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Validator Software

Begun as a project with the Northeast District, the Laboratory Data Support Group is developing software to automate the review and reduction of environmental data. While drastically reducing data review time, the software improves accuracy and consistency. Validation reports allow enhanced interpretation of results. The Validator is being used by District staff and data providers to reduce paperwork and time spent reviewing data.  Validator has been in production since October 2004.

Version History
Version Release Date Features
3.7.51 September 9, 2005 'Ochlockonee' Release
  • Updated guidance criteria for Chapter 62-777, FAC
  • Added criteria for surface water, fresh and marine
  • Added 294 solid matrix STORET Codes and 62-777 criteria from Table II
  • Well Type and Sample Date have been added to all Evaluation reports
  • Improved file import routine (forces appropriate qualifier codes
  • Newly formatted Data Dictionaries
  • GW Monitoring Report sorted alphabetically by component
  • Compliance Evaluation Report:
    • Allows suppression of non-critical details
    • More meaningful sort order
3.7.49 November 8, 2004 'Miami' Release
  • Minor data import bugs:
    • Not always reporting null violations
    • Not always enforcing min/max field length requirements
    • Not always ignoring field QC blanks when appropriate
    • Updated server location for registration processing
3.7.46 October 22, 2004 'Kissimmee' - Official Production Release
  • Qualifier validation no longer case-sensitive
  • Menus rearranged and consolidated to be more logical
  • Added data dictionary reports to menus in wizards
  • WACS upload pointing to production database
  • Field QC Blank results are processed and included in evaluation reports and stripped off prior to upload to WACS
  • Migration to new servers for registration and password changes
  • Export and menus more keyboard friendly
  • Bug fixes
3.5.37 July 30, 2004
  • Import routine checks fields for proper datatypes
  • Dual mode operation allows certain DEP-required information to be
     bypassed during import
  • Right-click functionality reveals new details for methods and components
  • Test site designation added to the Compliance Checker window
  • Crystal reports now fully integrated within the application
  • Bug fixes

 

Download

The Validator installation is now performed via a standard InstallShield style of installation. We recommend the use of the "typical" installation choice. File size is approximately 15 MB.

"Ochlockonee" Production Version

Validator Version 3.7.51 Full Install (for Windows 2000/XP only)

Always uninstall the previous version first

Updated Version of EQUE.VAL (April 2008) new

Validator_Update.exe (2MB .exe self-executing zip file)

Validator_Update.zip (2MB .zip file)

If you have the Ochlockonee version of Validator installed, please download the updated version of the underlying database (eque.val). This does not require the user to uninstall and reinstall the Validator software or to reregister (to allow uploading). This WILL overwrite your personal set of synonyms. The .exe also includes a new copy of the Help file (validator.chm). Make sure this file unzips into the Validator folder, which should be: C:\Program Files\FDEP\Validator

The April 2008 eque.val database update:

  • The Florida Administrative Code for Solid Waste Management facilities Chapter 62-701.510. (8)(c) Leachate monitoring parameters lists Bicarbonate which is not a NELAC certified analyte. We are updating the rule to replace Bicarbonate with Total Alkalinity (as CaCo3). The STORET code 000440 for Bicarbonate as well as the parameter Bicarbonate (and all synonyms) have been removed. In the future please report Total Alkalinity STORET code 000410 instead of the discontinued STORET code 000440 for Bicarbonate.

The February 2008 eque.val database update fixes the issue of Ethane:

  • Ethane using analytical method RSK-175 (GC VOC) with a 14-day holding time.

  • The STORET code in WACS for Ethane (082045 ug/L).

  • There are no standards or criteria for ethane as far as Solid Waste is concerned.

  • Additional synonyms have also been added.

The October 2007 eque.val database update fixes these issues:

  • New methods have been added:
    • 4500-NH3 D
    • 3500 Cr B
  • Eque.val has been updated to reflect the following changes to 62-302, F.A.C. which was updated on 12/07/2006.
  • Total Coliform has been dropped from the list of analytes with criteria.
  • The Cadmium criteria changed as follows.
    • For Class III Fresh; Cd criteria dropped from = exp(0.7852[lnH]-3.49) to
      exp(0.7409[lnH]-4.719).
    • For Class III Marine; Cd criteria dropped from = 9.3 ug/l to = 8.8 ug/l.
  • Validator does not calculate hardness-dependent MCLs but updates to the constants in the RegLev table have been made. Note that 62-777,F.A.C., Surface water Class III Fresh and Marine reference 62-302, F.A.C. for Cadmium. These changes for Cadmium have been made for both 62-302 and 62-777.
  • Method Ra-05 for Radium 228 has been added. This method is on the EPA web site and is also a certified method by the Florida DOH.

Any questions on the use of this file should be directed to Clark Moore.

Contacts

Developer Contact Laboratory Data Support Group
  Florida Department of Environmental Protection
2600 Blair Stone Road MS #6512
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400
Fax: (850) 245-8082
John Watts Voice: (850) 245-8077
Suncom: 205-8077

Listserv

Validator-L Listserv - This is being provided to broadcast information regarding Validator software. Currently listserve subscribers will not be allowed to send email to the listserve subscribers directly. Subscribers may view the complete list of subscribers through the link provided.
Program Contact Solid Waste Section (TLH)
  Florida Department of Environmental Protection
2600 Blair Stone Road MS #4565
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400
Lee Martin Voice: (850) 245-8734
Suncom: 205-8734
Clark B. Moore Voice: (850) 245-8739
Suncom: 205-8739

 

WACS Program Description

Currently, the Department’s Solid Waste program is implementing electronic data submittal using the following guidelines: The monitoring data may be submitted electronically on floppy diskettes or compact disc media readable by a Microsoft Windows computer. The Department may use electronic-tools (e.g. Validator) to conduct data quality review and compliance checking. Electronic laboratory data must be submitted in a specific format called a tab-delimited text file with the first line of the file being the data field names. (Note: Microsoft Excel produces this file format when the “Save As” and “Text (Tab Delimited)” options are selected.) The data fields presented in the following code tables must be present in the data file to allow for electronic processing.

Listing of the various code types that are used in the WACS program and therefore required by Validator.

WACS Solid Waste Facilities Reports

Available reports include facility and testsite reports; listings of sample, report and well types; and groundwater classifications.

Please find below an example of  a tab-delimited text (.txt) file that is used to import data into Validator. Excel spreadsheets are easily converted to this format.

Laboratories that are submitting the Validator EDD

E82502 Columbia Analytical Services
E83079 ELAB
E87610 ENCO Cary
E82277 ENCO Jacksonville
E83182 ENCO Orlando
E87487 Environmental Science Corporation - TN
E83018 Flowers Chemical Laboratories
E96080 Harbor Branch
E43183 Lake County Water Resource Management Laboratory
E84880 Lakeland Laboratories, LLC
E53398 Orange County Utility Central Lab
E83239 PC&B Environmental Laboratory Inc.
E83484 Southern Research Lab
E87667 STL Denver
E81010 STL Pensacola
E81005 STL Tallahassee
E84282 STL Tampa
E87358 TestAmerica Nashville
E83012 TestAmerica Orlando
E86240 USBioSystems

 

Dual-Mode Operation

This new feature has been added to allow the data import function to be more flexible. We have not changed the list of required fields, but we have rewritten the data import routine to check for particular datatypes. Some of these fields are populated from data that are not always available to the contract laboratory or consultant. For instance, the WACS Facility number or identifier or the groundwater classification. If you find that you are unable to upload data to Validator, then you may wish to uncheck the "WACS Fields Enforced. Please note, that at some point these fields must be added or the data will not upload to WACS. Dual-Mode Operation
The list of affected fields is shown at right. The more rigorous mode is "WACS Fields Enforced" on. Toggling this off allows several fields to be ignored during import, therefore producing a less-rigorous import evaluation.
Field On Off
Ground_Water_Class Required Ignored
Project Required Ignored
Samp_Method Required Ignored
WACS_Facility Required Ignored
WACS_Report_Type Required Ignored
WACS_Well Required Ignored
Well_Type Required Ignored

Last updated: April 09, 2008

  Bureau of Laboratories
2600 Blairstone Road M.S. 6512
Tallahassee, Florida  32399-2400
850-245-8077 (phone) / 850-245-8082 (fax)
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