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Discharge Monitoring Report-Quality Assurance Study Program
CWA Topics
- National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
- Pretreatment of Wastewater
- Biosolids
- Oil Spill Prevention
- Industrial Storm Water
- Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations
- Municipal Storm Water
- Wetlands
- Wastewater Trading Program
- Discharge Monitoring Report - Quality Assurance
- About DMR-QA Study Program
- Current Study
- Changes to the Program in 2012
- Contacts
- Common DMR-QA Study Questions
- Useful Links
About Discharge Monitoring Report-Quality Assurance Study Program
Major and selected minor permittees under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program are required to participate in the annual Discharge Monitoring Report–Quality Assurance (DMR-QA) study program. DMR-QA evaluates the analytical ability of the laboratories that routinely perform self-monitoring analyses required by their NPDES permit.
If you are required to participate in DMR-QA, you must report results for the analytes listed in your permit provided that they also are included in the DMR-QA study analyte list. Not all of the analytes listed on your NPDES permit may be included in an individual DMR-QA study. You may voluntarily report additional study analytes that are not listed in your permit.
Current Study
Study 32, mailed in Feburary 2012, includes chemistry, microbiology and Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) tests.
- Study (PDF) (20 pp., 1.2MB, Interactive, About PDF)
All proficiency test samples are supplied by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) proficiency testing providers.
You must acknowledge receipt of the study package by submitting verification of your address via e-mail or postal mail to your state DMR-QA coordinator. Carefully follow the instructions and format for an e-mail response or use the included form to send a written verification. Use only one option to submit your response.
Changes to the Program in 2012
EPA approves certain state laboratory certification programs to be used as either a full or a partial substitute for DMR-QA. Check with your state or regional coordinator if you have questions about your state's exemption status.
As of January 1, 2012, states exempt from DMR-QA by an EPA-approved full waiver include:
- California
- Kansas
- New Jersey
- Nevada
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- West Virginia
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
As of January 1, 2012, states partially exempt from DMR-QA by an EPA-approved partial waiver include:
- Louisiana—permittees that utilize only commercial laboratories are exempt
- Oklahoma—NPDES permittees that currently participate in Oklahoma’s laboratory accreditation program are exempt
Contacts
For general questions about the DMR-QA program or questions about a particular study, contact your state or regional DMR-QA Coordinator.
For more information on the national DMR-QA program, contact:
Brian Krausz, Coordinator
U.S. EPA, Water Branch
(202) 564-3069
krausz.brian@epa.gov
Useful Links
- Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Methods
- National Pollution Discharge Elimination System
- A2LA
NELAC Proficiency Testing Provider Procedural Manual (PDF) (24
pp, 167K, About PDF)
- EPA Small Business Resources Information Sheet (PDF), October 2007 (2 pp, 41K)