Skip to main content

MPCA certifies Minnesota municipal, government, or industrial laboratories that are used to comply with National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)/State Disposal System (SDS) permits or for water quality work for agency programs. MPCA certification includes a lab auditing and assistance process. The goal is to help laboratories consistently provide defensible data, satisfy NPDES/SDS requirements, and protect and improve the state's water quality. The program began in 2013 and replaced the requirement for accreditation by the MDH Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (which still certifies drinking water and commercial laboratories).

Applications

Submit applications for new certifications at any time. Labs apply for certification renewal between Nov. 1 and Nov. 30 for the next calendar year; the MPCA typically sends invoices by January of the certification year. After MPCA receives payment, it mails program certificates.

See the application for complete instructions:

Lab certification manual and rule

The MPCA Laboratory Certification Program manual provides information on on-site evaluation and other program requirements.

Minn. Rules addressing how to apply for the program, proficiency testing requirements, and program fees.

Tools

Training

The Minnesota Wastewater Operators Association's Process Control/Laboratory Training Committee offers training once a year.

Certification steering committee

A steering committee with members from small and large municipal and industrial laboratories, government nonprofit laboratories, and facility consultants advises the MPCA on the certification process, training, and outreach. Member of the committee rotate on a set schedule with new members. Meetings are public. Email the MPCA with questions, concerns, or topics of discussion for the committee.

Frequently asked questions

The application has a section for non-certified parameters. How does this apply to me?

The section is for field parameters to be analyzed by a certified lab that are not required by your permit. The MPCA asks that you to describe the methods you use for field parameters, and provide a copy of the SOP; there is no fee. Though they don't require certification, field parameters must be analyzed in accordance with 40 CFR part 136 to report the data for compliance.

We are no longer a MDH-certified lab. Our permit-required tests are contracted through a commercial lab. Will this MPCA lab certification apply to us?

No. As long as your permit-required, NPDES/SDS compliance testing is conducted by a commercial lab, your in-house laboratory does not require MPCA certification.

Does this program include out-of-state laboratories that perform analyses for NPDES permit compliance for clients in Minnesota? Or is the certification program only for laboratories located within the state of Minnesota?

This program only applies to facilities that hold NPDES/SDS permits issued by the MPCA; no out-of-state laboratories will be included in the program.

If we renew our accreditation with the MDH, must we also be accredited with the MPCA?

NPDES labs may choose to maintain MDH Accreditation if they wish to, as an alternative to MPCA certification.

Is the MPCA now the certifying body for commercial laboratories?

No. The MPCA Certification Program is only for laboratories run by facilities that have an MPCA-issued NPDES/SDS permit or produce water quality data for MPCA programs. MDH will continue to accredit commercial laboratories.

What if my lab performs analyses for biosolids?

The MPCA certifies laboratories for the analyses needed for the biosolids program.

Accredited labs

Lab MPCA permit/lab ID EPA lab ID City
ADM Corn Processing Marshall MN0057037 MN00902 Marshall
Albert Lea Wastewater Treatment Plant MN0041092 MN00030 Albert Lea
Alexandria Lake Area Sanitary District MN0040738 MN00921 Alexandria
American Crystal Sugar - Crookston MN0001929 MN00009 Crookston
American Crystal Sugar - East Grand Forks MN0001937 MN00923 East Grand Forks
American Crystal Sugar Laboratory - Moorhead MN0001945 MN00021 Moorhead
Austin Wastewater Treatment Facility MN0022683 MN00036 Austin
Becker Wastewater Treatment Facility, City of MN0025666 MN00983 Becker
Blooming Prairie Wastewater Treatment Plant MN0021822 MN00985 Blooming Prairie
Boise White Paper, LLC - International Falls, MN MN0001643 MN00024 International Falls
Brainerd Wastewater Treatment Plant MN0049328 MN00012 Brainerd
Cambridge Water And Wastewater Laboratory MN0020362 MN01008 Cambridge
CBT Environmental Laboratory MN0053341 MN00906 Coleraine
Detroit Lakes Water & Wastewater Laboratory, City of MN0020192 MN00005 Detroit Lakes
Ely Environmental Laboratory Services MN0020508 MN00013 Ely
Fairmont, City of MN0030112 MN00018 Fairmont
Flint Hills Resources, L.P. MN0000418 MN00042 Rosemount
Gedney Company MN0022446 MN00081 Chaska
Glencoe Wastewater Treatment Plant MN0022233 MN00969 Glencoe
GNP Co- (Gold n' Plump) Laboratory Services MN0047261 MN01023 St. Cloud
Grand Rapids Public Utilities Wastewater Laboratory MN0022080 MN00927 Grand Rapids
Hutchinson Wastewater Treatment Facility MN0055832 MN00017 Hutchinson
Litchfield WWTP MN0023973 MN00046 Litchfield
Little Falls Waste Treatment Plant MN0020761 MN00022 Little Falls
Luverne WWTP, City of MN0020141 MN00932 Luverne
Mankato Wastewater Treatment Plant, City of MN0030171 MN00039 Mankato
Marshall Wastewater Treatment Facility MN0022179 MN00011 Marshall
Melrose Wastewater Treatment Facility Lab MN0020290 MN00936 Melrose
Metropolitan Council Analytical Services MN0029815 MN00025 St Paul
Montevideo Wastewater Treatment Plant MN0020133 MN00970 Montevideo
Moorhead Wastewater Treatment Facility, City of MN0049069 MN00032 Moorhead
Natural Resources Research Institute Central Analytical Laboratory MNL0001 MN01042 Duluth
New Ulm Wastewater Facilities MN0030066 MN00045 New Ulm
North Koochiching Sanitary Sewer District MN0020257 MN00952 International Falls
Park Rapids, City of, Lamb-Weston/RDO Frozen MN0051454 MN01000 Park Rapids
Rahr Malting Wastewater Lab MN0031917 MN00979 Shakopee
Ramsey County Lake Management MNL0002 MN00995 Arden Hills
Red Wing Municipal WWTF Laboratory MN0024571 MN00038 Red Wing
Rochester Water Reclamation Plant MN0024619 MN00007 Rochester
St. Cloud Wastewater Treatment Facility MN0040878 MN00043 St Cloud
St. Peter WWTF aka Traverse Des Sioux MN0022535 MN00090 St. Peter
Thief River Falls, City Of MN0021431 MN00040 Thief River Falls
Three Rivers Park District Water Resources Laboratory MNL0003 MN01044 Plymouth
Wadena Wastewater Treatment Plant MN0020672 MN01025 Wadena
Western Lake Superior Sanitary District MN0049786 MN00052 Duluth
Willmar Wastewater Treatment Plant MN0025259 MN00959 Willmar
Worthington Industrial Treatment Plant Laboratory MN0031178 MN00028 Worthington
Worthington Public Utilities Laboratory MN0031186 MN00963 Worthington
Xcel Energy-Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant MN0004006 MN00950 Welch
Xcel-Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant (MNGP) MN0000868 MN00949 Monticello
Xcel-Sherburne County Generating Plant MN0002186 MN00050 Becker

 

Resources