Water Sampling

Guide
Preservative (included
Parameter Bottle Hold Time Special Instructions
in the bottle)
Bacteria 100 mL sterile Sodium thiosulfate 48 hours Store at ≤6°C, one container for each bacterial test
Benzo(a)pyrene 1 L amber glass None 7 days Teflon lined cap. Store at ≤6°C.
Store at ≤6°C. * If >24 hours, results are flagged. If >48
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) 500 mL plastic None 24 hrs*
hours, client is contacted.
Bromate/Chlorate/Chlorite 2 x 40 mL amber glass None 5 days No headspace. Store at ≤6°C.
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) 100 mL plastic Dilute sulfuric acid 28 days Can be analyzed from Nutrients bottle.
May also need to submit a sample for mercury and cyanide.
Chemical Health & Toxicity (CHT) 100 mL plastic Dilute nitric acid
Refer to requirements for mercury and cyanide.
Chlorine/Chloramines 2 x 40 mL glass None 24 hours Fill bottle to overflowing, no headspace. Store at ≤6°C.
Chlorophenolics 1 L amber glass Dilute sulfuric acid 7 days Teflon lined cap. Store at ≤6°C.
Cyanide (Total & WAD) 100 mL plastic Sodium hydroxide, pH>12
Dissolved Organic Carbon Field filtered 100 mL plastic Dilute sulfuric acid Filter sample before filling bottle.
Rinse bottle and fill. Sample is filtered and preserved in the
Dissolved Organic Carbon Lab filtered 100 mL plastic None 24 hours
lab.
Extractable Hydrocarbons (F2-F4) 2 x 40 mL amber glass None 14 days Teflon lined cap. Store at ≤6°C.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA) 2 x 40 mL amber glass Ammonium chloride 14 days No headspace. Store at ≤6°C.
Herbicides 1 L amber glass None 7 days Teflon lined cap. Store at ≤6°C.
Lead in Drinking Water ** Contact the lab to discuss requirements.
General Chemistry/Major Ions/Water 1L None 4 days Store at ≤6°C.
Quality Package 100 mL Dilute sulfuric acid 28 days Do not flush out preservative. Store at ≤6°C.
Methylene Blue Active Substances
500 mL plastic None 48 hours Store at ≤6°C.
(MBAS)
Filter before filling bottle or rinse bottle, fill and send to lab
Metals 100 mL plastic Dilute nitric acid 48 hours*
unpreserved* for dissolved metals.
Mercury (Hg) 40 mL glass Dilute hydrochloric acid 28 days
Nitrate 100 mL plastic Dilute sulfuric acid 28 days Store at ≤6°C. Do not flush out preservative.
Nitrite 100 mL plastic None 48 hours No headspace. Store at ≤6°C.
Nutrients: Ammonia, TKN, Nitrates 250 mL plastic Dilute sulfuric acid 28 days Store at ≤6°C.
Odour 1 L glass None ASAP Fill bottle to overflowing (no headspace). Store at ≤6°C.
Oil and Grease 1 L glass Dilute sulfuric acid Teflon lined cap. Store at ≤6°C.
Ortho-Phosphate 100 mL plastic None 48 hours Store at ≤6°C.
PAHs 1 L amber glass None 7 days Teflon lined cap. Store at ≤6°C.
PCBs 1 L amber glass None 7 days Teflon lined cap. Store at ≤6°C.
Pentachlorophenol (PCP) 1 L amber glass Dilute sulfuric acid 7 days Teflon lined cap. Store at ≤6°C.
Pesticides 1 L amber glass None 7 days Teflon lined cap. Store at ≤6°C.
Phenolics (inorganics) 40 mL amber glass 1 mL of 20% sulfuric acid 28 days Teflon lined cap. Store at ≤6°C.
Purgeable Hydrocarbons (F1-BTEX) 2 x 40 mL amber glass Sodium thiosulfate 14 days Fill bottle to overflowing, no headspace. Store at ≤6°C.
Fill to overflowing, no headspace. Sample date/time
Radon in water 2 x 40 mL glass None 8 days
required.
1 L for each Filter before filling bottle or rinse bottle, fill and send to lab
Radionuclides Dilute nitric acid 48 hours*
parameter unpreserved* for dissolved radionuclides.
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS) 500 mL None 6 days TSS, VSS, and FSS can all be done on the same aliquot.
Fixed Suspended Solids (FSS)
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
Volatile Dissolved Solids (VDS) 500 mL None 6 days TDS, VDS, and FDS can all be done on the same aliquot.
Fixed Dissolved Solids (FDS)
Zinc acetate + Sodium
Sulfide 100 mL plastic Store at ≤6°C.
hydroxide
Trihalomethane (THM) 2 x 40 mL amber glass Sodium thiosulfate 14 days Fill to overflowing, no headspace. Store at ≤6°C.
Tritium 100 mL plastic None
Turbidity 100 mL plastic None 48 hours Store at ≤6°C.
Volatile Organic Compounds 2 x 40 mL amber glass Sodium thiosulfate 14 days Fill bottle to overflowing, no headspace. Store at ≤6°C.

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