Encyclopedia of Environmental Science and Engineering, Volume I and II

542 INSTRUMENTATION: WATER AND WASTEWATER ANALYSIS

very important in water and wastewater characterization and

instruments are available to measure specific and non-specific

parameters.

Methodology

The large variety of tests carried out on water and waste-

water samples and sources have been codified and are

included in the laboratory reference in the United States

entitled “Standard Methods for the Examination of Water

and Wastewater” and is commonly referred to as Standard

Methods. This compendia of methods is regularly updated.

At the present time the 19th edition published in 1995 is in

use^2 and a supplement was issued in 1996. Supplements are

used to update methods on an ongoing basis in order not to

unduly prolong the publication of the new edition. However

not more than one supplement appears to have been published

for each edition.

Three professional organizations jointly write and edit

this manual—the American Public Health Association,

the American Water Works Association and the Water

Environment Federation (formerly the water pollution

Control Federation). It is published by the American

Public Health Association. Over five hundred profession-

als belonging to these organizations and others participate

in Standard Methods. It was first published in 1905 and an

interesting history of its genesis is given in the preface to

the 19th edition.^2

At one time methods were segregated between water and

wastewater test methods, however, since the 14th edition in

1976, that division ceased. In the 19th edition, methods are

classified in ten groups: Introduction, Physical Aggregate

Properties, Metals, Inorganic Nonmetallic Constituents,

Aggregate Organic Constituents, Individual Organic

Constituents, Radioactivity, Toxicity, Microbiological

Examination, and Biological Examination.

TABLE 1

Summary of special sampling or handling requirementsa,* (continued)

Determination Container†

Minimum

Sample

Size mL

Sample

Type‡ Preservation§

Maximum Storage

Recommended/

Regulatory#

Purgeables* by

purge and trap

G, TFE-lined cap 2  40 g Refrigerate; add HCl to pH 
 2; add

1000 mg ascorbic acid/L if residual

chlorine present

7 d/14 d

Oxygen, dissolved: G, BOD bottle 300 g

Electrode Analyze immediately 0.5 h/stat

Winkler Titration may be delayed after acdification 8 h/8 h

Ozone G 1000 g Analyze immediately 0.5 h/N.S.

PH P, G 50 g Analyze immediately 2 h/stat

Phosphate G(A) 100 g For dissolved phosphate filter

immediately; refrigerate

48 h/N.S.

Salinity G, wax seal 240 g Analyze immediately or use wax seal 6 months/N.S.

Silica P 200 g, c Refrigerate, do not freeze 28 d/28 d

Sludge digester gas G, gas bottle — g — N.S.

Solids P, G 200 g, c Refrigerate 7 d/2–7 d; see cited reference

Sulfate P, G 100 g, c Refrigerate 28 d/28 d

Sulfide P, G 100 g, c Refrigerate; add 4 drops 2N zinc acetate/

100 mL; add NaOH to pH  9

28 d/7 d

Taste G 500 g Analyze as soon as possible; refrigerate 24 h/N.S.

Temperature P, G — g Analyze immediately stat/stat

Turbidity P, G 100 g, c Analyze same day; store in dark up to

24 h, refrigerate

24 h/48 h

* See text for additional details. For determinations not listed, use glass or plastic containers; preferably refrigerate during storage and analyze as soon as

possible.

† P  plastic (polyethylene or equivalent); G  glass; G(A) or P(A)  rinsed with 1  1 HNO 3 ; G(B)  glass, borosilicate; G(S)  glass, rinsed with organic

solvents or baked.

‡ g  grab; c  composite.

§ Refrigerate  storage at 4C, in the dark.

# Environmental Protection Agency, Rules and Regulations. 40 CFR Parts 100–149, July 1, 1992. See this citation for possible differences regarding container

and preservation requirements. N.S.  not stated in cited reference; stat  no storage allowed; analyze immediately.

a If sample is chlorinated, see text for pretreatment.

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