Using Standard Operating Procedures in the Field

5th Annual Red River Basin Water Quality Monitoring Training – March 5th, 2008

What are Standard Operating Procedures?

Written procedures Detailed (Step by Step)AcceptedUnderstandable

Standard Operating Procedures for Water Quality Monitoring in the Red River Watershed – Revision 6 (Oct 2003)

RLWDRRBMAC

Quality Data is Important

Time

Money

RLWD Sampling• $130 per set of samples

Statewide assessments

Decision Making

Research-related studies

You are scientists

Guiding Principles of the SOP

Safety

Proper use of equipment

Completeness

Consistency

Accuracy

Reliability

Representative

Comparability

Minimize contamination

Practicality

Any future changes must be in line with these values

Guiding Thoughts

Will this contaminate the water being sampled, sample bottle, etc?

How can I get the most representative sample?

Don’t take shortcuts that can negatively affect accuracy of sample results

Don’t risk life or limb for a sample

Water Quality Sampling – Before Heading Out into the Field

Equipment ChecklistsPost in a useful, visible locationField measurement equipmentSampling EquipmentWadersSample storage and preservationData sheets, chain of custodyBoat

• Life vests• Integrated sampler• Anchor• Secchi disk• Oars!

Copy of SOP

Calibration MethodsCalibration Standards

Certified traceable to National Institute of Standards and Technology Standard Reference Materials Expiration DateBulk vs. smaller bottlesWrite date on the bottle when opening for the 1st timeDo not re-useConsistency

Instructions are available for most sondesYSI methods by Wayne Goeken

Turbidity Calibration & Checks

Keep track of calibration checks

Collecting Field Measurements

Sondes and Probes (pH, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen)

Make sure sondes and probes are calibrated• Dissolved Oxygen –

Calibrated the day of sampling using barometric pressure Change membranes monthly pH, Conductivity – at least monthly

Make a habit of checking the condition of probes

Collecting Field Measurements Turbidity

Turbidimeters measure refracted lightRepresentativeness

• Rinse the vial 3 times with sample water prior to collecting sample

• Rinse with distilled water after analysis to remove contamination from the vial

Accuracy• Outside of vial should be clean and free of anything that

may refract light (smudges, scratches, lint, water, fingerprints)

• Kim Wipes• Oil and lint free cloth• Use cap to hold vial whenever possible

Turbidity

New method: turbidity probes

Collecting Field Measurements

Transparency TubesShade, no sunglasses

See the pattern, read, record

See the screw, read, record, average

Good methods = good correlation• Turbidity

Collecting Samples

Sample from benchmark

Place benchmark over thalweg (deepest part of stream) if possible

Wading vs. Sampling Devices

Sampling Depth

6/10 of the total depth down from the surface.

-Total Depth = 3 feet-Sample at ~1.8 ft down from the surface

Collecting Samples (w/ Sampling Device)

Rinse the sampler with distilled water to limit cross-contamination

Rinse sampler 3 times with sample water to ensure a representative sample

Dip samples

Sample directly with bottle

Sample method with lowest chance of contamination, if done correctly

Enter downstream of where sample is to be collected,

Walk upstream to sampling site

Sample upstream of where you’re standing

Collecting Samples

Handle bottles and lids carefullyDon’t use bottles that are missing caps, or have been separated from their caps for a whileOnly handle the outside of bottles and capsMake sure bottles are properly labeled

Preserve phosphorus samples as soon as possible

Sulfuric acid vials from laboratory

Collecting Quality Assurance Samples

The RLWD collects a set of QA samples with every 10th sample

Duplicate SamplesRLWD: w/ every 10th sampleKeep track in sample log

Blank SamplesDistilled (or deionized) waterUsing Sampling EquipmentDipCompare techniques

Total Suspended Solids Blanks Since 2003

Average Blank TSS Sample Result (mg/L)  

Sample Type Total

dip 0.22

Kemmerer 0.29

Van Dorn 0.08

Grand Total 0.19

Storage and Shipment of Samples

Cooler Different sizesPack securely

Ice PacksChain of CustodyUse packing tape on lidDeliver to lab or use overnight delivery service, especially if requesting time-sensitive analysis – (fecal coliform)

Lake Sampling

Rinsing Integrated Sampler (dust, mice)

Make sure Secchi disk is clean

Try to avoid drifting

Measuring Stage

Elevation of the water surface

Several MethodsStaff Gauges

Wire Weight Gauges

Measure Down from a Benchmark

USGS Gauges

Measuring Down from a Benchmark

Use a lock as a weight on the end of the tapeMeasure how much length the lock adds to the tapeLower tape until bottom of lock skims the waterRead tapeCompensate for the lock (add to reading)Clearly Marked and Documented

Measuring FlowGood methods = More accurate readingsMore sections = more accuracyAccuracy + Range = More reliable rating curvesSmaller sections in the swiftest sectionsWhere you measure makes a difference

Continuous MonitoringSite selection and placementChoosing equipmentMaintenanceData validation and processingStandard Operating Procedure Documents:

USGS - USGS Guidelines and Standard Procedures for Continuous Water-Quality Monitors: Station Operation, Record Computation, and Data ReportingBritish Columbia Ministry of Environment - Continuous Water-Quality Sampling Programs: Operating Procedures

Safety IssuesBridgesBusy RoadsSwift currents, Deep WaterChemicalsMud Poor water quality (bacteria, etc)WeatherFootwear (waders, traction, etc)Physical FitnessVests, Flashers

The End

Download SOP: http://www.redlakewatershed.org/waterquality/Entire%20SOP%20Document.pdfComments on the SOP are welcome. Ibegun working on Revision 7. River Watch Resources: http://www.internationalwaterinstitute.org/watchforms.htm