Title: An audit of performance in the analysis of biological samples in 1998. Environment Agency : primary audit
Author: R.J.M. Gunn
Author: J.H. Blackburn
Author: J. M. Winder
Author: R. Wiggers
Author: J. Davy-Bowker
Author: J.F. Wright
Document Type: Monograph
Annotation: EA additional title info: Institute of Freshwater Ecology
Abstract:
This report focuses on the biological monitoring of rivers that was undertaken in 1998 by the Environment Agency (The Agency) in England and Wales, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in Scotland, the Industrial Research and Technology Unit (IRTU) in Northern Ireland and the Government Laboratory in the Isle of Man. The collection of standard macro-invertebrate samples and their analysis to the level required for the Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) system is the most widely used biological technique for evaluating river quality in the water industry in the United Kingdom. Used with the computer model RIVPACS (River Invertebrate Prediction and Classification System) developed by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), they are the basis for the Agency's biological classification of water quality. This is used for national General Quality Assessment (GQA) river quality surveys and one of the governments Headline Indicators of environmental quality, as well as for purely operational purposes including Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies, drought orders and drought permits, and determining appropriate discharge consents. These samples are also used for assessing pollution and setting priorities for capital investment. An independent audit of these biological samples is required to ensure that a high and consistent standard of sorting and identification is maintained, to assess the proficiency of the internal laboratory analytical quality control (AQC) inspection and to demonstrate the quality of the data to its users. The AQC Audit provided a measure of the quality of the AQC inspection and was used to adjust the control parameters of the AQC scheme for each laboratory. This report presents the results of the audit of 489 samples that were sorted and identified by the Agencys primary analysts.
Publisher: Environment Agency
Publication Date: 1999
Publication Place: Bristol
Subject Keywords: Rivers; Water quality; Water quality measurements; Methodology; Macroinvertebrates; Quality controls; Auditing
Geographic Keywords: England; Wales
Extent: 112
Permalink: http://www.environmentdata.org/archive/ealit:1645
Total file downloads: 274
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