. The top 2 cm of sediment will be
taken through the upper doors of the dredge without disturbing the rest of
the sediment.
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CSA ARCHITECTS &. ENGINEERS
Each sediment sample will be transferred directly from the sampler to a clean
glass dish, using a clean stainless steel spatula. Samples will be
homogenized (mixed with the spatula for one (1) minute) and transferred
with the spatula to the appropriate sample container for delivery to the
laboratory. See Table 7 for details on sample amount, sample container, and
preservation method. Samples will be stored in an icebox, in the dark, and
refrigerated to 4°C. All sample containers will be appropriately labeled and
accompanied by a Chain of Custody Record. Samples will be hand-delivered
within six (6) hours to EQLab in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
All field equipment and apparatus will be cleaned and maintained according
to manufacturer's recommendations. Standard cleaning procedures include
decontamination with a phosphate-free detergent and rinsing at least ten (10)
times with tap water and three (3) times with deionized water. All
equipment will be cleaned between use at different sampling sites to prevent
cross-contamination. A log of cleaning and maintenance procedures will be
maintained.
6.2 Atmospheric Deposition Sampling
Two precipitation sampling stations will be installed at the two locations described
in Table 1 (Stations 6 and 7). Station 6 is located in the middle of the San Juan
Bay Estuarine System (next to Cano Martin Pena; see Figure 1) and Station 7 is
located at the headwaters of the SJBES basin (Cupey; see Figure 1). These
locations are representative of coastal and upland conditions found in the SJBES
basin. Each station will include a National Weather Service-approved rain gage
(Productive Alternatives, Inc., Fergus Falls, MN) to measure daily precipitation, and
two clean plastic collectors to obtain dry and wet deposition samples. Plastic
collectors are 5-gallon, cylindrical buckets. Installation and operation of
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27
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CSA ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
precipitation stations will follow standard guidelines for such stations (WMO 1996).
Daily precipitation amount will be recorded manually at each of the two stations
throughout the duration of field sampling activities.
Plastic collectors will be cleaned at least once per week and after each sample
collection. Collectors will be cleaned following SOP described in APHA (1992). A
log of cleaning and maintenance procedures will be maintained.
6.2.1 Wet Deposition Sampling
Wet deposition samples will be obtained three times at each precipitation
sampling station (three wet deposition sampling events per station). A
3,000 mL sample will be collected from the plastic collectors directly into
sample bottles provided by EQLab. Only storms equal to 25 mm of daily
precipitation or greater will be sampled. Stations will be sampled as
frequently as the required magnitude storms occur until the three samples are
obtained. Samples will be collected and preserved according to
specifications presented in Table 8. Sample bottles will be appropriately
labeled, put in an icebox, cooled to 4°C, and stored in the dark until delivery
to EQLab in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Samples will be delivered to the lab on
the same day they are collected. A Chain of Custody Record (Exhibit 1) will
accompany the samples at all times and until acceptance by EQLab.
6.2.2 Dry Deposition Sampling
Three dry deposition samples will be collected per precipitation sampling
station (three dry deposition sampling events per station). Dry deposition
samples will be obtained by exposing the two cleaned plastic collectors to
the atmosphere for a rainless period of 72 consecutive hours. Samples will
be collected by thoroughly rinsing the two collectors with deionized water
(ultrapure grade) until a final volume of 3,000 mL is obtained. Sampling will
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CSA ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
take place as frequently as the specified conditions occur. Samples will be
collected and preserved according to specifications presented in Table 8.
Sample bottles will be appropriately labeled, put in an icebox, cooled to 4°C,
and stored in the dark until delivery to EQLab in San Juan, Puerto Rico. A
Chain of Custody Record will accompany the samples at all times and until
acceptance by EQLab.
The field sampling activities of the Pollutants Loading Study of SJBES will include
collection of field QC samples as follows:
• Field Duplicates will be collected on 5% of all water samples (1 in every
20), and on 5% of all sediment samples (1 in every 20).
• One (1) Field Blank will be collected per sampling event (for VOC's).
• One (1) Trip Blank will be collected per trip from the laboratory to the field
and back to the laboratory (for VOC's).
• Three (3) Equipment Rinsate Blanks will be collected (one from each of
the samplers for the entire study). One rinsate blank will be collected
from water sampling equipment; one from sediment sampling equipment;
and, one from precipitation sampling equipment.
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CSA ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
7. SAMPLE CUSTODY
Proper identification and control of samples will be part of the sample custody
procedures. A chain of custody procedure will be implemented with the purpose of
creating a written record as evidence of the possession of water or sediment
samples from the moment of its collection through its delivery to the laboratory.
The chain of custody procedures will include the following:
• Each sample will be identified with a label with the sample number, station
number and name (as in Table 1), collector's name, type of sample, source of
sample, date and time of collection, preservative, and analyses required.
• All sample bottles/containers will be transported in a clean cooler filled with ice
and hand-delivered to the laboratory. Samples will be delivered to the lab the
same day they are collected in the field (always within 6 hours of collection).
The address of the analytical laboratory is:
EQLab, Inc.
1399 Calle Feria, Santurce
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00910
Tel. (787) 725-5333
• Each set of sample bottles/containers will be accompanied by a Uhain ot
Custody Record (one per sampling event) which includes the name of the study,
name of collector(s), station number, sample number, date and time of
collection, type of sample, source, type of container, analyses required for each
sample bottle, signature of every person in custody of the samples from
collection to delivery to the lab, the date and time when the samples were
relinquished by each person, and general comments. When turning over the
possession of samples, the transferor and transferee will sign, date, and note
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CSA ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
the time on the sheet. See Exhibit 1 for a sample Chain of Custody Record
form.
® A copy of each Chain of Custody Record will be retained by the field sampling
coordinator after surrendering the samples to a representative of EQLab, Inc.
(analytical laboratory).
• EQLab will archive all samples until their maximum holding time, in case an
analysis must be rerun.
• A copy of the Chain of Custody Record will be returned by EQLab with the
results of each set of analyses.
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CSA ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
8. ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES
Tables 9 and 10 present the details of the analytical methods to be used by EQLab
on water and sediment samples, respectively. All laboratory methods are USEPA-
approved methods; they are appropriately referenced in these tables. Quality
standards or action levels are also given in Tables 9 and 10. Note that only in the
case of beryllium the water quality standard or action level has been set below the
detection limit of the most sensitive practicable method (Eng. Jose Fuentes, PE,
personal communication).
See Attachment 2 (EQLab Quality Assurance Manual, Sections 6 and 7) for
additional information on QA/QC protocols and SOP's, including treatment of
outliers. See Attachment 2 (Section 7.3) for an account on how accuracy and
precision were estimated.
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AVAILABLE
DIGITALLY
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CSA ARCHITECTS S ENGINEERS
9. DATA QUALITY OBJECTIVES
Field data collection for the Pollutants Loading Study is not intended as a
monitoring program. The required field data is intended to supplement the targe
database assembled for the SJBES BASINS model. Data collected under the field
sampling activities of this project should be precise, accurate, representative,
complete, and comparable to data obtained from similar studies. Sampling and
analytical methods for this field sampling effort have been chosen to achieve these
data quality objectives, consistent with technical and financial limitations. Section
8 of this document describes in detail the precision, accuracy, and sensitivity
expected of the analytical methods to be used in this project. The sampling
methods to be used should not affect the precision, accuracy, and sensitivity of the
analytical methods selected.
To insure data of the desired quality, most sampling and analytical methods
selected for this project are standard methods approved by the USEPA c: APHA,
and routinely used in comparable studies (Kennedy et al. 1996; USEPA 1983;
APHA 1992). The methods selected for this sampling effort (described in Sections
5 through 8) should provide data of similar quality to those data obtained in
previous studies of the SJBES basin and compiled in the BASINS database created
for this study.
9.1 Representativeness
The field sampling effort of the Pollutants Loading Study is intended to
provide information on the quality of stormflows, baseflows, sediments, and
precipitation in the SJBES. Tributary data to be obtained will be
representative of system conditions because:
• samples will be taken always from exactly the same locations;
• depth-integrated samples will be taken instead of a single grab sample;
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CSA ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
• samples will be collected from the middle of the channel, thus avoiding
potential special conditions of the riparian zones that may not be
representative of flows entering the SJBES;
• stormflow and baseflow conditions will be sampled separately;
• approved standard methods for sampling and analyses will be used.
Representativeness of atmospheric deposition data will be achieved by
establishing two sampling stations: one at the headwaters and one in the
middle of the SJBES. The same sample collection methods will be used at
the two stations (see Section 6.2 and references for SOP).
9.2 Comparability
Comparability of results with other similar studies will be achieved by strictly
following SOP described in Standard Methods, T8th Edition (APHA 1992),
and by using standard analytical methods (USEPA 1983; 40 CFR 136; APHA
1992) that have been used in similar studies. Methodology for each analysis
will remain the same throughout the study and as detailed elsewhere in this
document. All data will be expressed in standard units. Concentrations will
also be expressed in mEq/L if appropriate.
9.3 Completeness
Completeness will be measured as percentage of total samples collected that
were completely analyzed. Because excess material will be collected at each
station during each sampling, we anticipate achieving 100 percent
completeness. Any loss of samples will be clearly identified in the Chain of
Custody Record. To guarantee a full set of data, if completeness is less than
100 percent for any sampling event, the sampling will be repeated.
CSA/Weston has assigned a full team of scientists and engineers to carry out
the sampling activities as described and within the proposed schedule.
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CSA/Weston has all the resources and support personnel needed to
guarantee 100 percent completeness and achievement of all data quality
goals, as described.
10. PEER REVIEW
The results of the Point and Nonpoint Source Pollutants Loading Study of the San
Juan Bay Estuarine System, including field sampling data, will be subject to
thorough peer review by the Technical Advisory Committee of the San Juan Bay
Estuary Program (SJBEP). The Committee is formed by scientists and engineers
from the private sector and government agencies; it has primary responsibility in
reviewing technical reports and making technical recommendations regarding
actions taken by the SJBEP. The Committee will review the Draft Report of the
Pollutants Loading Study and make recommendations for the preparation of the
Final Report. In addition, the Committee will review the Final Report before any
recommendations contained therein are implemented.
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11. CALIBRATION PROCEDURES/PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
Several different pieces of equipment will be used in the collection of samples and
data as part of this field sampling effort. The necessary equipment will include two
National Weather Service-approved, plastic, manual, rain gages; four 5-gallon,
plastic, rain water collectors; a stainless steel Ekman dredge (sediment sampler); an
epoxy-coated, depth-integrating water sampler (USGS-type, Model US-DH-76TM); a
HYDROLAB Minisonde multimeter unit; and general labware, containers, and field
gear.
All field equipment and apparatus selected for this project are: (1) in the actual
possession of CSA/Weston; (2) appropriate for the sampling activities planned; and
(3) used and maintained on a routine basis. At all times there will be backup
equipment for all measurements taken in the field. All sample bottles/containers
will be prepared and provided by EQLab, Inc., San Juan, Puerto Rico, according to
SOP (APHA 1992). The sample bottles/containers will be provided to CSA/Weston
with appropriate labels and preservatives.
All pieces of equipment will be calibrated according to the manufacturer's
recommendations (as described in the user manuals).' For the duration of the
project, all equipment will be inspected weekly as a routine to insure its proper
operation. All calibration and maintenance procedures will be documented and
annotated in the "Cleaning, Maintenance, and Calibration Log" (on the field
notebook). Copies of all logs and field notebooks will be filed under the work order
number assigned to the project and will be available for inspection by any person
duly authorized by the San Juan Bay Estuary Program or the USEPA.
All laboratory equipment to be used in the analysis of water and sediment samples
is dedicated equipment routinely used for the intended analyses, as specified by the
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CSA ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
applicable USEPA-approved methods. All laboratory equipment and apparatus are
maintained according to manufacturer's specifications and are subject to a • strict
maintenance and calibration schedule. See Attachment 2 (EQLab Quality
Assurance Manual, Section 5) for information on laboratory equipment calibration
and maintenance SOP's.
12. ASSESSMENTS
The Pollutants Loading Study of the San Juan Bay Estuarine System will undergo
periodic assessments from all the members of the team (management and
technical). Field sampling and data collection activities will be subject to the regular
monthly project assessments applied to any CSA/Weston project. QA/QC
assessments are a standard discussion item in monthly project review meetings.
The Project Manager and Assistant Project Manager (see Table 3) will be
responsible for the correct implementation of all sampling SOP and methods, as
described in this Quality Assurance Project Plan. The Manager for Laboratory
Services will be responsible of the application of the appropriate analytical methods,
as described in this document. The Project Manager and the Field Sampling and
Data Collection Coordinator will meet weekly to discuss any sampling activities of
the previous week, problems encountered, and proposed solutions. They will also
assess the quality of the sampling effort to insure that the data quality objectives
are achieved. |n addition:
• The Project Manager has responsibility for all aspects of project performance,
quality, final data quality, and timeliness of performance. The Project Manager
is the Quality Assurance Officer and has full authority to audit any aspect of the
project at any time and to implement corrective actions as soon as deficiencies
are detected. With regard to the modeling tasks of the project, the Project
Manager shares responsibility for performance and final data quality with the
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Director of the Modeling Effort (Table 3; see also the QAPP for the modeling
tasks, submitted separately).
• The Project Manager will conduct monthly audits of the project. Both systems
and performance audits will be conducted. In addition, random audits may be
conducted for any part of the project and may take place at any stage of the
process. The final report will contain a description of these activities.
• Any deficiencies and corrective actions taken will be informed in writing by the
Project Manager to the SJBEP Office.
• Field sampling activities will be managed by the Field Sampling and Data
Collection Coordinator, under the supervision of the Project Manager.
• In addition to the audits conducted by the Project Manager, the SJBEP Office
may perform such audits at any time they determine it is necessary.
Recommendations deriving from such audits will be strictly followed by the
Project Manager.
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13. DATA REVIEW, VALIDATION, AND USABILITY
Data collection and validation procedures have been designed in a manner thai all
errors will be minimized. All personnel involved in the project will be aware of all
data collection and processing procedures, and will be familiar with all the QA/QC
Program specifications. This knowledge should aid in the prevention and easy
detection of faulty data. At any time the integrity of the data is questioned, the
cause of faultiness will be identified and corrected. A log will be prepared of all
errors that have been detected as part of the program. The log will also include the
measure that was taken to correct the error, suggestions on how to avoid the same
error in the future and the name of the person making the entry on the log.
Additionally, all data audits will be documented along with any recommendations
resulting from it. The Project Manager will be responsible for implementing the
corrective action, and the result will be made available to all personnel involved in
the project.
The first step of the data review and validation process will be conducted by the
person that collected the data. This individual will check for clarity of handwriting,
errors in transcriptions, and values that are thought to be unrealistic due to lack of
calibration of the equipment, or because it was determined after sampling that the
samples collected were not representative.
After this initial validation, another person of the team (Table 3) will check all the
data for errors in transcription and data handling. This person will check for the
integrity of the data as well as the procedures that were used to collect it. If any
piece of data does not meet this integrity check it will be crossed out and a detailed
explanation will be written as a footnote describing the reason why the datum is
thought to be faulty. These data will not be used in the model. The situations that
caused any previous data to be faulty will be avoided on the next sampling event.
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Data that pass all quality checks will be tabulated using a Microsoft Excel
spreadsheet and incorporated directly into the BASINS database for the SJBES
basin. No calculations will be performed on the raw data. The model uses raw
data, appropriately referenced as to sampling location, date and time of sampling,
sampling and analytical method used, etc., to perform the simulation of pollutant
behavior. Data from QC samples, except data from field duplicates, will not be
used in modeling.
See Attachment 3 for EQLab's Corrective Action Plans for Performance Evaluation
Studies WP 037 and WP 038.
14. DOCUMENTATION
It is understood that the data generated from this project may be used by the
SJBEP long after the project is complete. Therefore, all data collected and
generated will be included, both in paper and electronic (diskette) formats, in the
final report issued to the SJBEP. In addition, diskettes containing the BASINS
codes, the complete data sets used in the modeling, the input files, and the output
files will be provided to SJBEP. CSA/Weston will issue all reports and data
products.
All field data will be collected using table formats on waterproof, bound, notebooks
with numbered pages. Table headings will be self-descriptive so that anyone
reading the data may understand it. The collector's information and the conditions
in the field will be provided on the top of each page. All tables will include a
column for recording any noteworthy observations in addition to the data being
collected. Exhibit 1 shows the Chain of Custody Record that will be used to track
and document field samples. Exhibit 2 shows the data log formats that will be
used for field data gathering (in situ parameters). Laboratory data reports will
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contain all results, including all QC sample results; all results will be expressed in
standard units. Concentrations will also be expressed in mEq/L, if appropriate.
Data will be reported to the SJBEP in raw format and after processing. Raw data
will be provided as copies from the field book and laboratory reports, and after
tabulation in a computer program (Microsoft Excel spreadsheet). Any calculations
will be made using Excel. On the top of the spreadsheet and in the report, all
equations used will be listed, each term will be described, units used will be listed,
and all assumptions included in the calculations will be described. All calculations
and data transcriptions will be conducted independently by two members of the
team and then they will be compared. If there is any discrepancy, all the data and
calculations will be evaluated to determine the reason for the difference. Once
found it will be corrected and checked again. The checked results will be reported
as the correct ones. Results will be submitted on paper and electronic (diskette)
formats.
Data gathered for this project will be included in the BASINS database created for
the SJBES basin. Model construction, calibration, and validation procedures will be
thoroughly described and documented in the draft and final reports to the SJBEP.
Results of the modeling effort will be provided, both in hardcopy and electronic
formats, with the final report.
At the completion of the project a final report will be submitted to the SJBEP
Office. The final report is expected to be delivered in July 1998. This report will
include all the results obtained, and all raw data shall be included in the form of an
appendix. This report will be reviewed internally by at least two different
individuals before it is submitted. In addition to the final report, the SJBEP will
receive monthly progress reports listing the significant achievements of the month,
problems encountered during that month and the measures taken to correct them,
and the activities planned for the following month. All field sampling activities will
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CSA ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS
be discussed in detail both in the final report and in corresponding monthly reports.
An interim report on the project may be issued to the SJBEP at their request.
Copies of all reports, field books, and data files will be archived by CSA/Weston for
at least five years after completion of the project.
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15. REFERENCES
APHA (American Public Health Association). 1992. Standard Methods for the
Examination of Water and Wastewater, 18th Edition. American Public Health
Association, Washington, DC.
JCA (Junta de Calidad Ambiental). 1990. Reglamento de Estandares de Caiidad de
Agua de Puerto Rico. Junta de Calidad Ambiental, Oficina del Gobernador del
Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico. San Juan de Puerto Rico. 112 pp.
Kennedy, R.H., J.J. Hains, W.A. Boyd et a/. 1996. San Juan Bay and Estuary
Study: Water Quality Data Collection. Miscellaneous Paper EL-96-9. US Army
Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS.
SW-846. Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste: Physical/Chemical Methods,
3rd Edition. EPASW-846.3.2B. US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington,
DC.
USEPA (US Environmental Protection Agency). 1983. Methods for Chemical
Analyses of Water and Wastes. EPA-600/4-79-020. USEPA, Washington, DC.
USEPA (US Environmental Protection Agency). 1996. Better Assessment Science
Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources (BASINS) Version 1.0 User's Manual. EPA-
823-R-96-001. Office of Water, USEPA, Washington, DC.
USEPA (US Environmental Protection Agency). 1997. The Incidence and Severity
of Sediment Contamination in Surface Waters of the United States, Vol. 1. National
Sediment Quality Survey. EPA-823-R-97-006. Office of Science and Technology,
USEPA, Washington, DC.
Webb, R., and F. Gomez-Gomez. 1998. Synoptic Survey of Water Quality and
Bottom Sediments, San Juan Bay Estuary System, Puerto Rico, December 1994-
July 1995. US Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 97-4144.
US Geological Survey, San Juan, Puerto Rico. 70 pp.
WMO (World Meteorological Organization). 1996. Guide to Meteorological
Instruments and Methods of Observation, 6th Edition. WMO Publication No. 8.
World Meteorological Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
40 CFR 136. Code of Federal Regulations (01 July 1991), Title 40 (Protection of
the Environment), Part 136 (Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the
Analysis of Pollutants). US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.
San Juan Bay Estuary Program San Juan Puerto Rico
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1. Ex**pie, c ^cor
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Exhibit 2. Field data collection log formats
n
co
>
In Situ Measurements
Name of Data Collector: Date:
Type of Sampling: Stormflow Start Time:
Baseflow Finish Time:
General Climatic Conditions:
Sampling Station
Name and Number
Time
Channel
Width
Depth at
Center of
Channel
Readings
taken at
(depth)
DO
(mg/L)
Temp.
(°C)
PH
(units)
Specific
Conductance
(|iS/cm)
Salinity
(%o)
Comments:
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Exhibit 2. continued
Water/Sediment Sampling Log
~
cn
>
>
3J
Name of Data Collector: Date:
Type of Sampling: Stormflow Start Time:
Baseflow Finish Time:
General Climatic Conditions:
Sampling Station
Name and Number
Channel
Width
Depth at
Center of
Channel
Sample ID
Number
Type of
Sample*
Time
Collected
Total Volume of
Sample (L)
Observations
* W = stream water, WD = wet deposition, DD = dry deposition, SD = sediment, FD = field duplicate, FB = field blank, TB = trip blank,
RB ^equipment rinsate blank
Comments:
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Exhibit 2. completed
Precipitation Measurements
Sampling Site Name:
Sampling Site Numbe
Site Location:
r:
FROM
UNTIL
PRECIPITATION
(mm)
COMMENTS:
Date
Time
Date
Time
n
CD
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>
a
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i
H
m
~
H
CD
0J
m
z
~
z
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CD
San Juan Bay Estuary Program San Juan Puerto Rico
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