In Reply Refer To: October 2, 1980 EGS-Mail Stop 412 QUALITY OF WATER BRANCH TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM NO. 81.01 Subject: Programs & Plans--National Water Quality Networks; FY 1981 Protocol for the National Water Quality Surveillance System (NWQSS) program and changes in sampling frequencies, constituents, lab schedule numbers, and unique numbers for the National Stream- Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN) and the Hydrologic Benchmark Network in FY 1981 are outlined in this memorandum. New lab schedule numbers have been provided because of Central Laboratory innovations for separating constituents that must be quickly analyzed from those that may be stored for a longer period of time. A complete listing of all lab schedules is given in Appendix E. New unique numbers have been assigned for all NASQAN stations. Preservation of nutrient samples with mercuric chloride tablets, as stated in Quality Water Branch Technical Memorandum 80.26, is to begin in FY 1981. NWQSS-GS/EPA Transfer Program EPA Headquarters has stated that the NWQSS program for FY 1981 will remain the same as in FY 1980 except for EPA Regions IX and X. The EPA regional offices will contact the WRD field offices for FY 1981 cost estimates, forward those to EPA Headquarters, and get back in touch with WRD field offices with their sampling decision. EPA will then furnish GS in Reston with accepted field costs from which a Summary of Program will be prepared and sent to all districts involved. NASQAN Program Sampling philosophy - NASQAN is designed as a fixed station, fixed sampling interval monitoring network. This design concept dictates that the sampling interval be adhered to as strictly as possible. Therefore, all Districts are reminded to collect their NASQAN (and Benchmark) samples on the same day within the appropriate interval (monthly, bimonthly, etc.) or as close to that day as practical, i.e., November 5, January 5, March 5, etc. Bimonthly Sampling - Based on requested revised cost estimates, selected districts are advised to change the sampling frequency for 175 NASQAN sites from monthly to bimonthly (see asterisked sites in appendix A). Since NASQAN is considered a fixed station, fixed sampling interval monitoring network, Districts having bimonthly stations are instructed to sample in the months of November, January, March, May, July, and September and continue to sample on or as close to the sampling date used in the past. Quarterly sampling - Two of the quarterly sampling months used in the past for sites that are now bimonthly will fall in two of the above specified months while two will not. These latter two quarterly samplings should be selected to avoid the use of four consecutive bimonthly samplings, but at the same time the quarterly samples should be characteristic of the four arbitrary seasonal divisions of the year. Phytoplankton - Phytoplankton should be collected for the months other than January at the bimonthly stations. Periphyton - Periphyton sampling is to be discontinued at all NASQAN sites. Silver - total recoverable and dissolved silver will be included only in the quarterly samples. NASQAN Monthly Station Schedule 12 per year - Field measurements Instantaneous discharge Specific conductance Temperature, deg. C pH Dissolved oxygen Fecal coliform bacteria Fecal streptococcal bacteria Suspended sediment Concentration in mg/L % finer than 0.062 mm Common constituents, lab schedule 1904 (Not used when quarterly samples are taken) Nutrients and TOC, lab schedule 104 (Not used when quarterly samples are taken) 7 per year - Phytoplankton, Lab schedule 1706 Except for Hawaii and Puerto Rico, collect four samples in growing season months of June, July, August, and September and three samples in non-growing months of November, March, and May. Hawaii and Puerto Rico sites should have phytoplankton collected 12 times per year. 4 per year - Minor elements, common constituents, lab schedule 337 Nutrients plus DOC and SOC, lab schedule 686 NASQAN Bimonthly Station Schedule 6 per year - Field measurements (same as monthly) Suspended sediment Concentration in mg/L % finer than 0.062 mm Common constituents, lab schedule 1904 (Not used when quarterly samples are taken Nutrients and TOC, lab schedule 104 (Not used when quarterly samples are taken) 5 per year - Phytoplankton, Lab schedule 1706 Except for Hawaii and Puerto Rico, collect samples in November, March, May, July, and September. Hawaii and Puerto Rico sites should include January in sampling schedule. 4 per year - Minor elements, common constituents, lab schedule 337 Nutrients, DOC and SOC, lab schedule 686 NASQAN Radiochemical Subnetwork Radiochemical subnetwork stations are listed in Appendix B. No changes have been made in the subnetwork. Samples should be collected at high and low flow periods as before. 2 per year - Radiochemical, Lab schedule 1703 NASQAN Pesticide Subnetwork Stations in the subnetwork are listed in Appendix C and are the same as in the 1980 water year. As in the past, water samples are collected 4 times per year in November, February, May, and August. Streambed sediment samples are collected in November and May. Sample containers and sample analyses are provided by the EPA laboratory, NSTL Station, Mississippi. Data are entered into computer storage by WRD in Reston. Hydrologic Benchmark Water-Quality Program Changes for 1981 water year: A. The field measurement of total coliform bacteria is to be discontinued for the 1981 water year. B. Add the separation % finer than 0.062 mm for all determination of suspended sediment concentrations. C. Nutrient and organic carbon analysis have been added to establish comparability with NASQAN. Appendix D lists the stations included in the water quality part of the Hydrologic Benchmark Network. Hydrologic Benchmark Station Schedule Monthly (Frequency M) - Field measurements Instantaneous discharge Specific conductance Temperature, degrees C pH Dissolved oxygen Fecal coliform bacteria Fecal streptococcal bacteria Suspended sediment concentration in mg/L % finer than 0.062 mm Common constituents, lab schedule 1923 (Not used when semiannual samples are taken) Nutrients and TOC, lab schedule 104 (Notused when semiannual samples are taken) 2 per year-Minor elements, common constituents, lab schedule 1924 Nutrients, DOC and SOC, lab schedule 686 1 per year - Pesticides, lab schedule 1474 (whole water) lab schedule 1325 (bed material) Radiochemical, lab schedule 1703 Bimonthly (Frequency Q) - Field measurements (same as for monthly) Suspended sediment concentration in mg/L % finer than 0.062 mm Common constituents, lab schedule 1923 (Not used when semiannual samples taken) Nutrients and TOC, lab schedule 104 (Not used when semiannual samples taken) 2 per year-Minor elements, common constituents, lab schedule 1924 Nutrients, DOC and SOC, lab schedule 686 1 per year - Pesticides, lab schedule 1474 (whole water) lab schedule 1325 (bed material) Radiochemical, lab schedule 1703 Quarterly (Frequency B) - Field measurements (same as monthly) Common constituents, lab schedule 1923 Nutrients and TOC, lab schedule 104 Should there be any questions concerning the networks, please contact Art Ott or Jim Schornick of my staff. R.J. Pickering Chief, Quality of Water Branch Enclosures (not available on Prime copy of Tech. Memo 81.01) Appendixes: A. List of NASQAN stations B. List of NASQAN Radiochemical Subnetwork stations C. List of NASQAN Pesticide Subnetwork stations D. List of Hydrologic Benchmark water-quality stations E. Laboratory schedules WRD Distribution: A, B, S, FO, PO