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 |