A B C D F
Tutor
1. Title:
Sampling techniques of water.
2. Outcome:
a) Students must understand the importance of sampling.
b) Students can collect the sample for determination of physical,chemical and biological
parameters of water.
3. Learning Objectives:
a) To know the procedure of sampling.
b) To collect the proper sample for determine the quality of water.
c) To confirm the presence or absence of contaminants in water.
3. Theory:
SAMPLING
It is therefore important that all samples must be carefully collected, preserved, labeled and
immediately brought to the lab for prompt analytical work. Furthermore, choice of
sampling location, method of sampling and device, and frequency of sampling are all
important in obtaining representative sample.
METHOD OF SAMPLING:
Sampling may be grab, composite, or continuous measurement in situ. Grab samples are
single catch samples taken at a given time composite or integrated samples are taken at
constant time intervals usually over a 24- hour period, then pooled together to obtain one
representative sample of the day. Continuous measurement is done by installing measuring
device in situ.
GRAB SAMPLE:
When condition or quality remains relatively uniform over long periods. Examples are
lake, sludge digester, etc.
COMPOSITE SAMPLE:
Composite or integrated sampling is done to obtain the average quality data for the day.
Continuous sampler that removes the volume of sample in proportion to the flow is
desirable. Another type of composite sample removes sample within hour and deposits it
into different bottles. Volumes of sample from each bottle are mixed in proportion to flow
to obtain the composite average sample for the day. Individual hourly samples are the grab
sample representing the condition at that instant.
Many measurements are taken continuously using inline measurement devices. Examples
of such measurements are velocity, flow, temperature, pH, conductivity, D0, chlorine
residual, ammonia, nitrogen, etc. Such measurement is generally recorded continuously,
and requires sophisticated measuring device or sensor, transmitter and recorded.
The frequency of sampling depends on the flow rate and wastewater characteristics. If there
is low variability in flow and composition, manual grab samples suitable time intervals
may serve the purpose. For highly variable wastes the automatic samplers may be
necessary to collect samples at higher frequency.
Approximately 2-litre portion of sample is sufficient for routine physical and chemical
analyses. Larger volumes may be necessary for special determinations. For microbiological
examination the samples should be collected separately since methods of collection and
handling are different.
All analyses should be conducted as so the following as possible. The following maximum
time durations between samplings and analytical work are suggested in the standard
methods.
The time and place of sampling and analysis should be recorded. If sample preservation is
used, the procedure for preservation should be fully described. The following results in
particular are sensitive to sampling handling techniques.
Microbiological, BOD, DO, Nitrogen- organic, ammonia, 𝑁𝑂2 and 𝑁𝑂3 ,Phosphorus-
organic and inorganic
Carbon dioxide- this may also change pH, alkalinity, and acidity
Certain cautions (Cu and Fe) may be lost due to absorption on the glass bottle.
All the analysis should be conducted within 6-12 hrs. Depending upon the pollutants.
After testing all the sample are kept in air tight containers for 7-10 days and dispose them
in server line after giving proper treatment to remove polluted ingredients depending upon
the type of pollutants in the samples.
All the lab chemicals should be handled with great care after wearing hand gloves, eye
glass and full sleeve shirt shoe which are not loose.
Self- assessment - 1
a) What are the types of sampling?
b) Define frequency of sample ?
c) What is sampling?
d) Describe handling of sample?
Cautions:
Collect sample, where water is well mixed.
Avoid large non-homogenous matter such as leaves, rags, twinges and other floating
material in the sample.
Sample preferably collect at particular depth.
Provide complete information on the source and conditions under which the sample was
collected.
Attach a record tag to the sample container by noting sample number, source of sample,
analytical required, temperature and name of person taking the sample.
References:
EPA(Environmental Protection Agency).
NEERI (National Environmental Engineering Research Institute).
WHO (World Health Organization).
Stepwise Procedure:
Following table gives the preservation required for some commonly required parameters.
Table
Parameters Container Preservative Max. holding
period
1 2 3 4
Acidity Glass(bsgb) Refrigeration at 40C 24 hours
Alkalinity Glass(bsgb) - do - 4 hours
BOD - do - - do - 24 hours
Calcium Plastic Not required -
COD Glass(bsgb&pec.) 2 ml H2SO4/ l pH -2 24 hours
Colour Refrigeration 24 hours
Cyanide PH -10 by NaOH 24 hours
DO Glass(BOD bottle) Fix on site 6 hours
Metals, total Plastic 5 ml HNO3/l 6 months
Dissolved metals - do - 40 filtrate : 3m11:1 6 months
HNO3/1
Ammonia Nitrogen - do - 40 mg HgCl2 / liter 24 hours
40 0 C
Kjeldahl Nitrogen - do - - do - Unstable
Nitrate – Nitrite Glass / plastic 40 mg MgCl2 / litre 24 hours
40 0 C
Oil & Grease 2 ml / litre H2SO4 – 24 hours
40 0 C
Organic carbons Glass To add HCl to – (pH 4 hours
-2)
Phenolics 1 g CuSO4 + H3PO4 24 hours
(pH: 4)
Phosphorus Glass 40 mg MgCl2/ l -40C 7 days
Sulphates Plastic / Glass 40C 7 days
Sulphide 2ml Zn Acetate /l 7 days
Silica Plastic Filter on site then - do -
40C
present. Oily substances form a film over the liquid and special procedure showed be followed
under these circumstance.
About 2.5 liters of the sample is required for analysis prior to filing, the sample bottle should
be rinsed out two or three times with water to be collected. Care should be taken to obtain a
sample that is truly representative of existing conditions and to handle it in such a way that it
does not deteriorate or become contaminated before it reaches the laboratory.
The sample should reach the place of analysis within 72 hours of collection. The time elapsed
between collection and analysis should be record of the laboratory report.Some determinations
are likely to be affected by storage of samples. Walls of glass containers are likely to-absorb
cations like aluminum, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese ,silver or zinc
which are best collected in a separate bottle and acidified by concentrated hydrochloric or
nitric to a pH approximately 3.5 to minimize precipitation and absorption on the walls of the
container.
1.5.2 Dechlorination: -
Dechlorination is necessary for chlorinated water samples for this , sodium thiosulphate
should be added to the clean , dry sampling bottles before sterilization in an amount to
prove an approximately concentration of 100mg/l in the sample. This can be done by
adding 0.2 ml of 10% thisosulphate solution to a 250 ml bottle. The bottle is then
sterilized by either dry or moist heat.