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Discharge Monitoring Report-Quality Assurance Study Program Common Questions

CWA Topics

This page provides answers to common questions on the Discharge Monitoring Report-Quality Assurance Study Program

  1. Who is required to participate in the DMR-QA study?
  2. What should I do if I do not receive a study package?
  3. Why did I not receive a study package?
  4. Where do I send my QA testing results?
  5. Where do I send my completed DMR-QA report forms?
  6. Where do I send my Address Verification Forms (AVFs)?
  7. What happens if I do not submit my study results?
  8. What is to be done in the case that a lab misses the analysis deadline?
  9. What are unacceptable results?
  10. What do I do if my results are unacceptable?
  11. What time period does the DMR-QA study cover?
  12. We did not have any discharges in the past year.   Do we still need to participate in DMR-QA? 
  13. What should I do if my NPDES permit is no longer valid?
  14. Where do I get a lab code? 

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1. Who is required to participate in the DMR-QA study?

A: All major dischargers as well as a few minor dischargers, selected at the state’s discretion, are required to participate. A major discharger is defined as a facility that discharges at least one million gallon per day or serve a population great than 10,000. If you have questions as to whether you need to participate in the DMR-QA Study 29, please contact your state DMR-QA coordinator.

2. What should I do if I do not receive a study package?

A: Notify your regional/state DMR-QA coordinator to verify your participation in the study. If necessary, provide them with updated contact information. If you are required to participate, you may:

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3. Why did I not receive a study package?

A. There are a number of reasons for the failure to receive an announcement such as:

4. Where do I send my QA testing results?

A: The data from any analyses or tests conducted should be sent to the provider who supplied the test samples. Exit EPA Disclaimer

5. Where do I send my completed DMR-QA report forms?

A: Data Report and Laboratory Performance Evaluation forms, which are sent to permittees from the provider after analysis of their test data, are to be sent to your state or regional DMR-QA coordinator.

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6. Where do I send my Address Verification Form?

A: Mail your Address Verification Form to your state DMR-QA coordinator. Email is preferred, but you may send the Address Verification Form by regular mail, if you wish. Please do not send both.

7. What happens if I do not submit my study results?

A: Participation in this program, including proper analyses, reporting, and record retention is mandatory based on the authority of §308(a) of the Clean Water Act.  EPA is authorized to require this information under Section 308 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1318, in order to carry out its responsibilities for protecting our nation’s water from pollution.  This information is enforceable under 33 U.S.C. § 1319.  The information submitted to  may be effluent data and if so, it would not be entitled to confidential treatment in accordance with Agency confidential business information (CBI) regulations at 40 CFR 2.302(f).

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8. What is to be done in the case that a lab misses the analysis deadline?

A: It is the responsibility of the permit holder to ensure all required analyses are completed by the deadline. If a permittee does not submit analysis of one of the parameters, as a result of the lab missing the deadline, the state will take corrective action. Typically, the state requires the permittee perform the missed analysis the next available time that it is offered by the PT provider. Exit EPA Disclaimer If the original provider does not offer a make-up within a reasonable time (i.e., 90 days), another provider should be selected and the analysis performed. Make-ups are commonly used for missed parameters. Not performing because of a delay at the lab still counts as not fully participating in the study, but the successful completion of the corrective action make-up would be an acceptable solution. 

9. What are unacceptable results?

A: There are various reasons for receiving a grade of unacceptable. These may include, but are not limited to:

10. What do I do if my results are unacceptable?

A: Contact your state or regional DMR-QA coordinator as soon as possible to determine the corrective actions you must take.

11. What time period does the DMR-QA study cover?

A: The DMR-QA study covers the entire calendar year, i.e. Study 29 covers the period January 1 – December 31, 2009.

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12. We did not have any discharges in the past year. Do we still need to participate in DMR-QA?

A: Typically, you do not need to participate in the current study, if you did not have any discharge in the past year. However, your state may still require you to participate in the study. Please contact your state DMR-QA coordinator to verify what you should do.

13. What should I do if my NPDES permit is no longer valid?

A: Please contact your state DMR-QA coordinator to inform them of the circumstances.

14. Where do I get a lab code?

A: Each laboratory must use the U.S. EPA-assigned Laboratory Code on all reported results.; If you are not sure of your U.S. EPA Lab code, check your previous DMR-QA reports. If you need a new U.S. EPA Lab code or need to check on your old U.S. EPA Lab code call, Fax or write as soon as you determine you need a number to:

Mr. Charles Feldmann
U.S. EPA
26 W. Martin Luther King Drive, M/S 140
Cincinnati, OH 45268
Tel: (513) 569-7671
Fax: (513) 569-7191

Please submit requests for lab codes at least one week before the study due date to allow time for response.

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