Freshwater and wastewater
Proficiency tests
The proficiency tests in the freshwater and wastewater programme are a continuation of the proficiency tests previously organised by Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (RWS-CIV) to support Dutch and Belgian laboratories involved in national monitoring. From 2023, WEPAL-QUASIMEME offers the full organisation of these proficiency tests for freshwater and wastewater.
Participation is open to all laboratories worldwide, however, some determinands are only suitable for local laboratories as analysis needs to be performed on fresh samples. Preservation of samples is not applicable for all types of determinands.
The normal validated methods and procedures of each laboratory should be used to analyse the test materials. Laboratories are requested to fill in method information codes (MIC) for each determinand. This allows laboratories to review the range and similarity of the methodologies used.
| Determinand Group | Sample Type | Exercise |
| Metals | Wastewater | FW1 |
| Metals | Freshwater | FW2 |
| Dried residue | Freshwater and wastewater | FW3 |
| General parameters | Freshwater | FW4 |
| Charge and general parameters | Wastewater | FW5 |
| Chlorophyll and Phaeopigments | Freshwater | AQ11 |
| PFAS | Freshwater | DE18 |
General information
- Fresh- and wastewater samples are mainly prepared from local Dutch surface water and wastewater from Dutch wastewater treatment plants.
- Water samples are filtered using a 1 mm filter.
- The preserved water samples are stable for the period of the test when stored properly.
- Some of the PT samples from FW3, FW4 and FW5 are not stable and will be provided with a required date of analysis.
- All fresh- and wastewater samples are prepared in bulk and tested for its homogeneity where relevant.
- Use your normal validated methods and procedures to analyse the test materials.
- New determinands can be added to these programs on request.
- Reports contain all data reported under strict confidentiality, including Z-score plots and method information of methods used.
Determinands
The list below shows the typical determinands for the Freshwater and wastewater Programmes. These programmes are currently not under the scope of accreditation.
| Analyte group | Typical analytes | Excercise |
| Metals | Silver, Aluminium, Arsenoc, Boron, Barium, Berylium, Calcium, Cadmium, Cerium, Cobalt, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Mercury, Kalium, Magnesium, Manganese, Molybdene, Sodium, Nickel, Lead, Sulfur, Antimony, Selenium, Stannum, Strontium, Tellurium, Titanium, Thallium, Uranium, Vanadium, Tungsten, Zinc | FW1, FW2 |
| Suspended solids | Suspended solids, Loss on ignition | FW3 |
| General parameters | Mineral oil, BOD-5, TOC, DOC, Chloride, EC, Nitrite, Nitrate, Phosphate, ortho-Phosphate, Silicon oxide, Sulphate, pH, Fluoride, Bromide, Kjeldahl nitrogen, Ammonium, Total nitrogen, Total Phosphorous, COD | FW4, FW5 |
| Pigments | Chlorophyll-a, Chlorophyll-b, Chlorophyll-c, Pheopigments, Chlorophyll-a (Corr), Chlorophyll-a (HPLC), Chlorophyll-b (HPLC), Chlorophyll-c (HPLC) | AQ11 |
| Perfluorinated alkyl substances | PFOS, PFBA, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnDA, PFDoA, PFTrDA, PFTeDA, L-PFBS, L-PFHxS, L-PFHpS, PFOSA, PFDS, PFODA, GenX, F-53B, PFBSA, PFHxSA, NMeFOSAA and NEtFOSAA | DE18 |
Reference materials
Samples of previous proficiency tests are sold as reference materials. Available materials can be selected and ordered in our webshop. In our webshop it is also possible to request a quotation. Participants of our proficiency tests are entitled to a discount.