SWAMP – Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program
QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL
Quality Assurance (QA) includes activities that ensure that data collected are of adequate quality given the monitoring objectives. Quality Assurance consists of two separate but interrelated activities: Quality Control (QC); and Quality Assessment. Quality control refers to the technical activities employed to ensure that the data collected are adequate given the monitoring objectives to be tested. Quality Assessment activities are implemented to quantify the effectiveness of the quality control procedures.
Some of the steps being taken to ensure that high quality data is produced by SWAMP efforts include:
- Implementation of provisions described in the Quality Assurance Program Plan (QAPrP) and Quality Assurance Management Plan (QAMP);
- External expert peer review of program's scientific, technical and programmatic processes and finding;
- External third party referee QA program to provide external QA services including QA planning and review assistance, conducting/assisting with laboratory performance audits, data validation and verification efforts.
QA Support Material
- SWAMP QAPP Advisor - A system to assist in writing Quality Assurance Project Plans
- 2002 SWAMP Quality Assurance Management Plan (QAMP) for the State of California's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program
- QAPP Template - SWAMP-Compatible, March 2004
- SWAMP-QA Checklist - for QAPP Review, April 2004
- 2008 SWAMP Qualtiy Assurance Program Plan (QAPrP) for the State of California's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program
- QAPP Template - SWAMP-Compatible, December 2008
- SWAMP-QA Checklist - for QAPP Review, December 2008
- Division of Financial Assistance Use
- Grandfather Clause: Projects funded by SWAMP budget allocations for fiscal year (FY) 2008-2009 and later must follow the requirements of the 2008 Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program Quality Assurance Program Plan (QAPrP). Established projects and those that prefer to be Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program- (SWAMP-) comparable may also choose to operate under this document.
Projects already funded by pre-FY 2008-2009 SWAMP budget allocations may continue to completion under the 2002 Quality Assurance Management Plan for the State of California's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (QAMP).
- How to be Comparable with SWAMP
- Funding Opportunities for Citizen's Groups - provided by the Clean Water Team (CWT)
- Monitoring Design and Quality Assurance Workshop Presentations - for Projects Compatible with the SWAMP Program
- Performance Based Method System Protocol (PBMS)
More Information
- For Additional Background, Review U.S.EPA's Volunteer Monitor's Guide to Quality Assurance Project Plans
- For technical questions on the QAPP (QAMP), please refer to the State Water Resources Control Board Quality Assurance Officer Bill Ray (email) or at (916) 341-5583.