The Lab

See important information about water quality or how Delray Beach drinking water compares with Federal and State standards by following these links to our Water Quality Chart and the Consumer Confidence Report.

Organization and Responsibilities

Environmental Compliance Manager
The Compliance Manager is responsible for maintaining all Quality System Procedures used within the laboratory as prescribed by the National Environmental Laboratory Association Conference's (NELAC) most recent standard, perform internal quality audits according to this standard, administer the Quality Assurance Plan and provide an annual "quality review" of laboratory operations.  manage and distribute analytical samples to subcontracted laboratories and to the Delray Beach Environmental Services laboratory within the guidelines of this Quality Assurance Plan, administer the effective operation of sample distribution for testing; data retrieval and consolidation for reporting test results to the Water Treatment Plant Manager and/or Supervisor for compliance reporting purposes.  The Laboratory Manager is responsible for preparing and maintaining the laboratory budget and ensuring that all purchases meet quality standards as mandated by the method or test specifications.  The Laboratory Manager ensures that staff follows Standard Operating Procedures, the Quality Manual and initiate corrective action when necessary.

 The Compliance Manager, through the Delray Beach ESD Management, Personnel Department policies and procedures and through the Finance Department policies and procedures, provides laboratory personnel with a budget and financial resources to perform their duties as prescribed by these standards. The Compliance Manager allows for training of personnel and proper technical support from "outside sources". 

• Maintaining and updating the Quality Manual and all Standard Operating Procedures
• Maintaining laboratory certification
• Overseeing Performance audits
• Reviewing all Quality Control Data
• Preparing Control Charts and determining limits
• Validating the determination of method detection limits
• Coordinating the preparation of quality assurance reports to management and regulatory agencies
• Coordinating the preparation of quality assurance plans
• Reviewing new or proposed protocols to determine appropriate use and reviewing the method validation package
• Performing managerial audits
• Communicating QA information to staff
• Evaluating the effectiveness of corrective actions and recommending additional measures if necessary
• Notifying management of deficiencies in the quality system 
• Directing proper laboratory testing techniques of personnel to assure accurate analytical results.
• Directing all samples delivered to the laboratory to properly certified analysts either within the laboratory or to subcontracted certified laboratories.
• Negotiating pricing and services with contracted laboratories
• Signing and processing invoices for testing services.
• Scheduling personnel to assure for the timely testing of samples.
• Reviewing, and documenting the review of, all internally generated data to verify the accuracy of such data (including transcription errors and calculation errors), and quality control checks.
• Overseeing the disposition of chemical waste from the laboratory.
• Providing or initiate training of personnel in preventive maintenance and safety.
• Overseeing preventative maintenance activities.
• Evaluating and implementing changes in methodology and quality control measures.
• Identifying quality control problems and taking measures to correct or eliminate the problem source.
• Maintaining the storage of all laboratory documents in an organized manner as prescribed in this Manual.
• Providing to the Senior Chemist all necessary data and access to operations and test reports that will allow for proper evaluation of the quality systems of the laboratory.

Senior Chemist
The Senior Chemist is to conduct analytical testing following the most current Quality Manual and Standard Operating procedures and applicable methodology for each analyte.  This position also: 

• Acts in the capacity of Compliance Manager in his absence.  In addition, Senior Chemist is to make appropriate recommendations to the Compliance Manager when he observes other laboratory employees are not functioning in compliance with NELAP procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Keep a watch on the annual schedule for the laboratory prepared by the Compliance Manager and ensure that all analyses are scheduled for the month that is indicated on that schedule.
• Prepares and documents the preparation of all analytical standards to be used for calibration and for verification of calibration of all testing instruments to be used in the application of the test method.
• Performs all required tests following the laboratory "Standard Test Methods" established by this Quality Assurance Plan.
• Performs all quality assurance calibration checks, method checks, analytical blanks, calibration curves, sample duplicates and sample spikes as required by the Standard Operating Procedure, test method, and this Quality Assurance Plan.
• Performs data verification according to the Standard Operating Procedures.
• Documents any "out of limits data observed" as flagged data and reports this to the Compliance Manager.
• Documents any non-conformances, initiating corrective action if necessary and reports this to the Compliance Manager.
• Pay special attention to the sample log in file and ensure that each sample has a unique identifying number.
• Evaluate instrument failure in the main laboratory and in the operator's laboratory and report to Compliance Manager.  Keep him in the loop of all preventive maintenance scheduled.
• Calibrate instruments on Friday for the Operator's Laboratory and as needed in the absence of the Junior Chemist.
• Maintain data in LIMS for the laboratory including MDL & CDC's
• Pass all Proficiency Testing samples assigned by Compliance Manager.

Junior Chemist
The Junior Chemists is to conduct analytical testing following the most current Quality Manual and Standard Operating procedures and applicable methodology for each analyte.  This position also:

• Prepares and documents the preparation of all analytical standards to be used for calibration and for verification of calibration of all testing instruments to be used in the application of the test method.
• Performs all required tests following the laboratory "Standard Test Methods" established by this Quality Assurance Plan.
• Performs all quality assurance calibration checks, method checks, analytical blanks, calibration curves, sample duplicates and sample spikes as required by the Standard Operating Procedure, test method, and this Quality Assurance Plan.
• Performs data verification according to the Standard Operating Procedures.
• Documents any "out of limits data observed" as flagged data and reports this to the Compliance Manager.
• Documents any non-conformances, initiating corrective action if necessary and reports this to the Compliance Manager.
• Pay special attention to the sample log in file and ensure that each sample has a unique identifying number.
• Calibrate instruments on Friday for the Operator's Laboratory and as needed.
• Maintain data in LIMS for the laboratory including MDL & CDC's
• Keep both the Compliance Manager and the Senior Chemist advised of all preventive maintenance scheduled or unscheduled.
• Pass all Proficiency Testing samples assigned by Compliance Manager.
• Perform all necessary work and cross train in the area of Microbiology.

Laboratory Technician
The Laboratory Technician is to conduct analytical testing following the most current Quality Manual and Standard Operating procedures and applicable methodology for each analyte.  This position also:

• Performs all required tests following the laboratory "Standard Test Methods" established by this Quality Assurance Plan.
• Performs all quality assurance calibration checks, method checks, analytical blanks, calibration curves, sample duplicates and sample spikes as required by the Standard Operating Procedure, test method, and this Quality Assurance Plan.
• Performs data verification according to the Standard Operating Procedures.
• Documents any "out of limits data observed" as flagged data and reports this to the Compliance Manager.
• Documents any non-conformances, initiating corrective action if necessary and reports this to the Compliance Manager.
• Pay special attention to the sample log in file and ensure that each sample has a unique identifying number.
• Maintain data in LIMS for the laboratory routine including MDL & CDC's, and seek assistance from Senior or Junior Chemist.
• Keep both the Compliance Manager and the Senior Chemist advised of all preventive maintenance scheduled or unscheduled.
• Pass all Proficiency Testing samples assigned by Compliance Manager.

Field Technician
The Field Technician is to collect water samples from the field and to collect field data following the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Standard Operating Procedures DEP-SOP-001/01.  This position also performs sample analysis as needed following the Quality Manual and the applicable Standard Operating Procedures.   The Field Sampling Specialist also:

• Follow a chain of custody in the field and ensure that each sample is logged in properly with a unique identifying number.
• Prepares sample collection vessels or bottles and check necessary equipment.
• Prepares sample collection documentation and "chain of custody" forms for the collection of samples.
• Follows sampling routes published in the "Field Manual", collecting samples within and outside the Water Treatment Plant.
• Obtains water samples while flushing the collection system.
• Performs field tests using field-testing equipment and documents such tests and quality control checks and calibrations.
• Documents sample collection as prescribed within the Field Manual.
• Provides the collected samples to the "Sample In" refrigerator within the laboratory and documents all samples relinquished to the laboratory in the sample receipt log.
• Documents any "out of limits data observed" as flagged data and reports this to the Compliance Manager.
• Documents any deviation from procedures established by this Quality Assurance Plan as a "Discovered Non-Conformance", initiating corrective action if necessary and reporting the non-conformance to the Compliance Manager.
• Follow all of the February 1, 2004 DEP-SOP-001/01 Standard Operating Procedures for Field Activities.
• Maintain data in LIMS for the laboratory routine including MDL & CDC's, and seek assistance from Senior or Junior Chemist.