Freshwater and wastewater - WEPAL-QUASIMEME

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.
  • Reportscontain 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
    Real totals Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Br, C-elementary, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Dy, F, Fe, Ga, Gd, Ge, Hg, I, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, N - elementary, Na, Nb, Nd, Ni, P, Pb, Pd, Pr, Pt, Rb, Rh, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Si, Sm, Sn, Sr, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, W, Y, Yb, Zn, Zr
    Acid extractable (So-called totals) Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Br, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cu, F, Fe, Ga, Hg, I, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, N, Na, Nb, Nd, Ni, P, Pb, Pt, Rb, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Si, Sn, Sr, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, Y, Zn, Zr
    Aqua Regia (ISO 11466) Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Br, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cu, F, Fe, Ga, Hg, I, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nd, Ni, P, Pb, Pt, Rb, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Si, Sn, Sr, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, Y, Zn, Zr
    Extraction with boiling 2M HNO3 Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Tl, Zn
    Extraction with 0.1M NaNO3 Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn
    Extraction with 0.01M CaCl2 1:10 Al, B, Cd, CN, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, N - NH4 (as N), N - NO3 (as N), N total soluble, Na, Ni, P, Pb, SO4, Zn
    Soil characteristics C - org others (W&B a.o.), TIC=Tot.Inorg C(as CaCO3), TOC=Total Org. C, TC=Total C (org.+inorg.), Org.matter (L.O.I.), Active Lime (as CaCO3), EC-SC (ISO 11265), pH - CaCl2, pH - H2O, pH - KCl, Fraction < 2 µm, Fraction < 16 µm, Fraction < 63 µm, Fraction > 63 µm
    Other determinations B - Hot water, CN - Free, CN - Total, delta 13C, delta 15N, K - HCl (as K), Mg - NaCl (as Mg), Moisture-content
    Fluoride (Swiss standard procedure) F - Total
    Pot. CEC using 1M NH4-acetate at pH=7 CEC, Al, Ca, K, Mg, Na
    Pot. CEC using 1M or 0.1M BaCl2-TEA at pH=8.1 (ISO 13536 OR BZE) CEC, Al, Ca, K, Mg, Na
    Pot. CEC using 1M NH4Cl (BZE) CEC, Al, Ca, Fe, H, K, Mg, Mn, Na
    Act. CEC using 0.01M BaCl2 (ISO 11260) CEC, Al, Ca, Fe, H, K, Mg, Mn, Na
    Act. CEC using 0.1M BaCl2 (UNEP-UN/EC 91065A) CEC, Al, Ca, Fe, H, K, Mg, Mn, Na
    Act. CEC using cobaltihexamine (AFNOR NFX 31 130) CEC, Al, Ca, Fe, H, K, Mg, Mn, Na
    Mehlich-3 Al, As, B, Ca, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Se, Pb, Zn
    Extraction with Ca-lactate (VDLUFA, Germany) K, P
    Extraction with double lactate (VDLUFA, Germany) K, P
    Water soluble 1:10 (w/v) (EN-12457-4) Br, Cl, F, N - NO3 (as N)
    Extraction with 0.01M CaCl2 - 0.005M DTPA 1:10 (w/v) Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn
    Extraction with 1M KCl 1:10 (w/v) N - NH4 (as N), N - NO3 (as N)
    Phosphorus and related analysis P - Ox, Al - Ox, Fe - Ox, P - AL (as P), P - w (as P), P - Bray (as P), P - Olsen (as P)
    Extraction with 1M HCl (Polish standard) B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn
    Water soluble 1:10 (w/v) (Neth standard VPR C85-06) Br, Cl, F, SO4
    UK Soil Methods K - NH4NO3 (1/5), Mg - NH4NO3 (1/5), P – NaHCO3 (1/20), pH - H2O (2/5)
    Extraction with dilute nitric acid (0.43 Mol/l) ISO 17586 Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Br, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Te, Ti, Tl, V, Zn

    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.