Water Resources--Office of Water Quality

National Field Manual

6.3 SPECIFIC ELECTRICAL CONDUCTANCE

Version 1.2, dated 8/2005 (304 KB pdf)

Abstract

Electrical conductance is a measure of the capacity of a substance to conduct an electrical current. The specific electrical conductance (conductivity) of water is a function of the types and quantities of dissolved substances it contains, normalized to a unit length and unit cross section at a specified temperature. This section of the National Field Manual (NFM) describes U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) guidance and protocols for measurement of conductivity in ground and surface waters.

Contents

6.3 - Specific Electrical Conductance

By D.B. Radtke, J.V. Davis, and F.D. Wilde

6.3.1

Equipment and supplies
6.3.1.A Conductivity sensors
6.3.1.B Equipment maintenance

6.3.2

Calibration

6.3.3

Measurement

6.3.3.A Surface water

In situ measurement

Subsample measurement

6.3.3.B Ground water

Downhole and flowthrough-chamber measurement

Subsample measurement

6.3.5 Reporting

Selected references

Archival file: Section 6.3 dated 4/98 (2.6 mb pdf)

Maintainer: Office of Water Quality
Last Modified: 14Jun06 imc