WATER ANALYSIS - Standardization of Methods and Procedures to be used in FWPCA/USGS programs


                                         May 29, 1969


QUALITY OF WATER BRANCH TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM NO. 69.07

To:      Regional Hydrologists and District Chiefs, WRD

From:    Chief, Quality of Water Branch, WRD

Subject: WATER ANALYSIS - Standardization of Methods and
         Procedures to be used in FWPCA/USGS programs

The enclosed documents outline the Division's current 
guidelines for sampling, analysis, and reporting water-
quality data to be used in the 1970 fiscal year FWPCA-USGS 
surveillance program. The guidelines will become effective on 
July 1, 1969 for conducting water-quality investigations for 
FWPCA, as well as for other agencics. The material 
supplements QW Branch Technical Memorandum No. 69.05 dated 
March _7, 19_9. Included is a list of parameters and specific 
analytical procedures mutually agreed upon by Mr. Skougstad's 
staff and representatives of FWPCA at Cincinnati.

District laboratories and field service units are asked to 
convert promptly to the recommended procedures available from 
the Methods Development Unit, if these are not in use. 
Existing procedures should be followed (i.e., biological) for 
those parameters not included in the list. Pretreatment 
procedures for selected samples and definitions of some terms 
are still under discussion. These matters will be resolved as 
the program gets underway.

Special attention should be given to changes in reporting 
units and the appropriate STORET parameter codes. These 
changes will be effective for all samples obtained on or 
after July 1, 1969 (supercedes where appropriate the 
Parameter Code List attached to WRD Memorandum No. 69.67 
dated Octooer 24, 1968). The Automatic Data Development Unit 
will distribute a revised list of all STORET Parameter Codes 
before July 1, 1969.

The guidelines provide a framework within which water-quality 
data of maximum value to most data users can be supplied. 
Special needs of FWPCA constituted an important consideration 
in the designation of several of the parameters, as well as 
mutual agreement on the methods and procedures used in their 
measurement. It is equally true, however, that the Survey's 
experience in supplying water-quality data has been an 
important factor in the construction of a technically 
defensible basis for providing adequate, meaningful, and 
reliable water-quality information. The attached list 
represents an up-to-date designation of the major parameters 
included in USGS programs and designated by FWPCA.

While the guidelines are as complete as can be made at 
present, modifications will become necessary in order to 
adapt to data requirements of other data users and to 
accommodate new and improved techniques. Additional 
parameters and analytical procedures will be included when 
their importance and value has been demonstrated.

No single set of rules or guidelines can cover all possible 
situations encountered in the complex programs of water 
resources investigations. It must be recognized, however, 
that adherence to common ground rules, which are generally 
agreed to be adequate for any broad purpose, is essential 
both as a basis for interagency exchange of data and as a 
basis for mutual confidence in, and a clear understanding of, 
the technical adequacy of the data supplied.

Additional guidelines and modifications are expected from 
continuing discussions with FWPCA and will be distributed 
promptly. The Headquarters staff deeply appreciates the 
exceptional effort given to the preparatory tasks for a 
successful first year in this new program.



                                     W. H. Durum

Enclosures:
1. Reporting Analytical Data
2. Sampling and Sample Treatment
3. USGS Water Analysis Methods (FWPCA Requirements)

WRD Distribution:
A, B, S, FO, PO