Drinking Water Analysis
Drinking water testing is one of our premier analytical services. Not every environmental lab chooses to become certified under the stringent requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The strict requirements of this program assure that the highest standards for accuracy, precision, and quality control are met to assure the safety of public water supplies. SDWA certification for a long list of test parameters is a feather in our cap, and demonstrates our commitment to producing the highest quality and most accurate data in all of our testing protocols.
Our many long-term public and private water supply clients call on NLS to analyze their drinking water for a variety of reasons:
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A long history of SDWA certification for a long list of chemical parameters (Public water suppliers are required to use labs that are SDWA certified for compliance testing).
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Continual validation of new methods to keep up with regulatory demands.(See our "
What's New" page for recent additions to the list or our "
Certifications" page for a complete listing of drinking water methods.)
- Wisconsin DATCP certification for bacteriological testing.
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A full-time Quality Assurance / Quality Control Officer to assure and document our compliance with the rigors of SDWA certification
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Assistance in completing public water supply compliance forms and direct submittal to the appropriate state or federal agency by client request.
- Timely, detailed notification to the client of any drinking water standard exceedance.
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Knowledgeable and experienced client services staff to discuss sample collection techniques and provide technical support
- Custom electronic deliverables upon request
UCMR2 Laboratory Approval
We are pleased to announce that we have received full approval for the five EPA methods required for UCMR2 testing. This program monitors US drinking water sources for currently unregulated compounds. The resulting data is used by the EPA to determine whether or not regulatory standards should be established for those compounds. NLS will be one of only a handful of labs nationwide to achieve this. Northern Lake Service, Inc. is approved for List 1 Assessment Monitoring by EPA Methods 527 and 529, and for List 2 Screening Survey by EPA Methods 521, 525.2 and 535. The instruments and knowledge gained through the development of these methods will allow us to begin testing for other environmental contaminants that we expect will become prevalent in the next couple years. These include certain pharmaceuticals, personal care products and other endocrine disruptors.
Wastewater and Sludge Sampling and Analysis
One of the byproducts of a complex, technology-oriented society is an enormous number of waste products. Understanding the importance of proper sample collection and the relationships among components of a liquid waste stream are key to producing accurate, representative analytical data. At Northern Lake Service we are committed to just that.
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NLS has over 20 years of experience analyzing challenging wastewater matrices from paper mills, foundries, plating companies, food processing plants and municipal treatment facilities of all sizes.
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NLS provides full-service capabilities, meaning the convenience of dealing with one laboratory for all your analytical needs.
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Our composite sampling capability and highly experienced field staff ensure representative collection and proper sample handling.
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Our internally developed tracking system ensures you receive your data in time to meet compliance reporting deadlines.
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A shipping schedule can be developed to ensure proper bottles arrive at your facility well in advance of routine sampling. And, our commitment to client service means "last minute" bottle orders are usually on your doorstep the next day.
- Our experienced client services staff is available to assist with complicated permit paperwork.
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Our staff is prepared to provide both sampling (by EPA method 1669) and analysis (by EPA method 1631) to meet the strict new low levels mercury requirements of many states.
We have performed numerous matrix specific studies dealing with very low-level mercury and other metals for certification and permit variances. We have also performed matrix detection limit studies on pesticides and PCB's in wastewater. These studies have demonstrated our expertise and have provided the Wisconsin regulatory community a high level of confidence in our attention to quality and detail.
Value Added Services
Custom Electronic Deliverables Data Formats Include
- WDNR Turn Around Document (TAD)
- ASCII delimited
- Custom Format
- Delivery via mail on diskette, email, password-protected download from our database
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)
- Able to support your complete EDI needs.
Delivery Network
- Next day sample deliveries
- Saturday sample receipt (with prior notification)
Sample Receipt Confirmation via Fax or Email
- NLS will confirm the receipt of your samples and the tests scheduled for the same day we receive them.
- Order bottles for your sampling event via email, as well as by telephone and fax
Technical Expertise
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NORTHERN LAKE SERVICE, INC. offers a continuing education program to assure employees maintain their educational expertise.
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Analysts regularly attend manufacturer and supplier sponsored training programs to assure proficiency with equipment and materials used.
Client Services
- Our Client Services staff is available to assist with sampling questions
- Also available to handle technical and regulatory program inquiries
Field Services
- On-site sample collection by our experienced field staff
Quality Assurance
- Full-time QA/QC Officer who oversees our quality assurance program and the Continuous Quality Improvement Program
- QA/QC Officer has earned the Certified Quality Auditor designation from American Society for Quality
- QA/QC Officer is available to consult with clients on compliance and analytical issues.
Northern Lake Service Laboratory
