WATER SAMPLING METHODS FOR LAB ANALYSIS Reference: toborotory Manvol CE332; Department Of Civil Engineering: ‘Ahsanuoh University Of Scence And Technology ABSTRACT “The objective of water sampling is to collect a portion of water small enough in volume to be transported conveniently and yet large enough for analytical purposes while still accurately representing the water being sampled. Session Instructor/s . By: Asst. Prof. Neon & Lec. Jannat. Ph.D.Meaning of Water Quality Analysi Water quality analysis is to measure the required parameters of water, following standard methods, to check whether they are in accordance with the standard. Requirement of Water Quality Analysi Water quality analysis is required mainly for monitoring purpose. Some importance of such assessment includes: lL 2. 4, To check whether the water quality is in compliance with the standards, and hence, suitable or not for the designated use. To monitor whether water quality is in compliance with rules and regulations To monitor the efficiency of a system related to water, whether up gradation/change is required or not. Requirements for Sampling: Meet the requirements of the sampling program. Handle the sample carefully so that it does not deteriorate or become contaminated or compromised before itis analyzed. Ensure sampling all equipment are clean and quality assured before use. Use sample containers that are clean and free of contaminants. Rinse the bag/bottle at least twice with the sample water prior to filling and closing. Fill bag/bottle as full as possible. Half-filling leaves more room for oxygen which will promote degradation of your sample. If sampling a body of running water, point the mouth of the bag upstream and your hands downstream to avoid contamination. If sampling from a water faucet, run the faucet for 1 minute before obtaining a sample. Make records of every sample collected and identify every bottle e.g., take notes and photographs, fill out tags, etc. Place the sample into appropriate, labeled containers. All samples must be preserved as soon as practically possible. Sample Collection bottles, Size and Materials: Page 1 of 4‘The methods that will be followed will determine the type of bottles used. For example, samples for metals? analyses are usually collected in plastic bottles, while analyses for volatile organics and pesticides are collected in glass containers. Bottles used to collect samples for bacteria should be sterilized. Certain analysis like volatile organics and radon require vials that are to be filled leaving no head space, which keeps these analytes dissolved in the water, preventing them from escaping into the air. Additionally, some analyses require samples to be collected in amber colored bottles. These darker bottles are for analytes that break-down in sunlight, which helps keep these contaminants from breaking down while in transit to the laboratory for analysis. The size of the container is important to ensure enough sample to run the analysis needed. Water Sampling Techniques: a Water sampling can be done in any of the following three methods depending on test requirements: + Grab sampling © Composite sampling * Integrated sampling 7 Grab sampling: Grab Samples are samples collected at @ particular time and space. They represent the composition at that time and place. When a source is known fo vary in time e.g.in case of waste effluents, grab samples collected at suitable time intervals and analyzed separately. Composite sampling: Composite samples are a mixture of grab samples collected at one sampling point at different times. The composite samples are useful for observing values. Individual samples are collected in wide mouth bottles every hour and mixed in volume proportional to the flow or by using specially designed automatic sampling devices. Advantages of Composite Samples: © reduced costs of analyzing a large number of samples. ‘© more representative samples of varied conditions. larger sample sizes when amounts of test samples are limited. Disadvantages of Composite Samples loss of analytic relationships in individual samples. poter dilution of any parameter below detection levels. increased potential analytical interferences. reased possibility of analytic interactions. Page 2 of 4Integrated sampling: Integrated samples are a mixture of grab samples collected from different points simultaneously and mixed in equal volumes. Surface Water Sampling Techniques: When the water source is accessible + Rinse the sampling vessel with water on site 3-4 times. * Care must be taken to avoid contaminating water to be sampled during rinsing + Submerge the sampling vessel gently, fill it with the water sample and close it tightly. * Ifthe collected water sample may be frozen, leave some space for expansion equivalent to about 10% of the sampling vessel. ‘When the water source is inaccessible A rope ‘attached to the bucket are often used. Scoops with adjustable shafts are convenient. Items made of synthetic resins such as polypropylene can also be used. Ground Water (from well) Sampling Techniques A bailer in is a hollow tube used to retrieve groundwater samples from monitoring wells. Bailers are tied to a piece of rope or a piece of wire and lowered into the water column. Once lowered, the bailer uses a simple ball check valve to seal at the bottom in order to pull up @ sample of the groundwater table. Sampling water from a tap for microbiological analysis Carefully clean and disinfect the inside and outside of the tap. Open the tap and let water flow for 2-3 minutes or until the water temperature has stabilized. Turn off the tap and sterilize the spout by heating it with a blow lamp, gas torch or by igniting a piece of cotton wool soaked with methylated spirits until any water in the tap boils. Take care not to allow the container to touch the tap. Take a water sample with the sample container. Sample Preservation There is usually a delay between the collection and analysis of a sample. The nature of the sample can be changed during this period. Therefore, proper preservation is required in the way to laboratory after collection, and in the laboratory up to when analysis starts. Page 3 of 4Complete and clear preservation of samples, whether domestic wastewater, industrial wastes, or natural waters, is practically impossible as because - complete stability for every constituent never can be achieved, At best, preservation techniques only retard chemical (especially, hydrolysis of constituents) and biological changes that inevitably continue after sample collection. No single method of preservation is entirely satisfactory; the preservative is chosen with due regard to the determinations to be made. Commonly used preservation methods are - pH control, chemical addition, the use of amber and opaque bottles, refrigeration, filtration, and freezing. ee Assignment —————————————— Collect your water sample from the location as instructed by the course teacher in the class. Follow the standard procedure during sample collection and preservation. Prepare a sample collection report (on A4 offset paper) describing details of sampling method (e.g. location, weather condition, details of surrounding features etc.) and also provide some pictures taken at the collection site. Page 4 of 4