In Reply Refer To: November 14, 1986 WGS-Mail Stop 412 OFFICE OF WATER QUALITY TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM 87.01 Subject: WATER QUALITY--Changes to Parameter Codes for Alkalinity and the Carbonate Species Office of Water Quality Technical Memorandums 80.27 and 81.04 discuss parameter codes for alkalinity and the carbonate system species (OH, CO3, HCO3). Internal parameter codes, i.e., those with numbers greater than 90000, were assigned to these constituents in order to distinguish between field and laboratory determinations, and between fixed endpoint and incremental titrations. Field personnel were informed that incremental titration was the preferred technique for these determinations in the field. Official STORET codes were requested and have now been assigned by the EPA to replace the temporary 90000 level codes. The WATSTORE Program Office is planning to move data from the 90OOO level codes to the appropriate STORET codes during the next merge of the Water-Quality file, The Office of Water Quality has decided to consolidate the number of alkalinity and carbonate species parameter codes by implementing the new Method Code System for these constituents. The Method Code System, which is already in place for most laboratory procedures, combines the use of a single alphanumeric character with the five digit parameter code to produce a combination code which identifies both the constituent being analyzed and the analytical methodology used to determine its value. The Branch of Analytical Services is in the process of converting from the old Laboratory Code System to this new system. Most of the analytical procedures have been assigned a new method code and the single alphanumeric character is being stored in WATSTORE along with the data values determined in the laboratory. Under the new Method Code System, there is no need to have separate parameter codes for fixed endpoint titrations and incremental titrations. These determinations are simply different techniques to measure the same constituent, and should be identified by a method code as is currently done with other constituents for which multiple techniques are available Alkalinity and carbonate species are among a relatively small group of constituents that can be determined in either the laboratory or the field. Since it is sometimes desirable to store both a field and laboratory value it is necessary to provide a unique parameter code for each value. Although the laboratory does not, by policy, do carbonate species in the lab, alkalinity is routinely done in both the field and the lab. Therefore, parameter codes for field and lab alkalinity are needed. Although there are several alkalinity parameter codes available, none specifically pertain to field or laboratory in the parameter code description. There are, however, among the codes available (Many of which were the ones recently requested by WRD), enough codes, that by changing their descriptions slightly, can he used to distinguish between field and lab alkalinity. Since there should be little if any data stored under the recently requested parameter codes, making a midcourse correction to appropriate parameter code descriptions should present little problem. This concept of redescribing parameter code descriptions is actually the basis of an ongoing project in Headquarters to redescribe all EPA and USGS parameter codes with the end product to be proposed as a FIPS and ANSI data standard. The EPA and Fish and Wildlife are working with us on this project. The implementation of the new method system for alkalinity and carbonate species will proceed as follows. In Table 1, six parameter codes are listed along with their current EPA and USGS Parameter Code Dictionary descriptions. In Table 2, these same codes are listed again but with their proposed new descriptions and the newly assigned method codes. Recall that in the Water-Quality File, the method is determined by the parameter code and the l-digit Method Code. The combination of these two fields corresponds to the official method for the determination of the constituent represented by the parameter code. Parameter code 00903 is included in these tables even though it is a calculated value and has no analytical method assigned to it. It is included because its description will be changed to eliminate the reference to the fixed endpoint titration. It will be used as a laboratory code. Table 1 PARAMETER OLD PARAMETER CODE DESCRIPTION CODE 00410 ALKALINITY, TOTAL (MC/L AS CACO3) 00417 ALKALINITY, WH WAT*, TOTAL, FIX. END., AS CAC03, MG/L 00445 CARBONATE ION (MG/L AS CO3) 00440 BICARBONATE ION (MG/L AS HCO3) 71830 HYDROXIDE ION (MG/L AS OH) 00903 HARDNESS, NON-CARBONATE, WH WATER, TOTAL, FIX. END., LAB, MG/L * WH WAT = WHOLE WATER Table 2 PARAMETER CODES METHOD CODES CODE NEW DESCRIPTION FIXED INCREMENTAL ENDPOINT TITRATION 00410 ALKALINITY, WATER, WHOLE, TOTAL, OO4lOA** 00410B FIELD AS CACO3, MG/L 00417 ALKALINITY, WATER, WHOLE, TOTAL, LAB, AS CACO3, MG/L 00417A 00417B 00445 CARBONATE, WATER, WHOLE, TOTAL, FIELD, AS CO3, MG/L 00445A 00445B 00440 BICARBONATE, WATER, WHOLE, TOTAL FIELD, AS HCO3, MG/L 00440A 00440B 71830 HYDROXIDE, WATER, WHOLE, TOTAL, FIELD, AS OH MG/L 71830A 71830B 00903 HARDNESS, NON CARBONATE, WATER, WHOLE, TOTAL LAB, AS CACO3, M3/L - - ** The alphanumeric character - A, B, etc. - is stored in WATSTORE as an additional code (Method Code field) at the parameter level. The Chiefs, WATSTORE Program Office and Branch of Analytical Services, have been asked to enter these new descriptions in the WATSTORE Parameter Code Dictionary and the Laboratory Code Dictionary, respectively, These new descriptions more accurately reflect the actual meaning of the codes The new descriptions are consistent with the implied meanings of the original EPA descriptions. The EPA will be asked to accept these descriptions as well as new descriptions for most all other parameter codes at the completion of the project to standardize the parameter code description process. The six parameter codes listed above are the only codes to be used by WRD personnel when analyzing a "whole water" sample. Persons collecting NASQAN/Bench-Mark samples should note that codes 00417, 00445, 00440, and 71830 in Table 2 replace codes 00419, 00447, 00450, and 71833 (should have been listed as as 71832), respectively, as specified in Office of Water Quality Technical Memorandum 86.10. Additional codes for "dissolved samples" will be requested from EPA if the need arises. The second phase of the implementation involves the transfer of data from no longer applicable codes to the appropriate codes listed in Table 2. All no longer applicable codes will be purged from the Parameter Code Dictionary and the Laboratory Code Dictionary. The Branch of Analytical Services does not determine carbonate, bicarbonate, or hydroxide species in the laboratory. All data stored under parameter codes designated as "LAB" for these species will be converted to a laboratory alkalinity value (00417). The data and parameter codes for the individual species will be removed from WATSTORE because species data stored under laboratory codes were probably incorrect inasmuch as the samples were subject to change during transit from the field. However, alkalinity calculations from these data are probably reasonable. Field determinations of hydroxide, carbonate, and bicarbonate are legitimate and will not be be converted to alkalinity values. The Chiefs, WATSTORE Program Office and Branch of Analytical Services Data Section, have been asked to make the following changes to the Water-Quality data file, Parameter Code Dictionary (PCD) and Laboratory Code Dictionary (LCD) during the next merge of the Water-Ouality file: 99430 ALKALINITY, CARBONATE, INCREMENTAL TITRATION, FIELD, MG/L Action: Move all data from 99430 to OO4l0 with a method code of "B". Remove parameter code 99430 from PCD and LCD 00431 ALKALINITY, TOTAL, FIELD (MG/L AS CACO3) Action: Move all data from 00431 to 00410 with a method code of "A". Remove parameter code 00431 from PCD and LCD 90410 ALKALINITY, TITRATION TO PH 4.5, LARORATORY, MG/L Action: Move all data from 904l0 to 00417 with a method code of "B". Remove parameter code 90410 from PCD and LCD Note: Parameter Code 90410 was originally intended for "Fixed Endpoint" titrations but has been used by the Branch of Analytical Services for 2nd derivative incremental titrations, thus parameter code 00417 (method "B") is the appropriate code to use for these data. 95410 ALKALINITY, TITRATION TO PH 4.5, LAB, (MG/L) Action: Move all data from 95410 to 00417 with a method code of "A". Remove parameter code 95410 from PCD and LCD 99440 BICARBONATE, INCREMENTAL TITRATION, FIELD (MG/L AS HCO3) Action: Move all data from 99440 to 00440 with a method code of "B". Remove parameter code 99440 from PCD and LCD 99445 CARBONATE, INCREMENTAL TITRATION, FIELD, (MG/L AS CACO3) Action: Move all data from 99445 to 00445 with a method code of "B". Remove parameter code 99445 from PCD and LCD 99830 HYDROXIDE, INCREMENTAL TITRATION (MG/L AS OH) Action: Move all data from 99830 to 71830 with a method code of "B". Remove parameter code 99830 from PCD and LCD 00430 ALKALINITY, CARBONATE (MG/L AS CACO3) Action: Move all data from 0O430 to 004l0 with a method code of "A". Remove parameter code 00430 from PCD and LCD 90830 HYDROXIDE ION, INCREMENTAL TITRATION, LAB (MG/L AS OH) 90445 CARBONATE ION, INCREMENTAL TITRATION, LAB (MG/L AS CO3) 90440 BICARBONATE ION, INCREMENTAL TITRATION, LAB (MG/L AS HCO3) 90430 ALKALINITY, CARBONATE, INCREMENTAL TITRATION, LAB, (MG/L AS CACO3). Action: IF 90440 is present, then calculate: 00417 = [90440/61.0 + 90445*/30.0 + 90830*/17.0] x 50.05 (Method Code "B") * use if available Note: If the pH is greater than 8.3 and 90445 is not available, do not calculate 00417. OTHERWISE Move all data from 90430 to 004l7 with a method code of "B" THEN Remove 90830, 90445, 90440, 90430 from PCD and LCD 95830 HYDROXIDE, TITRATION TO PH l0.4, LABORATORY, (MG/L AS OH) 05445 CARBONATE, TITRATION TO PH 8.3, LABORATORY (MG/L AS CO3) 95440 BICARBONATE, TITRATION TO PH 4.5, LABORATORY (MG/L AS HCO3) 95430 ALKALINITY, CARBONATE, FIXED, LAB (MG/L AS CACO3) Action: IF 95440 is present, then calculate 00417 = [95440/61.0 + 95445*/30.0 + 95830*/17.0 x 50.05 (Method Code "A"). Use if available Note: If the pH is greater than 8.3 and 95445 is not available, do not calculate 00417 OTHERWISE Move all data from 95430 to 004l7 with a method code of "A") THEN Remove 95830, 95445, 95440, 95430 from PCD and LCD 95902 HARDNESS, NONCARBONATE (MG/L AS CACO3) Action: Move all data from 95902 to 009O3 Remove parameter code 95902 from PCD and LCD The following codes are the ones recently requested from EPA. Except for codes 00419, 00447, 00450 and 71833 (71832) little or no data should be stored in WATSTORE under these codes and it is unlikely that any non USGS data is stored under these codes in STORET. The Chief, WATSTORE Program Office, has been asked to request that the EPA delete these codes from.STORET. In order to insure data integrity the following action on these codes will also be taken at the next merge of the Water-Quality File. 00416 ALKALINITY, WH WATER, TOTAL, INCR. TIT., AS CACO3, MG/L Action: Move all data from 00416 to 004l0 with a method code of "B". Remove parameter code 00416 from PCD and LCD, if present Request EPA to remove parameter code 004l6 from STORET 004l8 ALKALINITY, WH WATER, TOTAL, INCR. TIT., CARB, AS CACO3, MG/L Action: Move all data from 00418 to 00410 with a method code of "B". Remove parameter code OO4l0 from PCD and LCD, if present. Request EPA to remove parameter code 004l8 from STORET 00419 ALKALINITY, WH WATER, TOTAL, INCR. TIT., CARB, FLD, AS CACO3, MG/L Action: Move all data from 004l9 to 00410 with a method code of "B". Remove parameter code 00419 from PCD and LCD, if present. Request EPA to remove parameter code 00419 from STORET 00421 ALKALINITY, WH WATER, FIX. END., CARB, LAB, AS CACO3, MG/L Action: Move all data from 00421 to 00417 with a method code of "A". Remove parameter code 00421 from PCD and LCD, if present. Request EPA to remove parameter code 0042l from STORET 00446 CARBONATE, WH WATER, TOTAL, INCR. TIT., LAB, MG/L Action: No QW file action needed Remove parameter code 00446 from PCD and LCD, if present Request EPA to remove parameter code 00446 from STORET 00447 CARBONATE, WH WATER, TOTAL, INCR. TIT., FLD, MG/L Action: Move all data from 00447 to 00445 with a method code of "B". Remove parameter code 00447 from PCD and LCD, if present Request that EPA remove parameter code 00447 from STORET 00448 CARBONATE, WH WATER, TOTAL, FIX. END., LAB, MG/L Action: No QW file action needed Request that EPA remove parameter code 0O448 from STORET 00449 BICARBONATE, WH WATER, TOTAL, INCR. TIT., LAB, MG/L Action: No QW file action needed Remove parameter code 00449 from PCD and LCD, if present Request that EPA remove parameter code 00449 from STORET 00450 BICARBONATE, WH WATER, TOTAL INCR. TIT., FLD, MG/L Action: Move all data from 00450 to 00440 with a method code of "B" Remove parameter code 00450 from PCD and LCD, if present Request that EPA remove parameter code 00450 from STORET 00451 BICARBONATE, WH WATER, TOTAL, FIX. END., LAB, MG/L Action: No QW file action needed Remove parameter code 00451 from PCD and LCD, if present Request that EPA remove parameter code 00451 from STORET 71831 HYDROXIDE, WH WATER, TOTAL, INCR. TIT., LAB, MG/L Action: No QW file action needed Remove parameter code 71831 from PCD and LCD, if present Request that EPA remove parameter code 71831 from STORET 71832 HYDROXIDE, WH WATER, TOTAL, INCR. TIT., FLD, MG/L Action: Move all data from 71832 to 71830 with a method code of "B" Remove parameter code 71832 from PCD and LCD, if present Request that EPA remove parameter code 71832 from STORET 71833 HYDROXIDE, WH WATER, TOTAL, FIX. END., LAB, MG/L Action: No QW File action needed. Remove parameter code 71833 from PCD and LCD, if present Request that EPA remove parameter code 71833 from STORET All questions regarding these actions should be referred to Jim Schornick of my staff. Jim can be reached at FTS 959-6878 or via E-Mail at JCSCHORNICK@QVARSA. David A. Rickert This memorandum supersedes certain instructions in Office of Water Quality Technical Memorandum 86.10. Distribution: A, B, S, FO, PO Key Words: water quality, data, watstore, storet, parameter codes, analytical methods, alkalinity, bicarbonate, carbonate, hydroxide, hardness