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Analyses of the Canada reference standard (Table 6) again showed 

 good agreement, with the exception of Saskatchewan Research Council 

 results for chloride and TDS, and the U.S. Geological Survey result 

 for fluoride. 



The results of the quality control work conducted in 1986 show 

 improved data comparability between Environment Canada and the U.S. 

 Geological Survey over similar work done in 1985. It was noted in 

 the 1985 Annual Report that Environment Canada monthly monitoring 

 results for boron in the East Poplar River tended to be consistently 

 lower than those reported by the U.S. Geological Survey laboratory. 

 This trend continued through the first quarter of 1986. Improved 

 compatability between the two laboratories was apparent in the second 

 quarter 1986 boron results. During the third and fourth quarters, 

 this trend showed a reversal, with the U.S. Geological Survey boron 

 concentrations being slightly less than those of Environment Canada. 

 It should be understood, however, that monthly samples collected by 

 the two agencies are from different water, often collected several 

 days apart. 



