Keeping it Simple - The Universal Wastewater Standard

Section 1020 B3 of Standard Methods states that an independent LCS must be run on a daily basis. If your lab has to run multiple parameters, managing multiple LCS solutions can be burdensome and costly. In an effort to simplify this compliance to Sec. 1020 B3, we have developed our Universal Wastewater Standard.

A truly unique product developed and manufactured exclusively by NSI Solutions, the Universal Wastewater Standard can be used to QC analyses for 12 conventional pollutants. It can even be used for daily GGA tests.

The Universal Wastewater Standard is certified for the following analytes:

   TOC - 121 mg/L     BOD5 - 198 mg/L             CBOD - 163 mg/L        COD - 292 mg/L     TSS - 100 mg/L          Conductivity - 600 umhos

   pH - 7.20 units      Total Solids - 725 mg/L   p-PO4 - 2.50 mg/L     TDS - 450 mg/L       N-NH3 - 7.50 mg/L      N-NO3 - 3.00 mg/L

* Concentrations may vary nominally due to manufacturing variances.

The demand parameters are derived from 50/50 glucose/glutamic acid at 300 mg/L. Therefore, the standard can be used additionally for the daily GGA by simply diluting 6mL to 300mL directly into your BOD bottles.

The Universal Wastewater Standard is provided as a sterile solution in either a ready-to-use 4x1Liter case, or as a 5x20mL vial pack requiring dilution prior to use. Because the standard is provided sterile, it can be stored at room temperature until opening saving valuable refrigerator space.

How do you use it?

Whether purchased as a ready-to-use standard or a concentrate, The Universal Wastewater Standard is really easy-to-use.

When purchased as a ready-to-use solution, simply shake the bottle well for a few moments to re-suspend the TSS fraction. Immediately pour an aliquot appropriate for the analysis to be run. For instance, if you need to QA your TSS analysis, you might pour 100mL aliquot. Remember, after you open a bottle, store unused material at 4 degrees Celsius to inhibit glucose degradation.

If you purchased the Universal Wastewater Standard as a concentrate, we have simplified the preparation by filling each vial with exactly 20mL of concentrate. All you need to do is shake it up and quantitatively transfer the entire contents to a 1000mL flask with a few reagent water rinses. No pipets required. Bring the flask up to 1000mL and mix well. For long term storage of this prepared standard, we recommend the use of glass bottles. One more thing, because we are using a "piggy-back" label on the concentrate vial you can simply peel the label from the vial and stick it to the prepared standard storage bottle (no mislabeling).

So how does it perform?

During the development of this new and unique standard, we used both our internal laboratory and 3 independent NELAC accredited laboratories to validate accuracy, homogeneity and fitness for use.

Internally, we have documented accuracy, homogeneity, and stability to specifications identical to those applicable to our PT samples. Moreover, internal testing documents no statistical difference in recoveries of chemical analytes between filtered and unfiltered analytes. The suspended solids are inert to all analytes (except TSS and TS, of course). This helps make the standard easier to use because you can sub-sample an aliquot without having to mix it again.

To further verify fitness for use, 4 blind samples of the same lot were submitted to each of 9 NELAC accredited labs. The labs were asked to analyze each sample. Their data is summarized in the following downloadable attachment.

Based upon the data attached, it can be concluded that the Universal Wastewater Standard performs well with typical environmental methods.

Part#: QCI-084           4 x 1 Liter Case    $165.00

Part#: QCI-084-50X   5 x 20 mL Pack     $165.00