- 20 



In the United States, samples were sent to the U.S. Geological Survey 

 laboratory (USGS), the Montana Department of Health and Environmental 

 Sciences (MDHES), and to the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology (MBMG). 

 The data for TDS, laboratory specific conductance and boron are shown in 

 Table 5. 



Table 5 



Data Comparability, December 17, 1985 Sampling Trip 

 (units are mg/L) 



Parameter 



Environment Canada 

 SRC EC-NAT EC-REG 



U.S. Geological Survey 



M-HEALTH 



MBMG MDHES USGS 



Total Diss. Solids 

 Spec Cond (us/cm) 

 Boron-dissolved 



1124 908 

 1450 1450 1470 

 1.7 - 1.5 



979 987 950 



1496 1497 1550 



1.7 1.8 1.8 



A comparison of June quality control data indicates significant 

 differences in the calcium and alkalinity results which are used in the 

 calculation of total dissolved solids. The December results showed some 

 improvement in the comparability of boron results. It does appear, 

 however, that the Water Quality Branch regional laboratory reports 

 consistently lower boron concentrations than the USGS laboratory. 

 Additional inter-agency quality control work will have to be undertaken in 

 1986, with the inclusion of some spiked samples and blanks. 



