Sample Collection Guide

Method

Container

Holding

 Parameters

Reference

Type

Preservative

Time

 Drinking Water Parameters

Anions (Chloride, Fluoride, Nitrate, Nitrite, Phosphate, Sulfate)

EPA 300.0

125 ml plastic

Cool, 4° C

48 Hrs.

Bacteria (Coliform, E. Coli, HPC)

SM 9223

Sterile 125 ml

Na₂S₂O₃, Cool, 4° C

24 Hrs.

Hardness

EPA 130.2

500 ml plastic

HNO₃, pH<2

6 Months

Mercury

EPA 245.2

500 ml plastic

HNO₃, pH<2

28 Days

Metals

EPA 200.7 / 200.9

500 ml plastic

HNO₃, pH<2

6 Months

Turbidity

EPA 180.1

125 ml plastic

Cool, 4° C

48 Hrs.

Volatile Organic Compounds

EPA 524.2

2 x 40 ml glass

HCl, pH<2

14 Days

 Wastewater / Surface Water Parameters

Alkalinity

EPA 310.1

125 ml plastic

Cool, 4° C

14 Days

Ammonia

EPA 350.3

500 ml plastic

H2SO4, pH<2

28 Days

Anions (Chloride, Fluoride, Nitrate, Nitrite, Phosphate, Sulfate)

EPA 300.0

125 ml plastic

Cool, 4° C

48 Hrs.

Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylenes (BTEX)

EPA 624 / SW 8260

2 x 40 ml glass

HCl, pH<2

14 Days

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD₅ and CBOD₅)

EPA 405.1

1 L plastic

Cool, 4° C

48 Hrs.

Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)

EPA 410.1

125 ml plastic

H₂SO₄, pH<2, 4° C

28 Days

Chromium, Hexavalent

SM 3500-Cr D

500 ml plastic

Cool, 4° C

24 Hrs.

Conductivity

EPA 120.1

125 ml plastic

Cool, 4° C

24 Hrs.

Cyanide

EPA 335.x

500 ml plastic

NaOH, pH>12, 4° C

14 Days

Diesel-Range Organics (DRO)

SW 8270

1 L glass

Cool, 4° C

7 Days

Gasoline-Range Organics (GRO)

SW 8260

2 x 40 ml glass

HCl, pH<2

14 Days

Mercury

EPA 245.2

500 ml plastic

HNO₃, pH<2

28 Days

Metals

EPA 200.7  /200.9

500 ml plastic

HNO₃, pH<2

6 Months

Nitrogen, Total Kjeldahl (TKN)

EPA 351.3

500 ml plastic

H₂SO₄, pH<2, 4° C

28 Days

Oil and Grease (Hexane Extractable)

EPA 1664

1 L glass

H₂SO₄, pH<2, 4° C

28 Days

Pesticides, Organochlorine

EPA 608 / SW 8081

1 L glass

Cool, 4° C

7 Days

pH

EPA 150.1

125 ml plastic

Cool, 4° C

immed.

Phenolics 

EPA 420.1

1 L glass

H₂SO₄, pH<2, 4° C

28 Days

Phosphorous, Total

EPA 365.2

125 ml plastic

H₂SO₄, pH<2, 4° C

28 Days

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB)

EPA 608 / SW 8082

1 L glass

Cool, 4° C

7 Days

Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PNA, PAH)

EPA 625 / SW 8270

1 L glass

Cool, 4° C

7 Days

Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds

EPA 625 / SW 8270

1 L glass

Cool, 4° C

7 Days

Solids, Total Dissolved (TDS)

EPA 160.1

500 ml plastic

Cool, 4° C

7 Days

Solids, Total Suspended (TSS)

EPA 160.2

500 ml plastic

Cool, 4° C

7 Days

Sulfide

EPA 376.1

500 ml plastic

NaOH, ZnCOOH

7 Days

Volatile Organic Compounds

EPA 624 / SW 8260

2 x 40 ml glass

HCl, pH<2

14 Days

 Soil Parameters

Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylenes (BTEX)

SW 5035 / 8260

40 ml glass

Methanol, 4° C

14 Days

Chromium, Hexavalent

SW 3060 / 7196

4 oz glass

Cool, 4° C

24 Hrs.

Cyanide

SW 9012

4 oz glass

Cool, 4° C

14 Days

Diesel-Range Organics (DRO)

SW 8270

4 oz glass

Cool, 4° C

14 Days

Gasoline-Range Organics (GRO)

SW 8260

4 oz glass

Cool, 4° C

7 Days

Mercury

SW 7470

4 oz glass

Cool, 4° C

28 Days

Metals

SW 6010 / 7000

4 oz glass

Cool, 4° C

6 Months

Pesticides, Organochlorine

SW 8081

4 oz glass

Cool, 4° C

14 Days

pH

SW 9040

4 oz glass

Cool, 4° C

24 Hrs.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB)

SW 8082

4 oz glass

Cool, 4° C

14 Days

Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PNA, PAH)

SW 8270

4 oz glass

Cool, 4° C

14 Days

Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds

SW 8270

4 oz glass

Cool, 4° C

14 Days

Volatile Organic Compounds

SW 5035 / 8260

40 ml glass

Methanol, 4° C

14 Days