Standard Methods consists of 10 parts, each focusing on a particular type of analyte. Examples are Part 3000 Metals, Part 5000 Aggregate Organic Constituents, and Part 9000 Microbiological Examination. Parts are made up of sections, each covering a member of the analyte group named in the part. Examples are Arsenic in Part 3000, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) in Part 5000, and Heterotrophic Plate Count in Part 9000. Sections can also cover specific analytical techniques within a part, such as ion chromatography in Part 4000 and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry in Part 3000. These analytical techniques are used to determine a number of individual analytes.

Within the sections are methods, each designating a means of determining the analyte listed in the section. Within Section 4500-Cl Chlorine (Residual) are several methods for determining chlorine, such as DPD or amperometric titration. While the designation "method" is usually suitable, some material found within the sections denotes a procedure such as sample preparation or distillation, not a particular analytical determination. Such material is sometimes referred to as subsections, rather than methods.

While it is common to use sections and methods interchangeably, they are not the same and the differences between them must be noted.

All methods and sections are marked with icons, indicating which methods are New, Revised, or USEPA-approved.

Email the  Standard Methods Manager or call 1-303-347-6241. You will be asked to provide a copy of the test method along with a cover letter requesting that the JEB approve the development of this test for Standard Methods. It is also useful if precision and bias data are included.

If JEB approval is received, a JTG must be formed that will prepare the method in Standard Methods style and vote on the manuscript. A person representing the developer of the test method will be asked to be on the JTG, but cannot be JTG chair. If approved by the JTG, the manuscript will go through the usual balloting process for Standard Methods.

Email the Standard Methods Manager or call 1-303-347-6241. Email is best because a question can then be easily distributed to a number of Standard Methods volunteers to obtain an answer. The Standard Methods Manager can answer questions about Standard Methods policy or such questions as which methods are USEPA-approved. For more technical questions, the manager will distribute the email message to volunteers.

Simply follow the instruction on the Join the Standard Methods Committee page. Here you will find information on the committee along with two documents that you need to print out, fill in and return to the Standard Methods manager. The Information Form provides your contact information, educational background, technical experience, and a list of those Joint Task Groups (JTGs) you are interested in joining. The Abstention Ballot lets us know which parts of Standard Methods you wish to receive ballots in. All members of the SMC receive ballots in Part 1000 Introduction.

Companion products are sections that are considered useful or important to the section where they are referenced. Some companion products provide information that can be helpful in performing the original test method. The preparation of reagent water (Section 1080) would be an example. Other companion products are considered so important that they must be used with the original section. For example, in the determination of Biochemcial Oxygen Demand (BOD), Section 4500-O is listed as a companion product. Because dissolved oxygen is determined in BOD, Section 4500-O must be used with the original BOD method.

The amount of time and effort involved in the Standard Methods Committee (SMC) is up to the individual member. You can choose to receive only general ballots that are distributed to those members of the SMC who wish to receive ballots in a certain part. Or, if you have expertise in a specific area and are willing to do more work, you can join a Joint Task Group (JTG). The JTGs are the committee subgroups that revise existing methods and develop new ones. They are committees of from five to 15 members and manuscripts are balloted within that group. Once the JTG approves a section, that manuscript continues in the editing process.

While it is frequently stated that a certain edition of Standard Methods is “approved" by the USEPA, that is not strictly correct. USEPA approves by method, so it is correct to say that methods in an edition are approved. The electronic version of the Federal Register
contains the most recent list of those Standard Methods test procedures approved for wastewater.

This electronic Federal Register notice does not cite an Edition because USEPA would prefer users to reference methods based on their year of Standard Methods Committee approval.

A good source of information for methods approved for drinking water is the USEPA website link for analytical methods approved for drinking water.

If you have any questions, contact the Standard Methods Manager at [email protected].