Until now, those studying for the Wastewater Laboratory
Analyst Certification exam have been forced to pick up bits and pieces of
the information required for the exam from scattered references, each
covering only a small part of the exam. This new text compiles a broad
range of information and neatly summarizes each of the required subject
areas.
The book evolved from a series of lectures delivered by the author in a
ongoing 40-hour training class designed to prepare students for the
Wastewater Laboratory Analyst Certification exam administered by the
Association of Boards of Certification and other certifying authorities
or licensing agencies. This exam tests the level of knowledge that
operators of treatment plants and lab analysts must have to properly
interpret test results.
The book applies to all four classes of certification from basic skills
used by treatment plant operators or lab technicians performing process
control tests through more advanced and expert qualifications required of
analysts and laboratory managers. Unlike study guides that merely provide
practice questions for those preparing to sit for an exam, this text
gives the reader a complete practical background in the chemistry needed
to perform and interpret the tests.
Included are sections covering instrument testing - metals, gas
chromatography, and mass-spectrometry. Each instrument and its operation
is described along with guidelines for identifying analytes and
interpreting results, sample preparation, and quality control. A major
portion of the book examines traditional testing methods. Over 25
parameters are covered. Each chapter in this part of the book discusses
what compounds may be found in wastewater samples, the chemistry of each
testing method, sample preparation and quality control, and the
calculation of results. The final portion of the book looks at training
and preparation for the Certification exam. By following the outline for
the author's own 40-hour course, the reader can determine how much time
and effort should be spent on each topic. Other lectures in the book
address general topics including the regulatory framework, quality
assurance, process control calculations, data interpretation, and
Performance Based Measurement Systems (PBMS).
The text can be used as part of a formal lecture presentation or as a
stand-alone self-study instruction manual. Although the lectures are
oriented for the new analyst, seasoned veterans will find many nuggets of
useful information as well. The book is also helpful for environmental
engineering personnel who want more insight into the chemistry of
analysis.
The author is a graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology
and holds a Ph.D. from Colorado State University. Formerly a research
faculty member in chemistry at California Institute of Technology, Dr.
Smith has also been a faculty member of Southern College of Technology.
He is currently Analytical Methods Manager for Analytical Services, Inc.
of Norcross, GA, and is licensed as both a Water and Wastewater
Laboratory Analyst in the state of Georgia. He has worked as a
technician, scientist, and manager of environmental analysis
laboratories, and has developed and presented industrial education
courses on environmental analysis and related topics for Hewlett Packard
and Fisher Scientific. Dr. Smith has also developed continuing education
courses on Analysis of Solids, Air Pollution and Monitoring, Organic
Parameters, and Physical, Chemical, and Biological Parameters, which have
been certified by the State of Georgia Board of Water and Wastewater.
Author of numerous books and papers, Dr. Smith has previously written the
Handbook of Environmental Analysis and co-authored Environmental
Laboratory Data Evaluation for Genium Publishing.
