CWT - Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC)

The quality assurance project plan, or QAPP, is a document that outlines the procedures that those who conduct a monitoring project will follow to ensure that the data they collect and analyze meet project requirements. It is an invaluable planning and operating tool that outlines the project's methods of data collection, storage and analysis. It serves not only to convince skeptical data users about the quality of the project's findings but also to record methods, goals and project implementation steps for current and future volunteers and for those who may wish to use the project's data over time.

Volunteer Monitor's Guide to Quality Assurance Project Plans (EPA 841-B96-003) is designed to encourage and facilitate the development of volunteer Quality Assurance Project Plans by clearly presenting explanations and examples.

For citizen-generated data to have a meaningful impact, quality assurance during data gathering is critical. EPA has created a Quality Assurance Toolkit to help organizations starting or growing a citizen science project.

• Handbook for Citizen Science Quality Assurance and Documentation
• Make Your Data Count Video Series 
• Improving Citizen Science Data Quality: Orientation Guide and Fact Sheets

The Clean Water Team has QA/QC resources and assistance available in its Technical Support Section

Some of the most useful are items for QA/QC are contained within:

• The Clean Water Team's Guidance Compendium for Watershed Monitoring and Assessment
• Section 7.0 - Programmatic Quality Assurance and Quality Control
• The Clean Water Team's Tool Box
• The Clean Water Team Glossary: A Vocabulary for Water Quality Monitors and Watershed Stewards
• You may also contact the Clean Water Team for questions regarding QA/QC and Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs).

The SWAMP Information Management and Quality Assurance Center (SWAMP IQ) is tasked with assisting ambient monitoring projects and programs throughout the state. We offer resources that support each stage of water quality monitoring, from sample collection to data entry, as well as providing quality assurance review, verification, and data storage. SWAMP IQ staff strives to promote question-driven monitoring, and to ensure the highest quality data is used to evaluate the health of California’s water bodies.

Key Components of the SWAMP QA program are:

• QAPrP 
• QAPP Tools
• Examples of QAPPs
• QA Process & Guidance Documents
• Water Quality Goals

Quality assurance and quality control are components of a quality system. A quality system is a structured system that describes the policies and procedures for ensuring that work processes, products, or services satisfy the user's specifications and expectations. A quality system is the means by which an organization manages its quality aspects. These aspects are Project Management, Data Generation and Acquisition, and Assessment and Oversight.

The State Water Resources Control Board has prepared documents that are used in our Quality System. They consist of the Quality Management Plan (QMP) which is the overall Quality Assurance (QA) plan for the entire State Water Resources Control Board; Quality Assurance Program Plans (QAPrP), e.g. SWAMP's QA Program Plan; and numerous Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPP).

  Learn more about Water Boards - Quality Assurance/Quality Control.

USEPA Guidance for Quality Assurance Project Plans EPA QA/G-5 is one of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Quality System Series requirements and guidance documents. These documents describe the EPA policies and procedures for planning, implementing, and assessing the effectiveness of the Quality System.

  Learn more about EPA’s Quality Program and How EPA Manages the Quality of its Environmental Information.