The 5 best reasons why you should not do your own stormwater pH testing

Learn why it may not be a good idea to test your own stormwater samples for pH.

In a previous post, we answered a common question: The 7 best reasons you should do your own stormwater pH testing! We covered why it might make sense for you to test the pH of stormwater for a variety of reasons. Whether or not it makes sense to do your own stormwater pH testing is important, and a question we hear from customers all the time. Knowing the answer can be the difference between being out of compliance with your stormwater permit as well as possibly costing you money unnecessarily. Testing your own stormwater's pH isn’t necessarily that difficult, but knowing when you can – and when you shouldn’t – can be very important.

Why shouldn't I take the pH of my own stormwater samples?

1 - Required by regulations.

If you need to confirm with your NPDES stormwater permit, then perhaps doing your own pH is a bad idea. Why? Because you might not be allowed to! It's important to know if you can do your own pH, or if you need to have a certified analytical laboratory test the pH of your stormwater.

2 - My state requires lab certification.

Most regulations require that all compliance testing be done in accordance with USEPA procedures, which often requires that the testing be done at an approved, certified laboratory. Even if your state isn’t enforcing this, it still makes sense for you to know whether or not pH testing from a certified lab is required in your state. If it is, then you can’t do your own stormwater pH testing.

3 - Is it really cheaper?

This depends somewhat on what equipment is needed, and if you need to become certified to do pH testing under your applicable regulations. In some cases, it might just be easier and cheaper to let an outside lab test the pH of your stormwater.

4 - Do you know what you’re doing?

Have you had any training in doing pH testing? Do you know how to use the pH testing equipment you have, or when it’s valid versus when it’s a waste of time to use? Do you have a Standard Operating Procedure for pH testing, or are you clear on how and when to calibrate your equipment? Have you ever had stormwater training? As you can see, there’s more to this in most cases than merely bringing out a litmus strip and getting an answer. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re better off leaving stormwater pH testing to lab experts (or getting the appropriate environmental training, including pH training).

5 - Do you have the equipment you need?

So there are some good reasons to do your own pH testing, and other reasons why you should have an outside lab so your stormwater pH testing for you. The bottom line is this – know why you’re doing pH testing, and let that be your guide whether you should do it yourself or not.

Need help with pH testing and stormwater permit compliance?

For a lot of folks out there, pH testing is a pain to deal with. After all, you have a business to run! If you're overwhelmed, you're not alone. RMA has been actively involved in helping companies get and stay in compliance with stormwater permits across the United States since our founding in 1992. Long story short, we know the ins and outs of the environmental problems industrial and commercial facilities face and can help you get into compliance with stormwater permits and other applicable environmental laws and regulations, ensuring your business stays out of trouble and in compliance.

Our staff members have been on-site at thousands of operations across the country, so when we say we've seen it all and done it all, we mean it. We've helped everyone, from globe-spanning, multi-national organizations to small "mom & pop" operations. No matter your size or location, we'd love to learn how we can help.

So, if you're having any type of issue at your facility and need the help of an environmental consulting firm with a proven track record, reach out. Even if we can't help, we’ll do our best to steer you in the right direction. Feel free to contact us at info@rmagreen.com, click here to contact us, or give us a call anytime at 888-RMA-0230 to learn how we can help your facility deal with stormwater permits and other environmental regulations.

Additional Stormwater Permit Information

• What is a stormwater permit?
• What is an SWPPP? What is a stormwater pollution prevention plan?
• Can I develop or create my own SWPPP?
• What can I discharge with an NPDES stormwater permit?
• Stormwater vs Process Water: What's the difference?
• What are the best stormwater BMPs?
• What is Stormwater Training?
• Why do I need stormwater training?
• Can I take my own stormwater samples?
• How to pick a water testing lab for stormwater or process water sampling.
• DIY pH Kit for Stormwater Sampling, Monitoring, or Testing
• What are stormwater sample holding times?
• How to do a stormwater visual inspection the RIGHT WAY!