Qualifications & Experience
Water
- Routine Monitoring – ASI is USEPA Approved for Cryptosporidium analysis for LT2 Round 2, under the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2) Laboratory Quality Program. ASI has helped more than 400 public water suppliers throughout the United States meet their LT2 compliance requirements. We have analyzed more than 30,000 samples using EPA Methods for the detection of Cryptosporidium and Giardia. In addition, ASI is accredited under NELAC/TNI by the New Hampshire ELAP for selected parameters and matrices. We serve clients nationwide regarding compliance and non-compliance samples of water.
- LT2 Variance Assessment – After a nationwide search, ASI was selected by Portland Water Bureau (Portland, OR) to serve as their microbiological laboratory for Method 1623 analyses in pursuit of, application for, and, ultimately, compliance with a treatment variance under the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule. This project included analysis of well over 1,000 samples, including high volume samples (200L), high frequency samples (20+ per week), routine and event based samples, reservoir and tributary water and wildlife scat samples. ASI also developed and validated a method modification to address a seasonal water matrix that interfered with protozoa recovery. The modified method, which overcame the seasonal matrix effect, was accepted by the USEPA and the State of Oregon, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and ultimately, PWB’s request for a LT2 treatment variance was granted by the OHA.
- Distribution System Investigation – In response to total coliform positive results, ASI conducted a major distribution system investigation for a major public water supplier in southeasternU.S. to confirm coliform positive samples, assess sources, and identify potential operational and treatment based solutions. ASI routinely receives, confirms, and speciates total coliform positive samples for PWS clients
- Watershed Pathogen Survey – ASI designed and conducted and watershed pathogen survey in the southeastern U.S. that involved monthly sampling at 23 stations for 24 months, plus event-based sampling. Samples were analyzed for Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and bacterial pathogens (Campylobacter, Clostridium, and Salmonella) and indicator species (total coliforms, E. coli and male specific and somatic coliphage).
- Legionella Monitoring – Routine and investigatory Legionella analyses for clients throughout the United States, including industrial corporate clients, large public water suppliers, hospital and nursing care facilities, hotel industry clients, etc. Legionella enumeration, with confirmation / serogrouping of presumptive positive Legionella isolates. ASI also provides genetic sequencing of Legionella, if needed for special projects. In addition, ASI can help clients understand and implement ASHRAE Standard 188-2015: Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems.
- Public Interactive Water Features (PIWF) / Recreational Water – ASI provides consulting, monitoring, management plan development and expert witness services for municipalities and industry with regard to fecal contamination and the risk of Cryptosporidiosis in pools, fountains and other PIWFs.
- Funded Research – Water – The Water Research Foundation (formerly the American Water Works Research Foundation) awarded ASI the contract for #4024: Significance of Current Methods and Monitoring Strategies for E. coli and Total Coliform Measurements. This study, published in 2010, assessed the various methods approved for total coliform and E. coli detection, involved 26 public water suppliers in theU.S. andU.K., with direct and in-kind funding exceeding $800,000.
Wastewater
- Reclaimed Water – ASI provides monitoring services for reclaimed water, including Cryptosporidium / Giardia (EPA 1693 and 1623.1), virus testing (EPA 1615 plus adenoviruses), Clostridium perfringens, coliphages, etc., for clients throughout the U.S. In addition, ASI provides laboratory support for Reclaimed Water Pilot Testing - (62-610.564, F.A.C.) for enteroviruses, Cryptosporidium, Giardia and helminthes.
- Agricultural Runoff – ASI provided laboratory support for a USDA sponsored study to assess Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Salmonella, E. coli, E. coli O157, etc. in manure, sediment and agricultural runoff.
- Urban River Pathogens – ASI received and analyzed sediment samples as part of the Passaic River Restoration Project (NJ). These samples incorporated a complex matrix that presented analytical challenges as well as microbiological and chemical safety issues. In addition, ASI is currently providing microbiological laboratory support (protozoa, viruses and bacteria) for a study involving a USEPA designated Superfund site inNew York.
Biosolids
- Testing – In the past two years, we have performed well over 1,000 analyses for biosolid pathogens, on samples from clients in almost half of the 50 U.S. states. Typical biosolids analyses include the following: enteric viruses, viable helminth ova, fecal coliform, and, Salmonella. Other non-regulatory indicator analyses such as MS2 coliphage are also available.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
- Pilot Plant Challenge Study / Validation – ASI recently completed a 28 day, 24/7 project where we provided consulting and laboratory support for a pilot pant project in the southeastern U.S. ASI supplied MS2 coliphage stock for injection into the plant to document viral reduction due to treatment. Samples were collected at a variety of samples points (raw water, after mixed media filters, R/O permeate, etc., and microbiological analyses included algae, coliphage, Cryptosporidium / Giardia, enteric viruses and Legionella.
- Method Comparison Studies – For two different products, ASI was selected by a major multinational corporation to perform method comparison studies under the US EPA’s Alternative Test Protocol (ATP) to document method performance relative to an approved reference method. These studies involved analysis of samples from numerous sites, injured and uninjured organisms, multiple confirmations steps, etc., resulting in thousands of data points. ASI has also provided the essential method development research for other products, which improved performance to allow the clients to pursue method approval.
- Seasonal Effects – ASI has investigated seasonal matrix effects on Method 1623 performance and co-authored the resulting manuscript (Shaw, et. al., Modification to EPA Method 1623 to address seasonal matrix effect encountered in some U.S. source waters. J. Microbiological Methods, 75(2008)445-448.) In addition, ASI has developed other Method 1623 method modifications to address matrix effects.
- Challenge Studies – ASI routinely designs and executes microbiological challenge studies for product validation for a wide variety of types of products and client objectives. Products tested have included water treatment devices (filters with and without disinfection, ultra-violet lights, etc.), chemical disinfectants, etc., antimicrobial treatments for surfaces, food processing, etc. under routine and challenging test conditions. ASI has tested devices using a range of protocols, including NSF Protocol P248 Emergency Military Operations - Microbiological Water Purifiers (Dec. 2008). ASI has also written test protocols and provided laboratory support (sample preparation and analysis) for a number of studies designed to validate the performance of alternative medical waste treatment (MWT) technologies.