PROGRAMS AND PLANS--Nutrient Sample Size Reduction
In Reply Refer To: March 27, 1992
Mail Stop 412
OFFICE OF WATER QUALITY TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM 92.08
Subject: PROGRAMS AND PLANS--Nutrient Sample Size Reduction
On April 10, 1992, the National Water Quality Laboratory
(NWQL) will begin replacing 250 mL brown nutrient bottles and
1 mL mercuric chloride ampoules with 125 mL brown nutrient
bottles and 0.5 mL mercuric chloride ampoules. The purpose
of this change is to reduce the amount of mercuric chloride
that is being used in the field and that, subsequently, must
be disposed of by the NWQL. Efforts continue towards
replacing mercuric chloride with another preservation method
during Fiscal Year 1993.
By this memorandum, we request Districts to place orders (by
edoc to DENSUPPLY) for replacement bottles and ampoules as
soon as possible. Order a supply that will cover your needs
for the next six months only. Districts initially will be
billed for the orders, but will be reimbursed for the costs
of both bottles and ampoules when the obsolete 1 mL mercuric
chloride ampoules are returned to NWQL for disposal. The
250 mL bottles are not to be returned to NWQL (only the 1 mL
ampoules). Districts can dispose of the 250 mL nutrient
bottles as they see fit.
NWQL expects the exchange of supplies to take about one
month, and beyond that, an additional month will be allowed
for receipt of any outstanding 250 mL nutrient samples for
analysis. After that time, the 250 mL bottles will no longer
be accepted by the Login Section. The exact sample
acceptance cutoff date will be set by the NWQL after the
exchange of supplies is completed and will be announced in
the QWTALK Continuum.
Further details and instructions will be distributed by NWQL
in the coming weeks.
David A. Rickert
This memorandum does not supersede any previous Office of
Water Quality Technical Memorandum.
Key Words: Nutrients, preservative, mercuric chloride
Distribution: A, B, S, FO, PO