Our lab knocked it out of the park this year with two successes! They passed the annual proficiency test required by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). A few short weeks later, the DNR audit for lab certification occurred…and the final result is in. They received only one deficiency, and a very minor and correctable one at that. The audit success of one deficiency is a first – at least in the last 20 years!
The importance of a certified lab
Both the DNR proficiency test and the DNR audit are required to keep the lab’s certifications valid. The proficiency test is annual and assesses the quality and accuracy of the lab’s methods. The more demanding DNR audit is every three years.
“If we didn’t have a certified lab, we wouldn’t be able to take care of the samples we need for permit compliance,” says Martye Griffin, director of Ecosystem Services. “We would have to send them all out and that would be inefficient and expensive.”
Performance exam
The DNR audit is an extensive, two-day event where each member of the lab spends at least an hour with an auditor, performing the analyses done in their area and answering a rigorous set of questions. The audit, as well as the preparation for it, is intense. Lab manager Mary Powers and chemist Kris Mazzuca say it’s like an exam.
“They look closely to see that we say what we do and we do what we say,” says Kris. The auditor compares their answers to the SOP for the analysis they are performing. And what does success look like? “We gave them all the right answers,” says Kris with a smile, “everyone knew what they needed to know.”
A “top-notch” team
Mary and Kris attribute the excellent results to both the structure of the lab and the longevity and experience of the lab team – Kris, with 22 years of experience at the District, and chemist Josh LeMoine, with 17 years, have been through many audits here. The lab’s structure, with one chemist in charge of each area, also contributes to a successful audit.
“Each person has their area that they are solely responsible for, and they are the expert in,” says Mary. Other labs she has worked in have analysts switching from area to area on a rotation, leaving no one more of an expert than anyone else. While cross-training is still an important part of the lab’s functioning, the long-standing structure of one chemist primarily responsible for one area provides a stable foundation for excellence.
But it also comes down to the quality and dedication of each team member. “We have a top-notch team of analysts,” says Martye. “The District is lucky to have this high-performing team.”
Congratulations to our chemists on their success in 2025! For more District news, follow @madmetrosewer on your favorite social media channel.
