Simplifying Nutrient Analysis in a Municipal Wastewater Laboratory

Municipal wastewater laboratories face a constant balancing act: increasing sample loads, strict regulatory oversight, and limited time to respond to changing daily priorities. For the City of Richmond’s water quality laboratory, nutrient testing needed to be reliable, efficient, and defensible—without adding unnecessary complexity to an already demanding workflow.

In this customer interview, Felicia Bracey, Program & Operations Manager, shares how the lab modernized and scaled its nutrient analysis by adopting discrete analysis with instrumentation from SEAL Analytical. The lab’s journey began with a SEAL AQ2, expanded with the addition of an AQ400, and ultimately led to upgrading the AQ2 to a second AQ400—resulting in two AQ400 systems supporting daily wastewater testing.

Watch the video interview with Felicia Bracey, Program & Operations Manager at City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities Water Quality Lab:

The Challenge: Managing Nutrient Testing Without Added Complexity

The City of Richmond laboratory supports wastewater and drinking water compliance testing, running critical nutrient parameters such as nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, total phosphorus, and later Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN). Like many municipal labs, the team manages samples from multiple sources, each with different turnaround expectations and reporting requirements.

Prior to adopting discrete analysis, parts of the lab’s nutrient workload relied on a continuous flow analyzer. While continuous flow analysis is a reliable technique, Felicia explains that their particular system introduced workflow rigidity that did not align well with their available team and day-to-day operations. Sample sequencing, run setup, and limited flexibility made it difficult to adapt quickly when priorities shifted or additional samples needed to be run.

The lab began looking for a solution that could simplify daily operations while maintaining confidence in data quality, quality control performance, and audit readiness.

First Step: Introducing Discrete Analysis with the AQ2

"You put your samples on the carousel, you hit go, and you’re able to walk away while still knowing the data is reliable."

The lab’s first move toward simplification was the adoption of a SEAL AQ2 discrete analyzer. This initial step allowed the team to move away from the operational constraints of continuous flow analysis and experience the core benefits of discrete analysis: individual sample control, flexible scheduling, and simplified workflows.

The AQ2 provided a strong foundation for nutrient testing, allowing analysts to load samples, automate reactions, and review results with greater ease. As sample volumes and testing demands increased, however, the lab began to identify opportunities for higher throughput, greater capacity, and easier day-to-day maintenance.Rather than moving away from discrete analysis, the lab chose to build on it.

Adding the AQ400: Expanding Capacity and Throughput

To accommodate higher workloads and additional testing demands, the City of Richmond lab added an AQ400 discrete analyzer, operating it alongside the existing AQ2.

The AQ400 provided increased throughput, larger sample and reagent capacity, and improved accessibility for maintenance, allowing the lab to process more samples per run while reducing interruptions. Running the AQ2 and AQ400 in parallel gave the team additional flexibility in scheduling and method allocation, helping them manage busy days more efficiently.

Operational features such as start/stop control and the ability to pause a run to analyze priority samples supported real-world workflows, while software tools such as automatic QC flagging for metrics like relative percent difference (RPD) helped streamline data review and reinforce confidence in reported results.

Method Expansion and the Transition to Discrete TKN

"SEAL’s customer service is top tier. Their team stayed with us through troubleshooting and method transitions. We never felt on our own."

As the lab continued to grow its discrete analysis capabilities, attention turned to expanding the method menu. One of the most significant steps was transitioning TKN testing from a flow-based approach to a SEAL discrete method.

Method transitions, especially for regulated wastewater parameters, require careful validation and certification planning. Felicia highlights the role SEAL’s support team played during this process: assisting with method setup, troubleshooting, and preparation for certification requirements.

This collaboration ensured a smooth transition and gave the lab confidence not only in the TKN method itself, but also in their ability to adapt to future regulatory or workload changes.

Completing the Transition: Upgrading to Two AQ400 Systems

"We liked the AQ400 so much that we added a second one, dedicating one system to TKN and another to nutrient testing."

As nutrient and TKN testing volumes increased, the lab made the decision to upgrade the AQ2 to a second AQ400, completing the transition to dual AQ400 systems.

With two AQ400 analyzers in operation, the lab could dedicate one system primarily to TKN analysis, while the other handled other nutrient parameters such as nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, and total phosphorus. This configuration reduced scheduling bottlenecks, minimized method changeover pressure, and allowed both analyzers to operate more efficiently throughout the day.

Upgrading rather than replacing workflows ensured continuity for analysts while delivering the increased capacity and flexibility the lab needed.

Why Long-Term Support Matters

Throughout the interview, Felicia emphasizes that instrumentation performance alone is not enough. For municipal laboratories, responsive and knowledgeable support is essential, particularly during method transitions and certification processes.

SEAL’s in-house chemistry, service, and software teams provided hands-on assistance during troubleshooting and validation, reinforcing the lab’s confidence in both the equipment and the partnership.

This focus on long-term support aligns with SEAL’s commitment to environmental laboratories: providing long-lasting analyzers that can be supported, upgraded, and scaled over time.

A Scalable Path Forward for Wastewater Laboratories

The City of Richmond’s journey reflects a practical, low-risk path for municipal wastewater labs seeking automation that can grow with their needs.

By scaling discrete analysis as workloads increased, the lab achieved greater efficiency, flexibility, and confidence in results while maintaining regulatory compliance. For wastewater laboratories evaluating automation options, Felicia’s story demonstrates how discrete analyzers, thoughtful system design, and strong manufacturer support can deliver long-term value.

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