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Sample Report Configurations: Types, Lifecycle, and Management

Learn the difference between ASRCs and SMRCs, understand enforceability, and manage the full SRC lifecycle from creation through termination and archiving.

Who this article is for: Authority users responsible for managing Sample Report Configurations.

Overview

Sample Report Configurations (SRCs) define what an Industrial User must sample, how often, and what parameters to test. SRCs are created at the outfall level and determine the structure, schedule, and content of the sample reports that get generated. The key distinction between the two types is who is responsible for performing the sampling.

ASRC vs. SMRC Comparison

The Assigned To field during SRC creation determines whether the configuration is an ASRC or SMRC.

Feature

ASRC (Authority Sample Report Config)

SMRC (Self-Monitoring Report Config)

Assigned To

Authority

Industry

Who performs sampling

Authority staff performs sampling and enters results

The Industrial User performs sampling and submits results

Typical use case

Compliance verification sampling by the authority

Self-monitoring requirements under a permit or sewer use ordinance

Enforceability options

Not applicable β€” ASRCs do not require an enforceability selection

Must select General Control or Specific Control

πŸ’‘ Note: The Enforceability selection (General Control vs. Specific Control) only appears when the configuration is assigned to Industry. Authority-assigned configs skip this step.

Enforceability (SMRCs Only)

Each SMRC must be tied to either a General Control or a Specific Control. This determines the activation behavior.

Enforceability Type

Description

Effect on SMRC Status

General Control

Typically a sewer use ordinance or similar broadly applicable regulation

SMRC moves directly to Active status when the wizard is completed

Specific Control

Typically a discharge permit tied to a specific IU

SMRC enters Available status and becomes Active when included in a signed permit

SMRCs tied to a Specific Control are linked to the permit lifecycle β€” they activate when the permit is signed, and are terminated if the permit is terminated. For more detail, see How Permits and Sample Report Configurations Work Together.

What an SRC Contains

Each Sample Report Configuration is built from two layers:

Report-level settings (Step 1 of the wizard):

  • Configuration details β€” Name, Assigned To (Industry or Authority), Lab Report and Chain of Custody requirements, Enforceability (SMRCs only).

  • Report Period β€” The duration of the reporting window during which sampling can occur, measured backward from the due date (e.g., 1 month, 3 months).

  • Administrative Period β€” Additional days after the report period ends for compiling and submitting results.

  • Report Schedule β€” When reports are generated: one-time or recurring with frequency, interval, start date, and end condition.

Requirement schedules and specifications (Step 2 of the wizard):

Within each SRC, you create one or more requirement schedules that define collection cadences within the report period. Each requirement schedule can run once during the report period or repeat on a set frequency (daily, weekly, or monthly). There is no limit to the number of requirement schedules in a single SRC.

Each requirement schedule contains one or more specifications of three types:

  • Sampling Specifications β€” What analytes to test, sample types, collection methods, container requirements, preservatives, and lab methods.

  • Flow Specifications β€” Flow measurement types (volume totals or volume rates) and units.

  • Calculated Results β€” Formulas for computed values like daily maximums, monthly averages, or weekly totals. Calculated results apply to sampling data only β€” calculations for flow data are not supported.

This structure lets you build complex reporting requirements within a single SRC β€” for example, a quarterly report that requires weekly grab samples for metals, monthly composites for BOD/TSS with flow data, and a one-time pH grab.

The 3-Step Creation Wizard

SRCs are created using a guided wizard with three steps:

  1. Report Configuration β€” Set the configuration name, assignment (Industry or Authority), report period, administrative period, attachment requirements (Lab Report, Chain of Custody), enforceability (SMRCs only), and report schedule.

  2. Report Requirements β€” Create requirement schedules and add specifications: sampling specs, flow specs, and calculated results. Each requirement has its own collection frequency within the report period.

  3. Review β€” Verify all settings before clicking Finish.

For a detailed walkthrough of each step, see Creating and Configuring a Sample Report Config.

SRC Statuses

Every SRC progresses through a defined set of statuses throughout its lifecycle.

Status

Description

Draft

Configuration is being built in the wizard. Can be edited or deleted.

Available

SMRC tied to a Specific Control that has not yet been included in a signed permit. Can be edited or deleted.

Active

Configuration is in effect and sample reports are being generated on schedule.

Upcoming

Configuration is active but the start date for generating reports is in the future.

Terminated

Configuration has been manually ended. Can be archived.

Expired

All scheduled report due dates have passed. The configuration has no more reports to generate.

Archived

Configuration has been archived. Can be unarchived to return to previous status.

Actions by Status

The following table shows which actions are available at each SRC status.

Status

Available Actions

Notes

Draft

Edit, Delete, Finish

Finish completes the wizard and activates (or makes available) the configuration.

Available

Edit, Delete, Archive

SMRC with Specific Control. Becomes Active when included in a signed permit.

Active

Terminate

Configuration is generating reports. Cannot be edited.

Upcoming

Terminate

Future effective date. Cannot be edited.

Terminated

Archive

Configuration has been ended. Historical reports preserved.

Expired

Archive

All scheduled report dates have passed.

Archived

Unarchive

Returns to previous status (Terminated, Expired, or Available).

Activation Behavior

When you complete the 3-step creation wizard and click Finish, the configuration is activated:

  • ASRCs and SMRCs with General Control enforceability move directly to Active status and begin generating sample reports.

  • SMRCs with Specific Control enforceability move to Available status and activate automatically when the associated permit is signed.

Terminating a Sample Report Configuration

Termination is available for Active and Upcoming configurations. Follow these steps:

  1. Open the SRC detail page by navigating to Industrial Users > select an IU > select an Outfall > click the SRC.

  2. Click Terminate.

  3. In the termination modal, select a Termination Date using the date picker.

  4. Type the exact Sample Report Configuration name to confirm.

  5. Click Terminate to complete the action.

⚠️ Warning: Termination deletes any scheduled sample reports with due dates after the termination date. Submitted and historical reports are preserved. This action cannot be undone.

Archiving and Unarchiving

Archiving is available for Terminated, Expired, and Available configurations.

  1. Open the SRC detail page.

  2. Click Archive.

  3. Confirm the action.

Archived configurations are hidden from the default view but the record is preserved.

Unarchiving restores an archived configuration to its previous status (Terminated, Expired, or Available). Open the archived SRC and click Unarchive.

Deleting a Sample Report Configuration

Deletion is only available for Draft and Available status configurations.

  1. Open the SRC detail page.

  2. Click Delete.

  3. Confirm the deletion.

⚠️ Warning: Deleting a configuration permanently removes it. This action cannot be undone.

Where SRCs Live

SRCs are created and managed at the outfall level:

  1. Navigate to Industrial Users and select an IU.

  2. Select an Outfall from the IU detail page.

  3. View the Sample Report Configs section on the outfall detail page.

Each outfall can have multiple SRCs with different analytes, schedules, or sampling requirements.

FAQ

Q: Can I edit an active configuration?
A: No. Only Draft and Available configurations can be edited. Active configurations are locked to maintain compliance integrity. To make changes, terminate the active configuration and create a new one.

Q: What is the difference between General Control and Specific Control enforceability?
A: A General Control is typically a sewer use ordinance that applies broadly. A Specific Control is typically a discharge permit tied to a specific Industrial User. SMRCs with Specific Control enforceability enter Available status after the wizard is completed and become Active when included in a signed permit.

Q: What happens when the IU or outfall is inactivated?
A: Active SRCs are automatically terminated. Scheduled future sample reports are deleted. Submitted historical reports are preserved and remain accessible.

Q: Can I have multiple active SRCs on one outfall?
A: Yes. An outfall can have multiple active configurations for different analytes or sampling requirements.

Q: Can I reactivate a terminated configuration?
A: No. Once terminated, a Sample Report Configuration cannot be reactivated. You will need to create a new configuration if the same sampling requirements are needed again.

Q: What happens to sample reports when I terminate a configuration?
A: Scheduled future sample reports (those with due dates after the termination date) are deleted. Any submitted or historical reports are preserved and remain accessible for compliance records.

Q: What is the difference between archiving and deleting?
A: Archiving hides the configuration from default views but preserves the record for historical reference. Deleting permanently removes it. Only Draft and Available configurations can be deleted; Terminated and Expired configurations can only be archived.

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