Drinking Water Laboratory Certification Program
In Conformance with the
Environmental Protection
Agency Safe Drinking Water Act

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has implemented a Laboratory Certification Program since 1978. Laboratories wishing to analyze drinking water samples for compliance purposes must comply with the “Safe Drinking Water Act” and the “National Primary Drinking Water Regulations”.

The Certification Officers at the state laboratory attended the laboratory certification course conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water and after passing this course became auditors that make up the West Virginia Certification Program. For the Environmental Chemistry Parameters, Larry Duffield is the Chief Certification Officer and Tom Ong is the Chief Certification Officer for Microbiology. This dedicated staff conducts on-site inspections for West Virginia Laboratories requesting certification for drinking water.

The certification in West Virginia of out-of-state laboratories is partially determined by a NELAP Certificate or the Laboratory’s State Certificate for the requested certified parameters. If a laboratory wishes to apply for drinking water certification, an application must be completed. Based upon reviewing the required data received, a decision will be made for the requested certifiable parameters and the laboratory will be notified by mail.

The state accepts data for drinking water compliance monitoring from certified laboratories only. For private and commercial laboratories to become certified, the minimum requirements listed in the “Manual for the Certification of Laboratories Analyzing Drinking Water” (CLADW) as well the “Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Environmental Chemistry Laboratory Certification” must be fulfilled. The CLADW manual and SOP will guide and direct a laboratory in the certification process and explain requirements for chemistry certification. Topics listed will explain how a laboratory must pass an on-site audit every three years and successfully analyze a proficiency testing (PT) sample by September 30th of each year.

A Tracking System has been developed to follow the performance of the Certified Laboratory’s Proficiency Testing (PT) results that are mailed to the Certification Authority at the Environmental Chemistry Laboratory from the PT Provider. PT results are accepted from providers that are approved by EPA’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water. Please have PT Providers forward results to:

Chemistry Parameters
	WVDHHR Bureau of Public Health Office of Laboratory Services Environmental Chemistry Laboratory 4710 Chimney Drive, Suite G Charleston, WV 25302
Microbiology parameters
	WVDHHR Bureau of Public Health Office of Laboratory Services Environmental Microbiology Laboratory 167 11th Avenue South Charleston, WV 25303

A list of Certified Laboratories is posted on the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Office of Laboratory Services Web Site at the beginning of each year and periodically updated and provided to the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health, Office of Environmental Health Services, Compliance and Enforcement Division and to Data Management. The list is subject to change, because a Certified Laboratory’s status can be downgraded, revoked, or their certified parameters may increase.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Microbiology
Chief Certification Officer
Tom Ong
tomong@wvdhhr.org
304-558-3530 Ext. 2710

Certification Officers
Tracy Goodson
tracygoodson@wvdhhr.org

Mike Flesher
mikeflesher@wvdhhr.org

Chemistry
Chief Certification Officer
Larry Duffield
larryduffield@wvdhhr.org
304-965-2694 Ext. 2222

Certification Officer
Gregory Young
gregoryyoung@wvdhhr.org

Patrick Marchio
patrickmarchio@wvdhhr.org

LINKS

List of West Virginia Certified Drinking Water Laboratories

Certification Update Page – Regulatory updates as it relates to Drinking Water Laboratory Certification.

APPLICATIONS

Chemistry Pre-Survey Packet - Complete this application for initial certification and for scheduled On-Site-Audits.

Out-Of-State Certification Request – For Chemistry.

FORMS, PROCEDURES, AND POLICES

Final Legislative Rule CSR 64-03-13 – West Virginia State Code for the Certification of Laboratories to conduct drinking water test

Chemistry
Corrective Action Form – An outline for submitting a report detailing the corrective actions taken by a laboratory for a failed proficiency testing water study (PTWS) result(s).

Proficiency Testing Enrollment Form – Before the Certifying Authority will accept any chemistry PTWS results, this form must be completed and submitted by FAX before the closing date of the enrolled PTWS

Proficiency Testing Water Study Process – Flow Chart

On-Site Audit Timetable – Flow Chart

Microbiology 
Proficiency Test Report From for Certified Drinking Water Laboratories – Annual Proficiency Testing Report Form

RESOURCES LINKS

EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water – Main Website

Manual for the Certification of Laboratories Analyzing Drinking Water – EPA requirements drinking water laboratories are required to meet

Analytical Methods Approved for Drinking Water Compliance Monitoring – EPA Listing of approved test methods for the determination of contaminants in drinking water for regulatory compliance reporting

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations – Rules published by the Federal Goverment

EPA Water Science – EPA Office of Science and Technology is responsible for developing sound, scientifically defensible standards, criteria, advisories, guidelines, limitations and standards guidelines under the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act