CWA Analytical Methods

EPA publishes laboratory analytical methods that are used by industries and municipalities to analyze the chemical, physical and biological components of wastewater and other environmental samples that are required by regulations under the authority of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Most of these methods are published as regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at Title 40 Part 136. Legal authority….

EPA's Office of Science and Technology manages the CWA methods program, working with EPA Regions, states, and stakeholders.

Approved Methods	Approved general-purpose methods Approved industry-specific methods Recent regulatory activity Questions and answers
Alternate Test Procedures and Method Flexibility	Alternate Test Procedure Program Part 136.6 Flexibility to Modify Methods Questions and answers
Other EPA Methods	Wastewater methods not contained in EPA regulations Other Agency Methods
Special Topics	QA/QC Requirements in Methods Not Published by EPA Oil & Grease Measurements Cyanide Measurements Hexavalent Chromium ("Chromium 6") Measurements Mercury Measurements PPCPs Analytical Methods Microbiological Measurements Detection and Quantitation Federal Advisory Committee Effluent Guidelines Toxic and Priority Pollutants
Matrix Effects	Solutions to Analytical Chemistry Problems with Clean Water Act Methods (PDF) (458 K, 62 pp., About PDF) is a revision of the "Pumpkin Book".
FEM	The Forum on Environmental Measurements (FEM) is a standing committee of senior EPA managers that promotes consistency and consensus on measurement issues.
Current Activities	Updating CWA Methods: Possible Amendments to 40 CFR Part 136 Holding Time Study for Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products, Sterols and Hormones Preparing a protocol with which to validate rapid methods for pathogens using qPCR technology

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