A guide for PWS’s on sampling and monitoring requirements for
UCMR3
Suzanne Lindblom – Laboratory Manager
Mobile Area Water and Sewer System, Mobile, AL
TOPICS COVERED
 Timeline Summary
 PWS’s affected by this Ruling
 Contaminate List and Methods
 Sampling Requirements
 Frequency of Sampling
 Sampling Locations
 Approved Laboratories
 Reporting
PREVIOUS DEADLINES
 Letter notifying PWS of monitoring requirements.
 Mobile Water must Monitor for List 1 & List 2
 Safe Drinking Water Accession and Review System
(SDWARS) registration
 July 31, 2012 – entered Contact info into SDWARS
 November 29, 2012 – review and update sample location
and if needed, revise monitoring schedule.
 Questions? Contact CDX Help Desk @ 1-888-890-1995
SCHEDULE ON SDWARS
UCMR 3 TIMELINE OF EVENTS
TIMELINE
Monitoring Data Deadlines
Large Systems
•Laboratory must post data to SDWARS
within 120 days after collection
•PWS must review, approve and submit
data to State and EPA within 60 days of
laboratory submittal
2016 – allows for systems whose last
sampling event was late 2015 to report and
approve data.
APPLICABILITY OF UCMR3 TO PWS BY
TYPE AND SIZE
SYSTEM TYPE
SERVING >10,000
SERVING≤10,000
ASSESSMENT MONITORING (List 1)
CWS&NTNCWS
All must monitor
800 randomly selected –
EPA pays
TNCWS
No requirement
No requirement
SCREENING SURVEY (List 2)
CWS&NTNCWS
Systems >100,000 must monitor. 320
randomly selected 10,001-100,000
No requirements
TNCWS
No requirements
No requirements
PRE-SCREEN TESTING (List 3)
CWS, NTNCWS,
TNCWS
No requirements
800 randomly selected.
Non-disinfecting ground
water wells. EPA pays
COST OF UCMR3
 Large systems must budget 100% of cost – labor,
sample collection, analysis and shipping.
 Systems serving <10,000 persons will have to only pay
labor costs. EPA and State will pay for other costs.
Estimated cost (as listed in Federal Register)
 List 1 - $1,085 per event
 List 2 - $418 per event
Cost includes shipping (est. 25 lb)
UCMR MONITORING LISTS
 LIST 1 – Methods used are common analytical methods
used by drinking water laboratories
 List 2 – Specialized methods not commonly used
 List 3 – New methods
LIST 1 - ASSESSMENT
 7 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) EPA Method 524.3
 1,2,3 Trichloropropane
 1,3 butadiene
 Chloromethane (methyl chloride)
 1,1-dichloroethane
 bromomethane( (methyl bromide)
 Bromochloromethane (Halon 101)
 Chlorodifluromethane (HCFC-22)
LIST 1 ASSESSMENT
 Synthetic Organic Compound Using EPA Method 522
 1,4 – dioxane
 4 Metals using EPA Method 200.8 (alternate SM &
ASTM)
 Cobalt
 Molybdenum
 Strontium
 Vanadium
 Chromium (concurrent with chromium-6)
LIST 1 ASSESSMENT
 Oxyhalide Anion Method 300.1 (or SM/ASTM alternate)
 Chlorate
 6 Perflurinated Chemicals EPA 537
 Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)
 Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
 Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)
 Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)
 Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)
 Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)
 Hexavalent Chromium (chromium -6) EPA 218.7
LIST 2 SCREENING
 7 Hormones by EPA 539
 17-β-estradiol
 17-α –ethynylestradiol (ethinyl estradiol)
 Estriol
 Equilin
 Estrone
 Testosterone
 4-androstene-3,17 dione
LIST 3 PRE-SCREEN
 Enterovirus
 Norovirus
 Pathogen indicators (total coliforms, E. coli,
bacteriophage, Enterococci and aerobic spores)
 800 randomly selected systems serve ≤1,000 customers
and use undisinfected ground water in karst or fractured
bedrock environments.
UCMR3 SAMPLING
 Hand out on sampling requirements from each




method
Each method had different sets of requirements
If budget allows, set up trial sample and analysis run
before actual sample date.
Trial run helps to determine what all involved,
especially if have many sample points
Data helps evaluate if any contamination present
VOLATILE ORGANICS
 Method 524.3
 Amber Glass vials (40 or 60 mL’s) with PTFE
silicon septa caps – preservative ascorbic
acid, maleic acid.
 If sample foams vigorously when sample
added to pre-preserved vial – discard and
place in unpreserved container. Make sure
to mark UNPRESERVED – HOLDING TIME
24 HRS.
 Always fill containers up completely and
free of headspace. Fill slowly so as to not
loose preservative.
 Field Blanks must always accompany
samples. Keep closed at all times and
return to lab.
SYNTHETIC ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
 1,4 – Dioxane – EPA Method 522
 Glass containers, 1L 2-step
preservation process
 Headspace not an issue –
collect so that preservative not
flushed out. Fill bottle as full as
possible.
 After sample collection, shake
so that sodium sulfite
completely dissolves. Add
sodium bisulfate. Mix well.
METALS
 Select Metals by EPA Method
200.8, ASTM D5673-10; SM
3125
 Plastic containers, 250-500 mL
with Nitric acid as preservative.
 Headspace not an issue, collect
to fill most of bottle. Do not
flush out preservative.
 Field Blanks accompany
samples. Open in field, but do
not transfer contents
OXYHALIDE ANION
 Chlorate by EPA Method 300.1, ASTM D
6581, SM 4110D
 Plastic opaque bottles, 250 mL with
EDA as preservative. This preservative
keeps chlorate from breaking down to
chorite/chlorate ions.
 If water treatment plant uses chlorine
dioxide, sparge sample with inert gas
prior to adding preservative.

For this step – may need laboratory to
add preservative and sparge when
dropped off – ASK UCMR3 LAB!
 Headspace not an issue, collect mostly
full to not flush out preservative.
PERFLUORINATED COMPOUNDS
 Method 537
 250 mL polypropylene bottles with
polypropylene caps.
 Trizma is preservative.
 SAMPLER MUST WASH HANDS AND WEAR
NITRITE GLOVES WHEN SAMPLING!
 PFAA contamination can occur from common
sources such as food packaging and some
food and beverages.
 Headspace not an issue, fill containers mostly
full and do not flush out preservative.
 Field blanks to accompany samples. At
sample site, transfer shipped reagent water
to empty bottle.
HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM
 Chromium-6, Cr+6, Chromium VI –
Method 218.7
 Preserved with a combined
buffer/dechlorinating reagent. 100
mL plastic sample bottle.
 To sample: open tap and allow
system to flush for approximately 5
minutes. Fill bottle carefully not to
flush out preservative. Invert bottle
several times to mix preservative.
 Sample should be analyzed as soon
as possible, but not to exceed 14
days from sample date.
HORMONES
 Method 539
 1 L amber glass bottles.
 Preservative sodium thiosulfate & sodium omadine.
 Fill samples to neck of bottle.
 Each site should have a minimum of 2 – 1L preserved
bottles and a 1L bottle of reagent water.
 Advise to wear dusk mask to avoid contaminating
sample.
 During sampling, pour reagent water into one of the
empty preserved containers – field blank to determine
if human hormones contribute to sample results.
List 3 – Pre-Screen Microbioal
Contaminants
 Enterovirus and norovirus by EPA
method 1615
 Other microbiological indicators
include:





Total coliforms
E. coli
Enterococi
Bacteriophage
Aerobic spores
 EPA will collect samples for these
analysis.
FIELD SAMPLE REQUIREMENTS
Contaminate
Field Blank Required?
List 1 Contaminates
Volatile Organics (524.3)
Yes
Synthetic organic (522)
No
Perfluorinated Compounds (537)
Yes
Oxyhalide Anion (300.1)
No
Metals (200.8)
Yes
Cr VI (218
No
List 2 Contaminates
Hormones
Yes
List 3 Pre-Screen
Viruses
No
Why are Field Blanks Important?
 Any sample with a detection must analyze the field
blank.
 If the field blank shows a detection above 1/3 the
minimum reporting level (MRL), then re-sampling is
required.
Field Blank Procedures
 Volatiles (524.3) – pre-preserved bottle with volatile
free water. Shipped in field with samples. Do not
open in field.
 200.8 Metals – pre-preserved bottle with DI water.
Open in field and re-cap but do not transfer contents.
Field Blank Procedures, Cont
 For Perfluorinated Compounds (PFC’s – 537) and
Hormones (539)
 Lab sends pre-preserved bottle with DI water to
accompany field sampling.
 Empty bottle is also shipped
 Sampler transfers DI water to empty bottle and this
becomes the field blank analyzed by laboratory.
A SEPARATE FIELD BLANK IS REQUIRED FOR EACH
SITE AND EACH SAMPLING EVENT!
Laboratory Fortified Sample Matrix
 This is a sample that is fortified with known concentration
of analyte(s) of interest.
 EPA requires laboratories to analyze a LFSM and a LFSM
duplicate one set per 20 samples.
 Utility is to provide laboratory with enough sample to
satisfy this requirement.
 At least one sample set per sampling event has additional
volume collected and sent to laboratory.
FREQUENCY WATER SOURCE TYPE
DEPENDENT
Contaminant
type
Water Source Type
Time
Frame
2013-2015
Surface water or
Ground Water under
the influence of
surface water
(GWUDI)
12 months 4 consecutive quarters,
events must be 3 months
apart
Ground Water
12 months Sample events 5-7 months
apart – monitor twice in 12
consecutive month period
Microbiological Ground Water
(List 3)
12 months Sample events 5-7 months
apart – monitor twice in 12
consecutive month period
CHEMICAL
(List 1 & 2)
Frequency
Frequency
 Samples must be collected within the time frame and
frequency in previous table based on contaminant type
and water source type for each sampling location.
 For the second or subsequent sampling periods:
 If location is non-operational for more than one month
prior or after scheduled sampling month, you must notify
the EPA to reschedule your sampling.
 This is only applicable if you are not able to sample
within the window from the previous table.
WHERE TO SAMPLE?
Contaminant Type
List
Location
Volatile Organics
List 1
EPTDS
Synthetic Organic (1,4 dioxane) List 1
EPTDS
Metals (V, Mo, Co, Sr, Cr)
List 1
EPTDS & DSMRT
Chromium 6
List 1
EPTDS & DSMRT
Oxyhalide Anion (Chlorate)
List 1
EPTDS & DSMRT
Perfluorinated Compounds
List 1
EPTDS
Hormones
List 2
EPTDS
Microbiological Contaminante
List 3
EPTDS
EPTDS
 Entry Point to Distribution System – LIST 1,2,&3
 Sampling to occur at the EPTDS after treatment is applied
that represents each non-emergency water source in routine
use over the 12-month period of monitoring.
 Systems that purchase water with multiple connections from
the same wholesaler may select one representative connection
from that wholesaler,
 Location must be representative of the highest annual volume
connections.
 If connection selected as the representative EPTDS is not
available for sampling, an alternative highest volume
representative connection must be sampled.
EPTDS, cont.
 Ground Water Representative Sampling Locations:
 UCMR3 clarified the definition so that the proposed
representative well must be representative of the highest
annual volume producing and most consistently active
wells in the representative array.
 If the representative well is not in use at the scheduled
sampling time, an alternative representative well must
be selected to sample.
DSMRT
 Distribution System Maximum Residence Time
 An active point (location that currently provides water
to customers) in the distribution system where the water
has been in the system the longest in relation to the
EPTDS.
 Systems subject to Stage 2 disinfection By-Products Rule
should use their total trihalomethanes (TTHM) highest
concentration sampling site(s) as their DSMRT sampling
site(s).
DSMRT cont.
 List 1 parameters include: total chromium, chromium
6, cobalt, molybdenum, strontium, vanadium and
chlorate.
 Collected at one Distribution sampling point per
treatment plant.
PWS >10,000 PEOPLE SERVED
 The PWS must coordinate sample analysis with an
approved laboratory and is responsible for all costs.
 Laboratory sends data to the SDWARS system.
 Contact local third party lab who currently does utilities
required testing. They may be able to coordinate with an
approved lab.
 Get quotes from several different labs.
PWS <1,000 PEOPLE SERVED
 EPA coordinates sample analysis with contracted
laboratories and pays for analysis cost. The lab will
submit data directly to EPA.
 EPA examines all data and QC elements and generates
reports.
 However, EPA only collects samples for the PWS for
List 3.
APPROVED LABORATORIES
 How many of the UCMR3 methods is the laboratory EPA approved to
perform?
 How long has the laboratory been approved?
 How familiar is the laboratory with UCMR3 details?
 Talk with other utilities on who they used during UCMR2. Many of the
labs are also certified for UCMR3 Word of mouth is the best
advertisement!
 Do you homework – find approved labs on EPA website:
http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/ucmr/ucmr3/upload/lablis
t-ucmr3-pdf.pdf
APPROVED LABS
Reporting Elements
REPORTING ELEMENTS FOR UCMR3
ID code for PWS
Disinfectant Type
Sample Analysis Type
Facility ID code for PWS
Sample Collection Date
Analytical Results - Sign
Water Source Type
Sample ID Code
Analytical Results - Value
Sampling Point ID code
Contaminant
Lab ID code
Sampling Point Type ID
code
Analytical Method code
Sample Event Code
Note: PWS’s were required to report US Postal Code(s) for all
areas served by the PWS
DISINFECTION TYPE
 What is this?
 The PWS must report the disinfectant that has been
added to the water that is sampled. This must be
reported at each sampling point. The possible choices
are as follows:
DISINFECTION TYPE CODES
 CLGA – Gaseous Chlorine
 CLOF – Offsite Generated Hypochlorite (stored as liquid









form)
CLON – Onsite Generated Hypochlorite (no storage)
CAGC – Chloramine (formed from gaseous chlorine)
CAOF – Chloramine (formed from offsite hypochlorite)
CAON –Chloramine (formed from onsite hypochlorite)
CLDO – Chlorine dioxide
OZON – Ozone
ULVL – Ultraviolet Light
OTHD – Other types of Disinfectant
NODU – No Disinfectant Used
WATER SOURCE TYPE
 Type of source water that supplies a water system facility.




Systems must report one of the following codes for each
water system facility:
SW = surface water (water facilities that are served all or in
part by a surface water source)
GW = ground water (water facilities that are served entirely
by a ground water source)
GU = ground water under the direct influence of surface
water (water facilities that are served all or in part by
ground water under the direct influence of surface water)
MX = any combination of the three above water types
SAMPLE POINT CODES
 Sample Point ID Code: Code that uniquely identifies each
sampling point. Each sampling code must be unique within
each applicable facility, for each applicable sampling
location (i.e., entry point to the distribution system or
distribution system sample at maximum residence time).
 Sample Point Type ID Code: Identification code
corresponding to location of the sample point.
 EP = entry point to the distribution system
 MR = distribution system sample at maximum residence
time
PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM CODES
 Public Water System ID Code(PWSID): used to identify
each PWS. Code begins with the standard 2-character
postal State abbreviation or Region code, and the
remaining 7 numbers are unique to each PWS in the State.
 Public Water System Facility ID Code: used to identify
each applicable facility (i.e., for each source of water,
treatment plant, distribution system, or any other facility
associated with water treatment or delivery) within each
PWS. Code is a 5-digit unique number.
CODES REPORTED BY LABORATORY
 Sample Collection Date
 Sample Identification Code
 Contaminant Code
 Analytical Method Code
 Sample Analysis Type
 Analytical Results – Sign
 Analytical Result – Value
 Sample Event Code
 Laboratory Identification Code
SHIPPING AND HANDLING
 If the utility is working directly with UCMR3
laboratory then they will ship directly to laboratory.
 Packing of samples in glass containers very important.
 Ask laboratory when supplying bottles to send extra
packing material.
SHIPPING AND HANDLING
 When requesting bottles from the laboratory, always
ask for two bottles for sample needed. This will ensure
sample still available for analysis if one of the
containers is broken during transit.
 Always wrap the large glass containers individually
using bubble bags or wrap. The smaller vials can be
wrapped together.
SHIPPING AND HANDLING
 Most samples for UCMR3 must be kept at 4° C (38° F).
For this requirement, samples must be shipped on
enough ice to keep them @ 4 °C during entire trip.
 Recommend shipping samples next day Federal
Express.
 Make sure cooler has plenty of ice, especially is
shipping during summer months. Do not pack cooler
too full of samples, only half full to make room for the
ice.
SHIPPING AND HANDLING
 Place COC inside Gallon ziplock bag, seal and place
inside cooler. Some even tape the Chain to the inside
lid of the cooler.
 Tape cooler closed with packing tape.
 Your lab should give you instructions on how to ship
samples back to them. If not, ask for a copy of their
shipping and packing requirements.
QUESTIONS?
Contact Information
 EPA Approved Laboratories List
 http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/ucmr/u




cmr3/laboratories.cfm
UCMR Message center (800)949-1581
Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800)426-4791
CDX/SDWARS Help Desk (888)890-1995
UCMR Sampling Coordinator or Laboratory Approval
Coordinator UCMR_Sampling_Coordinator@epa.gov