Calculation Based Compliance in MonitorPro

Historically, operators’ compliance limits have been set as predetermined values, either set at a regional level or sample point-specific based on historical background limits. However, it is increasingly becoming common for regulators to move away from these fixed thresholds, instead utilising compliance derived from calculations on site-collected data. Typical examples include percentage differences, consecutive percentage differences, statistical assessments such as mean plus set standard deviations or percentiles, and conditional limits affected by the sample characteristics, such as hardness-based variations.

Even with an environmental data system in place, many don’t provide the ability for complex compliance-based calculations, forcing users to manually calculate them each time.  Manually performing these calculations is time-consuming and prone to human error, placing operators at risk of non-compliance.

MonitorPro’s comprehensive compliance and calculation functionality means our clients can automatically calculate site compliance on data import without manual intervention, reducing human error and saving considerable time.

Site-specific calculation-based compliance has been part of Canadian permitting requirements for several years, including British Columbia water quality guidelines and CCME regulations. As part of these regulations, operators are required to perform calculations on the data collected at sample points to determine the relevant compliance limit.

MonitorPro’s highly configurable Calculator enables clients to create these calculations so that they are automatically performed when data is imported. Examples include BC WQG and CCME.

This calculation-based compliance regime takes into consideration sample characteristics to compensate for the threshold limits of key indicators (such as metals). This is because bioavailability and resultant aquatic impacts differ depending on the availability of metals due to water hardness, pH, and other factors. 

For other, more involved assessments, we have predefined calculations such as the Biotic Ligand Model that allow the user to define input parameters, such as pH, DOC and hardness. The relevant compliance limit is then derived each time new pH, DOC and Hardness results are imported.

Finally, range-based Compliance, such as Nitrite and Sulphate, are covered using MonitorPro’s Translation Grids. These grids enable imported values to be automatically converted into corresponding output values based on predefined ranges. For example, when Chloride data is imported into the system, MonitorPro automatically determines the appropriate Nitrite compliance level according to the range within which the Chloride concentration falls.

MonitorPro’s extensive calculation and compliance capabilities make it one of the World’s leading EDMS. As highlighted above it can be formatted to suit any calculation-based compliance requirements, meaning it is prepared for future changes to compliance regulations as regulators evolve their approach to compliance assessment.

Contact us today to discover how we can help you simplify your environmental data management.