WATER QUALITY--Analytical Methods: Methods for Analysis of Inorganic Constituents

                                                 March 1, 1976


QUALITY OF WATER BRANCH TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM NO. 76.13

Subject: WATER QUALITY--Analytical Methods: Methods for Analysis 
                        of Inorganic Constituents

Attached are 29 methods currently in use in our Central 
Laboratories System for the determination of inorganic substances 
in water and fluvial sediments. All but one of the methods call 
for use of the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. All of these 
methods now have provisional status and should be given 
appropriate distribution to cooperators and WRD field offices. 
Several of the methods supersede methods published in Book 5, 
Chapter Al of our TWRI series "Techniques of Water-Resources 
Investigations of the United States Geological Survey," and will 
replace them in the next edition of that manual. Others supersede 
methods previously released as provisional methods.

This is the first set of methods that have been prepared in the 
revised format that has been adopted by the Quality of Water 
Branch. Each test procedure is identified with a method name that 
refers to the chief analytical technique used, and a unique number 
to differentiate between similar methods for determining the same 
constituent. The water-quality characteristics and sample phases 
that can be routinely analyzed using each method are identified by 
parameter names and codes. As you know, these numeric codes 
uniquely identify a water-quality characteristic in terms of its 
name, units of measurement, and sample phase (dissolved, total, 
suspended, or bottom material), and are used in processing the
analytical data. Parameter codes used by the Geological Survey in 
its WATSTORE system are identical to those used by the 
Environmental Protection Agency in its STORET system.

The unique number used to differentiate between methods has three
components--an initial letter followed by a unique four-digit 
number, which will be followed by a two-digit number indicating 
the year that the method was released or revised. In the event 
that two or more revisions are released in a single year, a letter 
will be added to sequence the revision. The letter prefixes used 
in the preparation of methods to be incorporated in the ongoing 
revision of Book 5 of our TWRI series are:

B, Biological
E, Emission spectrographic
I, Inorganic
0, Organic
P, General properties (including temperature)
R, Radiochemical
5, Sediment

Any questions about the attached methods or the status of our 
water-quality methods manuals should be directed to the Quality of 
Water Branch.



                           R. J. Pickering
                           Chief, Quality of Water Branch

Attachment

WRD Distribution: A,B,FO-L,PO