WATER, QUALITY - Policy statement on development, testing, approval, and publication of chemical and instrumental methods of water analysis.


                                           December 21, 1960

QUALITY OF WATER BRANCH MEMORANDUM NO. 61.23

To:       District Chiefs and Staff Officials
          Quality of Water Branch

From:     Chief, Quality of Water Branch

Subject:  WATER, QUALITY - Policy statement on development,
          testing, approval, and publication of chemical and
          instrumental methods of water analysis.

In my memorandum of November 18, 1957, the general features 
of administration, operation and reports on research of this 
Branch were described.  Instructions in that memorandum are 
herein revised with respect to the development, testing, 
approval, and publication of chemical and instrumental 
methods of water analysis.

     1.   M. W. Skougstad, by virtue of being leader of the
project, "Analytical methods -- water chemistry," and by
designation by this office, is responsible for development 
and/or coordination of new and improved chemical and 
instrumental methods of water analysis.  Most of the Branch 
research on methods will be conducted by Mr. Skougstad or 
under his direction and supervision.

     2.   As appropriate, new or improved methods may be
developed in District offices.  Unless the total research 
effort on a particular method is estimated to cost under 
$500, it must be cleared in advance with Mr. Skougstad.  This 
is to avoid duplication of effort and to take advantage of 
suggestions he may make that are designed to facilitate the 
research work. Clearance does not include a claim for funds 
with which to conduct the research.  Results of methods 
research in a District office will be forwarded to Mr. 
Skougstad for review and, if appropriate, will be sent to the 
Washington office as noted below.

     3.   Research on methodology estimated to cost under 
$500 for each method studied need not be cleared in advance 
with Mr. Skougstad.  However, he will be glad to make 
suggestions if requested.  Also, results of such studies, if 
significant, must be forwarded to Mr. Skougstad for comment 
and/or recommendation.

     4.   New and improved methods, whether developed by Mr.
Skougstad's unit or elsewhere, when considered valid for use 
by the Quality of Water Branch, will be forwarded to the 
Washington office by Mr. Skougstad with a recommendation, (1) 
to distribute to all offices of the Branch for trial use, and 
(2) to submit to an appropriate journal for publication if 
the new method represents a significant contribution to the 
literature.

     5.   If this office concurs with Mr. Skougstad's
recommendation, a new (or improved) method description will 
be duplicated (probably in Denver) and distributed to all 
Quality of Water offices for trial.  Each office with 
adequate laboratory facilities, and a need to make the 
determination for which the method is designed, will be 
expected to use it and make as complete a study of the method 
as practicable.  On or before the end of six months each 
participating District will submit a report to Mr. Skougstad 
giving the results of the experience gained.  If the 
summation of District office experience is favorable, the 
method (with or without minor changes) will be approved for 
routine use in the Branch.  The method will then be submitted 
for publication in the Water-Supply Paper series as a
replacement (or addition, if appropriate) to the method or
methods in WSP 1454.  If the summation of District office
comments is unfavorable, additional development work may be
undertaken or the method may be abandoned.

     6.   At the time that the new (or improved) method is
distributed to field offices for testing, it will also be 
sent to a technical journal for publication unless the 
development is minor and not worthy of publication.  This 
will get the method in the literature to establish credit and 
to provide for testing by other public and private agencies.  
Author credit will be given in accordance with the usual 
practice of recognizing individual contributors.


                                   (signed)

                                   S. K. Love


WRD Distribution:  A, B, S4, FO4, SL