Alkalinity Sample Analysis to Ensure Accuracy of Field Results

USGS Field Technician, Kammy Durham, analyzing an alkalinity sample for the National Field Quality Assurance (NFQA) project.  Nationwide, hundreds of field measurements are made daily by USGS field analysts. The data reported by the NFQA project provides a confidence level to these field measurements by testing the proficiency of the instruments and the field analyst to measure prepared test samples. The proficiency data obtained through the NFQA should be reflected in the data collected by the field analyst on a daily basis and documents the precision of the method for alkalinity, pH, and specific conductance.