WATER ANALYSIS - Standardization of Methods and Procedures to be used in FWPCA/USGS programs (Amendments to QW Branch Technical
Memorandum No. 69.07) 


          [SUPERSEDED BY QWB TECH MEMO 80.26]

                                           September 4, 1969

QUALITY OF WATER BRANCH TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM NO. 70.02

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 
         (Amendments to QW Branch Technical Memorandum 
         No. 69.07)

This memorandum amends QW Branch Technical Memorandum No. 
69.07, following receipt of a letter from Mr. Dwight 
Ballinger, Director, Analytical Quality Control Laboratory, 
FWPCA. Mr. Ballinger has canvassed FWPCA regional analytical 
quality control personnel in regard to sample preparation for 
seven parameters presently listed under Sample No. 3 
(unfiltered, settled). He gives compelling reasons why these 
measurements on a settled sample are not acceptable to FWPCA. 
Effective immediately we will meet the requirements of FWPCA 
by eliminating Sample No. 3 and including the determinations 
in Sample No. 4 (unfiltered and well mixed). Carbon dioxide 
(calculated) and color also will be included in the 
unfiltered and well-mixed sample. See attachment for revised 
version on Sample No. 4.

Analytical procedures for programs other than those for 
FWPCA, for determining acidity, alkalinity, hardness, 
nitrogen-nitrate, nitrogen-nitrite, pH, and conductance will 
need further consideration. For the present we will continue 
our practice of reporting data for clear water, filtered or 
settled.

The real problem is a lack of comparative data. Where it is 
feasible to do so, checks will be made of these seven 
determinations in a settled sample as against the well-mixed 
sample. By means of these comparative checks, we will have a 
better basis for evaluating the accepted standard practice of 
the past.

As indicated in the closing paragraph of Technical Memorandum 
69.07, additional guidelines and modifications can be 
expected as a result of continuing discussions with FWPCA and 
the National level coordination activities of the Survey and 
other agencies having BoB A-67 responsibilities. We 
appreciate your patience and understanding that these 
standardizations are necessarily time consuming and 
laborious.



                                 W. H. Durum

Attachment

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


                                                  9/4/69

SAMPLE NO. 3                        UNFILTERED, SETTLED

                     DELETED

SAMPLE NO. 4                       UNFILTERED, WELL-MIXED

1. Collect the required volume of a representative sample. 
Store in a cool place and out of bright daylight until ready 
to begin the analysis, Analyze as soon as possible after 
collecting the sample. Keeping the sample chilled until 
analysis deters decomposition.

2. The following determinations are made on aliquots of this 
sample:

 (l) Acidity                     (11) Oxygen demand, chemical (COD)
 (2) Alkalinity                  (12) pH (lab)
 (3) Carbon dioxide, calculated  (13) Phenolic material
 (4) Color                       (14) Phosphorus
 (5) Cyanide (CN)                (15) Solids, dissolved*
 (6) Hardness                    (16) Solids, suspended
 (7) Nitrogen, ammonia           (17) Solids, volatile (Total)
 (8) Nitrogen, nitrate           (18) Specific conductance
 (9) Nitrogen, nitrite           (19) Turbidity
( 10) Nitrogen, organic

                                 *Filter aliquot for analysis.

3. Immediately before withdrawing each aliquot, shake the 
sample until all suspended material is uniformly distributed.

4. If no field-filtered sample has been provided, the sample 
remaining after performing the above analyses may be 
filtered, and any or all of the determinations specified 
under SAMPLE NO. 1 then performed on aliquots of the 
filtrate.

NOTE: While there may be little or no difference in the 
determined values for the major constituents whether a field- 
or laboratory-filtered sample is used, this is less likely 
for the minor elements. When minor elements are to be 
determined, a field-filtered and acidified sample is much 
preferred and should be provided whenever possible.

(Attachment to QW Memo 70. 02)