What to Do With a Result Above Your Permit Limit

by | Dec 23, 2020 | Resources, Sampling, Soil Analyses, Water Analyses

Video Overlay

When people come to SVL Analytical, they’re often looking for data to show that they’re in compliance with the applicable regulations or permits. What happens when the data you get back isn’t in compliance? 

That can be a stressful situation and we want to help the best we can. 

Historical Data

First, the historical data of your sample should be considered.  If you have historical data about your site and you have never had a result above your permit level, then an error may have occurred during sampling or at the lab. 

Resample or Reanalyze 

This leaves you with two choices: either you resample, or you have the lab re-run the sample you submitted. Re-running the sample submitted to the lab may account for errors at the lab but not those that may have happened during sampling. 

Reanalyzing samples already submitted is not foolproof, sometimes errors can not be recreated or determined. If you do not have historical data and you believe that the results don’t make sense, request a reanalysis or resample. We want you to have accurate, legally defensible data in order for you to make the correct decisions for your project.

Statistical Variation

If you’ve already looked at your history and your historical average is near your action level, a result just above the action level may fall within acceptable statistical variation. 

This means if you tested the sample multiple times, some results would be above your action level and some would be below. SVL has procedures in place for how we re-analyze your samples and how a re-analysis shows up on your report. 

If there is justification for a re-analysis you will receive a report with only the new results; if not, then you will receive a report with both sets of results. We do this so that we can show transparency and that we are not in collusion with our clients. 

Resampling

Overall, if you’re not happy with the results, resampling is often the best choice. This will remove any questions about contamination or sample mix-up prior to the samples arriving at the lab. 

Each situation is unique, your project manager would love to work with you to find the best scenario for you. 

Join us for more information

about the environmental laboratory industry, plus events we’re attending and hosting.

New Private Drinking Water COC / Submittal For

We’ve updated our Private Drinking Water COC/Submittal Form for Coliform Bacteria and basic chemical analysis. You can download it at  our Resources page.    

New Sandpoint Drop-off Location

Our Sandpoint drop-off location has moved from Ponderay Pump to Kootenai-Ponderay Sewer District: Kootenai-Ponderay Sewer District511 Whiskey Jack RdSandpoint, ID 83864 Please drop off samples Tuesday afternoons before 5:00 PM, or between 8:30 AM and 8:45 AM on...

PWS Drinking Water COC

We’ve updated our Public Water Supply (PWS) Drinking Water COC/Submittal Form for Coliform Bacteria and basic chemical analysis. You can download it at  our Resources page.    

Biotic Ligand Model

The Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) takes into account many environmental conditions in order to determine if a metal exists in a form or concentration that is toxic to aquatic life.  Toxicity is usually based upon the dosage of whatever it is that we are looking at.  At...

SVL Analytical celebrates 50 years of science, family and mining

From geology exploration to environmental compliance, SVL attributes its longevity to hard work and an adaptive mentality. The laboratory may be an unrecognized partner—that is until something goes wrong like a spill, a breach, a new compliance rule. Our data users...

TCLP or SPLP on a Solid Sample

Why is this TCLP/SPLP on a solid sample a common question? The main reason is that people don’t understand the difference between characterization and hazardous determination.  The EPA developed the TCLP Program to determine when certain materials have to go to a...

What does Cation/Anion Balance Mean?

Introduction to Cation/Anion Balance (CA Balance) Water that is potable (drinkable) should be electrically neutral.  This is determined by taking into account results from the following analytical testing: pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids, and other analytical...

What’s the difference between accuracy and precision?

Have you ever wondered what the difference between accuracy and precision is? The classic example is this: I shoot five arrows from a hundred yards and they land either in or just outside of the bullseye.  The consensus from the gallery will be that I am a very...

Understanding Control Charts

What are control charts? Control charts are a visual depiction of ongoing data points that various statistics are applied to.  The EPA used to require a laboratory to adjust its spike acceptance recovery percentage based upon how spikes were recovered over time...

How Low Can You Go – Well No Lower Than The MDL

There is always confusion on how low a lab can go when it comes to what their instruments can detect.  The EPA and TNI came together and changed how Method Detection Limits (MDL) are established for an instrument or group of instruments. They wanted to account for the...