INSTRUMENT CALIBRATION Section 3 Status & Trend Networks Sampling Manual

Transcription

1 INSTRUMENT CALIBRATION Section 3 Status & Trend Networks Sampling Manual

2 Initial Calibration (IC): DEFINITIONS (page 15 of Sampling Manual) The instrument or meter electronics are adjusted to a theoretical value or a known value of a calibration standard. Initial Calibration Verification (ICV): The instrument or meter calibration is checked, directly following the initial calibration, by measuring a calibration standard of known value as if it were a sample. The measured result is compared to the calibration acceptance criteria.

3 DEFINITIONS Continuing Calibration Verification (CCV): The instrument or meter calibration is checked or verified by measuring a calibration standard of known value as if it were a sample. The measured result is compared to the calibration acceptance criteria. Acceptance Criteria: The numerical limits within which calibration verifications are acceptable.

4 Bracketing Requirements All field data must be bracketed by passing calibration or verification data. Chronologically Need verification before collecting field data AND verification after collecting field data. Quantitatively Standards used for calibration / verification must encompass range of values observed in field.

5 Specific Conductance Example Bracket samples by standard range and time! 7:30 Calibrate (1000 umhos/cm) 7:35 ICV (100 umhos/cm) 10:00 Sample Collection (1500 umhos/cm) 15:30 End of Day CCV (5000 umhos/cm)

6 Documentation Calibration log required for all calibrations and verifications Meter ID Date / Time of each calibration or verification Info. about standards Instrument reading Result (Pass / Fail) Name of person performing each activity

7 Standards Do not use expired standards unless they have been previously verified against other (non-expired) standards. Documentation must be maintained for all verification events. (List verification date & person performing verification). If using electronic (SharePoint) logs for standards, do not overwrite information about previous verification events. Do not reuse standards.

8 Parameter Number of Decimal Places To Record Calibration / Verification Frequency Acceptance Criteria ph All Displayed Daily IC, ICV, CCV ± 0.2 SU Specific Conductance All Displayed Daily IC, ICV, CCV ± 5% Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l) All Displayed Daily IC, ICV, CCV ± 0.3 mg/l Dissolved Oxygen (% Sat.) All Displayed N/A N/A Temperature All Displayed Quarterly CCV ± 0.5 C Turbidity All Displayed Daily CCV; Quarterly IC, ICV, secondary standard verification; NTU: ± 10%; NTU: ± 8%; NTU: ± 6.5%; > 100 NTU: ± 5% Depth Cal. / Ver.: 2 for electronic devices; 1 for manual devices Field Meas.: 2 if total depth < 0.6 m; 1 if total depth 0.6 m Daily: IC, ICV for Sondes. Quarterly: Verify Sondes & Electronic Devices. Every 6 months: Inspect Manual Devices. ICV: ± 5% or ± 0.05 m, whichever is greater; Electronic Device Check: ± 10%; Line Increments: ± 10%; Total Length of Lines: ± 5%;

9 Daily Calibration Procedures: Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Specific Conductance, and ph Required: Initial Calibration (IC) at beginning of day. Required: Initial Calibration Verification (ICV) immediately following IC. Required: Continuing Calibration Verification (CCV) at end of day. Recommended: Mid-day CCV at sample site. Mid-day CCV required if end of day CCVs routinely fail. Recommended: Calibration in the field

10 ph Perform 3-pt calibration if meter is capable. Always start with ph 7 buffer Rinse well with DI and buffer before each calibration point or reading. Use different buffers for ICV & CCV. Select buffers to bracket values measured in the field. May need buffers <4.0 or >10.0. Check ph millivolts at least weekly (daily check recommended) ph mv acceptable ranges: ph 4.0 = +180 ± 50; ph 7.0 = 0 ± 50; ph 10.0 = -180 ± 50

11 SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE Always use Potassium Chloride (KCl) standards. Rinse well with DI and standard before each calibration point or reading. Use different standards for ICV & CCV. Select standards to bracket values measured in the field. If observed field values are all lower than 100 µmhos/cm, use the 100 µmhos/cm standard for CCV. You do not need to use standards lower than this value.

12 Examples If all field meas. < 100 umhos/cm: If field meas. have wide range. Some > 1000 umhos/cm and some < 100 umhos/cm:

13 DISSOLVED OXYGEN Inspect probe & membrane daily Calibrate with water-saturated air or air-saturated water Temperature sensitive Use room temperature water Allow meter to warm up and stabilize before calibrating Compare to Solubility of Oxygen in Water Table (Table 5) Check DO gain and charge at least weekly DO charge acceptable range = 25 to 75 DO gain acceptable range = +0.7 to +1.4 ODO gain acceptable range = to TEMP D.O. TEMP D.O. TEMP D.O. TEMP D.O. TEMP D.O. deg C mg/l deg C mg/l deg C mg/l deg C mg/l deg C mg/l

14 Parameter Number of Decimal Places To Record Calibration / Verification Frequency Acceptance Criteria ph All Displayed Daily IC, ICV, CCV ± 0.2 SU Specific Conductance All Displayed Daily IC, ICV, CCV ± 5% Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l) All Displayed Daily IC, ICV, CCV ± 0.3 mg/l Dissolved Oxygen (% Sat.) All Displayed N/A N/A Temperature All Displayed Quarterly CCV ± 0.5 C Turbidity All Displayed Daily CCV; Quarterly IC, ICV, secondary standard verification; NTU: ± 10%; NTU: ± 8%; NTU: ± 6.5%; > 100 NTU: ± 5% Depth Cal. / Ver.: 2 for electronic devices; 1 for manual devices Field Meas.: 2 if total depth < 0.6 m; 1 if total depth 0.6 m Daily: IC, ICV for Sondes. Quarterly: Verify Sondes & Electronic Devices. Every 6 months: Inspect Manual Devices. ICV: ± 5% or ± 0.05 m, whichever is greater; Electronic Device Check: ± 10%; Line Increments: ± 10%; Total Length of Lines: ± 5%;

15 Temperature Required: quarterly CCV. Compare meter reading to NIST traceable thermometer reading. Perform verification at 2 different temperatures (e.g. ice bath & warm water bath)

16 Parameter Number of Decimal Places To Record Calibration / Verification Frequency Acceptance Criteria ph All Displayed Daily IC, ICV, CCV ± 0.2 SU Specific Conductance All Displayed Daily IC, ICV, CCV ± 5% Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l) All Displayed Daily IC, ICV, CCV ± 0.3 mg/l Dissolved Oxygen (% Sat.) All Displayed N/A N/A Temperature All Displayed Quarterly CCV ± 0.5 C Turbidity All Displayed Daily CCV; Quarterly IC, ICV, secondary standard verification; NTU: ± 10%; NTU: ± 8%; NTU: ± 6.5%; > 100 NTU: ± 5% Depth Cal. / Ver.: 2 for electronic devices; 1 for manual devices Field Meas.: 2 if total depth < 0.6 m; 1 if total depth 0.6 m Daily: IC, ICV for Sondes. Quarterly: Verify Sondes & Electronic Devices. Every 6 months: Inspect Manual Devices. ICV: ± 5% or ± 0.05 m, whichever is greater; Electronic Device Check: ± 10%; Line Increments: ± 10%; Total Length of Lines: ± 5%;

17 Turbidity (GW Projects Only) Required: Quarterly IC using at least 2 primary formazin standards. Required: ICV immediately following IC using at least 1 primary formazin standard. Required (if using secondary standards): Immediately following ICV, verify all secondary gel standards. Reassign current reading as the standard s value. Required: Daily CCV using at least 1 secondary gel standard or factory-sealed primary formazin standard. Do not use turbidity-free water or <0.1 NTU standard for ICVs or CCVs.

18 Turbidity Calibration Log

19 Turbidity (GW Projects Only) Reading a standard or sample: Place meter on level surface. Check cuvette for scratches. Wipe cuvette dry with lint-free cloth. Handle cuvette carefully (no fingerprints or dirt on glass). Ensure cuvette orientation is correct when inserting into meter.

20 Parameter Number of Decimal Places To Record Calibration / Verification Frequency Acceptance Criteria ph All Displayed Daily IC, ICV, CCV ± 0.2 SU Specific Conductance All Displayed Daily IC, ICV, CCV ± 5% Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l) All Displayed Daily IC, ICV, CCV ± 0.3 mg/l Dissolved Oxygen (% Sat.) All Displayed N/A N/A Temperature All Displayed Quarterly CCV ± 0.5 C Turbidity All Displayed Daily CCV; Quarterly IC, ICV, secondary standard verification; NTU: ± 10%; NTU: ± 8%; NTU: ± 6.5%; > 100 NTU: ± 5% Depth Cal. / Ver.: 2 for electronic devices; 1 for manual devices Field Meas.: 2 if total depth < 0.6 m; 1 if total depth 0.6 m Daily: IC, ICV for Sondes. Quarterly: Verify Sondes & Electronic Devices. Every 6 months: Inspect Manual Devices. ICV: ± 5% or ± 0.05 m, whichever is greater; Electronic Device Check: ± 10%; Line Increments: ± 10%; Total Length of Lines: ± 5%;

21 Depth (SW Projects Only) Parameter Number of Decimal Places To Record Calibration / Verification Frequency Acceptance Criteria Depth Cal. / Ver.: 2 for electronic devices; 1 for manual devices Field Meas.: 2 if total depth < 0.6 m; 1 if total depth 0.6 m Daily: IC, ICV for Sondes. Quarterly: Verify Sondes & Electronic Devices. Every 6 months: Inspect Manual Devices. ICV: ± 5% or ± 0.05 m, whichever is greater; Electronic Device Check: ± 10%; Line Increments: ± 10%; Total Length of Lines: ± 5%; Rounding Rule: Numbers 4 are rounded down (e.g becomes 5.1). Numbers 5 are rounded up (e.g becomes 5.2).

22 Depth (SW Projects Only) Daily Requirement: Zero depth sensor on field multiparameter meters (if applicable) and perform ICV. If reading not within 5% of zeroed reading, redo zeroing or conduct maintenance. photo source:

23 Depth (SW Projects Only) Quarterly Requirements: Check all electronic devices used for depth measurement by comparing reading to a reference device (graduated bucket, metal measuring tape, verified secchi disk line). Service device if reading not within 10% of reference.

24 Every 6 Months: Depth (SW Projects Only) Compare all lines used for depth measurement to a reference device (meter stick or metal measuring tape). Redo markings if acceptance criteria not met. 1. Check incremental markings. Acceptance criteria ± 10%. 2. Check total length (up to greatest anticipated depth in field). Acceptance criteria ± 5%.

25 Quarterly Depth Verification Log

26 IC or ICV fails Troubleshooting Perform maintenance / cleaning and attempt IC again. Do not use meter for data collection until issue is resolved. CCV fails Rinse probe with standard and attempt CCV again. If failure still present, affected field data must be J qualified w/ a comment describing the problem. Bracketing requirements not met Affected field data must be J qualified w/ a comment describing the problem.

27 QUESTIONS? Stephanie Sunderman-Barnes