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U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Open-File Report 2007–1307

Quality-Assurance Plan for Water-Quality Activities in the U.S. Geological Survey Washington Water Science Center

Compiled by Richard J. Wagner, Robert A. Kimbrough, and Gary L. Turney

Abstract

In accordance with guidelines set forth by the Office of Water Quality in the Water Resources Discipline of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), this quality-assurance plan has been created for use by the USGS Washington Water Science Center (WAWSC) in conducting water-quality activities. The plan documents the standards, policies, and procedures used by the personnel of the WAWSC for activities related to the collection, processing, storage, analysis, and publication of water-quality data. The policies and procedures that are documented in this quality-assurance plan for water-quality activities are meant to complement the WAWSC’s quality-assurance plans for surface-water and ground-water activities and to supplement the WAWSC quality-assurance plan.

Contents

Abstract
Introduction
Organization and Responsibilities
Program and Project Planning
Water-Quality Laboratories
Field Service Units and Laboratories, Mobile Laboratories, and Field Vehicles
Water-Quality Instruments
Site Selection and Documentation
Sample Collection and Processing
Water-Quality Sample Handling and Tracking
Water-Quality Data Management
Publication of Water-Quality Data
Water-Quality Training and Reviews
References Cited

This report is available online in Portable Document Format (PDF). If you do not have the Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader, it is available for free download from Adobe Systems Incorporated.

Download the report (PDF, 1.54 MB)

Document Accessibility: Adobe Systems Incorporated has information about PDFs and the visually impaired. This information provides tools to help make PDF files accessible. These tools convert Adobe PDF documents into HTML or ASCII text, which then can be read by a number of common screen-reading programs that synthesize text as audible speech. In addition, an accessible version of Adobe Reader 8.0 for Windows (English only), which contains support for screen readers, is available. These tools and the accessible reader may be obtained free from Adobe at Adobe Access.

Send questions or comments about this report to the author, R.J. Wagner, (253) 552-1685.

For more information about USGS activities in Washington, visit the USGS USGS Washington Water Science Center home page.