Timeline: 2008
Client/Partner: CDM
Study Location: Santa Ana River Watershed, Laboratory
Role: Lab Manager
Background:
The first year implementation of the Urban Source Evaluation Plan (USEP) for the Middle Santa Ana River Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) included the collection of water samples from thirteen locations to evaluate urban sources of bacteria. Sample analysis for this USEP monitoring program included assays for Bacteroidales by two different laboratories: University of California at Davis (UCD) and the Orange County Water District (OCWD). Each laboratory used its own methods for the extraction and analysis of human, bovine and dog Bacteroidales markers. The objective of this single blind test was to evaluate the comparability of these laboratory methods for detecting and quantifying the presence of host-specific Bacteroidales markers. Several samples were produced and split into two subsamples which have been
analyzed by each laboratory: (1) aqueous grab samples with no spike of Bacteroidales; (2) aqueous grab samples spiked with various combinations of Bacteroidales markers (treatments);
and (3) aqueous blank samples. Aqueous grab samples will were collected from three sites that had been previously sampled under the USEP Monitoring Program.
As assigned Water Quality Laboratory QA Officer Dr. Alexander Schriewer was responsible for all processes pertaining to the laboratory analysis, compilation, and submission of results to CDM.