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EPA Water Quality Exchange:Oregon’s Lessons Learning

Curtis CudeData Exchange Specialist(503) 229-6086

Information Services Oregon DEQ

April 25, 2007

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This presentation focuses on lessons Oregon DEQ continues to learn implementing WQX.

Past experience with water data flows

Struggles faced implementing WQX

Scouting report and recommendations

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Oregon’s LASAR came online in 1998 to house all (air, land, and water) monitoring data.

We cracked the STORET parameter code to enable backfilling of LASAR.

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Metadata from one STORET parameter code was separated into many LASAR fields.

STORET Parameter Code Name

49042 LEAD TCLP SED TOT MG/L

ID Name Modifier (x4)

Analytical Method

Sample Media

Units External ID

1430 Lead Total TCLP Sediment mg/L 49042

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The current web application to access LASAR was introduced in 2005

Parameter names were simplified for display. Station types were introduced from PNW WQX.

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PNW WQX, completed early 2005, demonstrated the feasibility of many important EN concepts.

The challenges we didn’t tackle included standard lists for characteristics, taxa, or units; little QA/QC.

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OW WQX Pilot (late 2005) demonstrated the feasibility of sending WQ xml to EPA OW Central Data Warehouse.

This was a successful utilization of existing infrastructure on a subset of DEQ WQ data.

OW WQX

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Coinciding with the OW WQX Pilot, DEQ engaged with SRS for web services and naming.

Kudos to SRS for initially mapping DEQ Analytes to SRS Substances.

EPA SRS

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One year later, approaching WQX Test, Oregon Node Workshop faced multiple struggles.

Technical infrastructure changed with new versions of .NET, SQL Server, and node configuration.

Key personnel reassigned or faced extended leave.

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The greatest challenge, still unmet, lies in resolving mapping analytical characteristics.

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Native LASAR Parameter table is too flexible and includes multiple analyte lists, e.g., NELAC, etc.

Prefix 1 Prefix 2 Parameter Suffix 1 Suffix 2

Total Lead

Total Lead

Lead Total

Lead Total

Total Lead

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WQX Name

Sample Fraction

Weight Basis

Units

Lead Total Dry mg/Kg

LasarWeb tables combine Parameter and 4 Modifiers into Analyte name, but still need to map all 4719 analyte name/unit combinations

Analyte Name

Units

Total Lead mg/Kg Dry

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The path forward for Oregon will require a focus on mapping characteristics.

Need staff intern dedicated to mapping LASAR parameters & modifiers to WQX characteristics, fractions, and bases.

Consider reprioritizing effort to standardize Oregon DEQ systems to SRS.

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Early implementers of the WQX flow should be prepared for challenges and stay on the path.

Organizations with a great variety of “characteristic” and associated metadata significantly different from STORET/WQX should carefully approach alignment with EPA standards.

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There are other challenges that the WQX team are aware of, and so should you.

Data validation services (Schematron) are needed.

Primary keys for domain value lists delivered by web services are needed.

Continued support for and from the WQX team is critical.

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The WQX data flow will require even closer coordination between the Lab and IS.

Questions?Curtis Cude (503) 229-6086

Need to bridge the data standards gap (content and process).

Need to develop processes to continually align bilaterally changing taxonomies.