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Wastewater Treatment Test Protocols
In the mid 1970s Eckenfelder Laboratory, then AWARE Incorporated, was selected by the EPA to prepare its authoritative manual, Monitoring and Analysis of Industrial Wastewaters. Even today, the wastewater treatment test protocols EL follows are those developed by our predecessors, AWARE Inc./Eckenfelder Laboratory.
Frequently referenced in industry texts and manuals on the subject of wastewater treatment process design and process evaluation, the Eckenfelder Laboratory protocols and procedures have been further refined, defining process feasibility and design criteria based upon actual test results and data correlations.
Groundwater Monitoring (RCRA)
Since November 19, 1981, owner/operators of surface impoundments, landfills, or land treatment facilities used to manage hazardous waste have been required to implement groundwater monitoring capable of determining the facilities' impact on groundwater quality in the uppermost aquifer underlying its footprint. Either demonstration of a low potential for migration of hazardous waste or implementation of an approved alternate groundwater monitoring system are the only exclusions for the groundwater monitoring program.
RCRA Monitoring
Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), industries must monitor the discharge of hazardous waste. Hazardous waste is defined as exhibiting any one of the following characteristics:
 Ignitability (a flashpoint of less than 140°F)
Corrosivity (a pH of less than 2.0 or greater than 12.5 or corrodes steel at a rate of greater than 6.35 mm/yr at 55°C)
Reactivity (unstable, reacts violently with water, contains sufficient cyanide or sulfide to produce toxic gas, or is capable of detonation)
TCLP (Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure) determines levels of 25 organic substances, in addition to the 14 metals and organics determined by the extraction procedure.
Any wastes meeting these characteristics, or wastes from a wide range of industries defined as inherently toxic by EPA, are required to be classified and analyzed periodically. EL assists our industrial customers by performing all RCRA and hazardous waste analyses as well as treatment and disposal.
NPDES Monitoring
Empirical Laboratories is prepared to assist industrial facilities in the NPDES permit and monitoring program. This program applies to all direct point sources discharging into the waters of the United States. Under the NPDES program, all industries must have both a permit for their direct discharges and monitor discharge characteristics. The normal pollutants monitored are BOD, COD, TOC, suspended solids, ammonia, temperature, pH, chlorine residuals, oil and grease, and fecal coliform. Upon renewal, many NPDES permits are requiring sophisticated tests such as priority pollutant analysis, metals, and bioassays. EL provides sampling, analysis, data management and preparation of Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMR) for approval and signature.
Pretreatment Program
Under the NPDES system, municipalities are required to impose pretreatment limitations on industries discharging into the municipal system. The industries may be required, either on a continuous or periodic basis, to monitor for a wide range of parameters. The pretreatment programs could include both conventional and priority pollutants.
Biomonitoring
EL’s Aquatic Toxicology service area is well-qualified to provide complete laboratory services for biomonitoring, toxicity investigations, and aquatic biological field services.
Metals Analyses - Semi Volatile Analyses - Volatile Analyses - Wet Chemistry Analyses
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