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It is the responsibility of the PC to keep appropriate records, such as logbook entries or checklists, to
verify the inspection/acceptance of supplies and consumables, and restock these supplies and
consumables when necessary. MERC partner and any other sub-contracted laboratories will follow
procedures in their laboratory’s QAPP and SOPs for inspection/acceptance of supplies and consumables.
B.9.
Non-Direct Measurements
All BWTS test data will be generated through MERC field activities and consequent lab analyses.
Several types of data and information may be obtained from other sources for use in support of the tests,
such as historical monitoring data from Baltimore Harbor and other test sites, up-to-date equipment
manufacturers’ operational literature, and National Weather Service data. Non-direct measurement data
will be evaluated, documented, and referenced in any document for which they are used in accordance
with the EPA document
Guidance for Quality Assurance Project Plans
, EPA/QA G-5, December, 2002.
B.10.
Data Management
Data management encompasses and traces the path of the data from their generation to their final use or
storage (e.g., from field measurements and sample collection/recording through transfer of data to
computers (laptops, data acquisition systems, etc.), laboratory analysis, data validation/verification, QA
assessments and reporting of data of known quality to the clients and sponsors. It also includes control
mechanisms for detecting and correcting errors.
Various types of data will be acquired and recorded electronically or manually by MERC staff during a
BWTS test. Sample collection data (e.g., date, time, and location of collected samples), water quality and
chemistry analysis data (e.g., TSS, TOC, and active substance concentration), microbial analysis data
(e.g., sample preparation, incubation, and direct counts), phytoplankton analysis data (e.g., number of live
and number of dead entities), zooplankton analysis data (e.g., sample concentration; number of dead,
total, and live organisms), and whole effluent toxicity test data (e.g., test set up, direct counts, and test
take down) are recorded by hand (using indelible ink) on pre-printed data collection forms and/or in
bound laboratory notebooks that are uniquely-identified and are specific to the treatment technology
being tested. As soon after collection as possible, field notes, data sheets, core logs, and chain-of-custody
forms will be scanned to create an electronic record. Biological and chemical data that are recorded by
hand are manually entered into either a Microsoft (MS) Access Database or the data are entered into a MS
Excel Spreadsheet.
In-tank water quality data (e.g., temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, turbidity, and chlorophyll) is
automatically recorded in a MS Excel spreadsheet. Facility data (e.g., flow rates and pressure
measurements) are electronically recorded every 15 seconds during intake and discharge. These data are
exported to MS Excel for subsequent analysis. Results from the laboratory analytical instruments are
compiled by laboratory staff in electronic format and submitted to the MERC PC upon obtaining results
before the beginning of each test run.
Records received by or generated by any of the MERC staff during the BWTS test will be reviewed by
the Data Manager or PC within 2 weeks of receipt or generation, respectively, before the records are used
to calculate, evaluate, or report test results. The review will be documented as the dated initials of the
reviewer.
All electronic testing records and documents and data files will be stored on a test-specific MERC secured
Local Area Network (LAN) that can be accessed only by relevant MERC personnel. The MERC Data