2.0+Analytical+Methods

= How to Prepare a Sampling and Analytical Methods Plan - QAPP = A [|Quality Assurance Project Plan] documents the planning, implementation, and assessment procedures for a particular project, as well as any specific quality assurance and quality control activities. It integrates all the technical and quality aspects of the project in order to provide a "blueprint" for obtaining the type and quality of environmental data and information needed for a specific decision or use. All work performed or funded by EPA that involves the acquisition of environmental data must have an approved Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP).

= Water Quality Monitoring and Sampling Methods = Approved methods for the examination of water quality are commonly conducted according to //[|Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 21st Edition]// published by the American Public Health Association, Water Environment Federation, and American Water Works Association. Dr. Whelton has a copy of this book in his laboratory (not to be removed). Below are a listing of common methods/contaminants that are monitored in lake waters.

[|Total Nitrogen (TN)].

[|Total Phosphorous (TP)].


 * [|Water pH.]**Water pH is a term used to indicate the alkalinity or acidity of a substance as ranked on a scale from 1.0 to 14.0. Acidity increases as the pH gets lower. Fig. 5.9 present the pH of some common liquids.


 * [|Turbidity.]** Turbidity is a measure of water clarity how much the material suspended in water decreases the passage of light through the water. Suspended materials include soil particles (clay, silt, and sand), algae, plankton, microbes, and other substances. These materials are typically in the size range of 0.004 mm (clay) to 1.0 mm (sand). Turbidity can affect the color of the water.


 * [|Conductivity.]**Conductivity is a measure of the ability of water to pass an electrical current. Conductivity in water is affected by the presence of inorganic dissolved solids such as chloride, nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate anions (ions that carry a negative charge) or sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron, and aluminum cations (ions that carry a positive charge). Organic compounds like oil, phenol, alcohol, and sugar do not conduct electrical current very well and therefore have a low conductivity when in water. Conductivity is also affected by temperature: the warmer the water, the higher the conductivity. For this reason, conductivity is reported as conductivity at 25 degrees Celsius (25 C).


 * [|Total organic carbon (TOC)].** The gross amount of organic matter (carbon not removed by the IC removal step) found in natural water. Suspended particulate, colloidal, and dissolved organic matter are a part of the TOC measurement. For this method, the TOC definition excludes the contribution of floating vegetative or animal matter, and volatile organic matter found in source water. Settleable solids consisting of inorganic sediments and some organic particulate are not transferred from the sample by the laboratory analyst and are not a part of the TOC measurement


 * Dissolved organic carbon (DOC).** Organic matter, contained in a water sample that is soluble and/or colloidal, that can pass through a 0.45-µm filter.


 * [|UV254].** UV absorbance of a sample in absorbance units (cm-1).

where UVA = A /d, UVA = The calculated UV absorbance of the sample in absorbance units (cm-1); A = The measured UV absorbance at 254 nm of the sample that is filtered through a 0.45-µm filter media; d = The quartz cell path length in cm.
 * Specific UV absorbance (SUVA) at 254 nm.** A measure of DOC aromatic content that is calculated by measuring the DOC and the UV absorbance at 254 nm of a 0.45-µm filtered water sample. SUVA is calculated according to the equation: (SUVA) (L/mg-M) = UVA (cm-1) / DOC (mg/L) * 100 cm/M


 * __Water Sampling is Not Simple__**

__CALIBRATION BLANK (CB):__ The calibration blank is a volume of laboratory reagent water that is treated with the same reagents used in the preparation of the calibration standards. The CB is a “zero standard” and is used to calibrate an analytical instrument. The CB is made at the same time as the calibration standards and stored along with and under the same conditions as the calibration standards. The CB is also used to monitor increases in organic background found in the calibration standards over time by analyzing it as a sample and comparing the results with initial analysis of the CB.

__FIELD REAGENT BLANK (FRB):__ A volume, equivalent to that which is collected at a sample site, of laboratory reagent water is placed in a sample bottle or vial. //A second empty sample bottle or vial accompanies the laboratory reagent water sample container to the sample site.// At the sample site, the laboratory reagent water is transferred into the empty bottle or vial which then becomes the FRB. The FRB is treated as a sample in all respects including shipment from the sampling site, exposure to the sampling site conditions, storage, preservation, and all analytical procedures. The purpose of the FRB is to determine if the measurements of the samples collected in the field are free from interferences or contamination as a result of the sample collection procedure and/or transport of the sample(s) to the laboratory. The FRB is optional and is usually used when the laboratory suspects a problem in sample collection and handling.

__FILTER BLANK (FB):__ The FB is an aliquot of LRW that is filtered and analyzed using the same procedures as field samples undergoing quantification. For example, for DOC and UVA analyses, the FB serves as the LRB. The FB will give an indication of overall contribution of organic carbon contamination from laboratory sources such as the LRW itself, labware cleaning procedures, reagents, the filter apparatus, filter, and instrument system(s).

__LABORATORY REAGENT BLANK (LRB):__ A volume of LRW that is prepared with each sample set and is treated exactly as a water sample including exposure to all glassware, plasticware, equipment, and reagents that are used with other samples. The LRB is used to determine if organic contamination or other interferences are present in the laboratory environment, reagents, apparatus, or procedures. The LRB must be acidified and sparged following the same procedure as is used to prepare the water sample(s).