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Using Standard Operating Procedures in the Field 5 th Annual Red River Basin Water Quality Monitoring Training – March 5 th, 2008.

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Presentation on theme: "Using Standard Operating Procedures in the Field 5 th Annual Red River Basin Water Quality Monitoring Training – March 5 th, 2008."— Presentation transcript:

1 Using Standard Operating Procedures in the Field 5 th Annual Red River Basin Water Quality Monitoring Training – March 5 th, 2008

2 What are Standard Operating Procedures? Written procedures Detailed (Step by Step) Accepted Understandable Standard Operating Procedures for Water Quality Monitoring in the Red River Watershed – Revision 6 (Oct 2003) RLWD RRBMAC

3 Quality Data is Important Time Money RLWD Sampling $130 per set of samples Statewide assessments Decision Making Research-related studies You are scientists

4 Guiding Principles of the SOP Safety Proper use of equipment Completeness Consistency Accuracy Reliability Representative Comparability Minimize contamination Practicality Any future changes must be in line with these values

5 Guiding Thoughts Will this contaminate the water being sampled, sample bottle, etc? How can I get the most representative sample? Don’t take shortcuts that can negatively affect accuracy of sample results Don’t risk life or limb for a sample

6 Water Quality Sampling – Before Heading Out into the Field Equipment Checklists Post in a useful, visible location Field measurement equipment Sampling Equipment Waders Sample storage and preservation Data sheets, chain of custody Boat Life vests Integrated sampler Anchor Secchi disk Oars! Copy of SOP

7 Calibration Methods Calibration Standards Certified traceable to National Institute of Standards and Technology Standard Reference Materials Expiration Date Bulk vs. smaller bottles Write date on the bottle when opening for the 1 st time Do not re-use Consistency Instructions are available for most sondes YSI methods by Wayne Goeken

8 Turbidity Calibration & Checks Keep track of calibration checks

9 Collecting Field Measurements Sondes and Probes (pH, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen) Make sure sondes and probes are calibrated Dissolved Oxygen –  Calibrated the day of sampling using barometric pressure  Change membranes monthly  pH, Conductivity – at least monthly Make a habit of checking the condition of probes

10 Collecting Field Measurements Turbidity Turbidimeters measure refracted light Representativeness Rinse the vial 3 times with sample water prior to collecting sample Rinse with distilled water after analysis to remove contamination from the vial Accuracy Outside of vial should be clean and free of anything that may refract light (smudges, scratches, lint, water, fingerprints) Kim Wipes Oil and lint free cloth Use cap to hold vial whenever possible

11 Turbidity New method: turbidity probes

12 Collecting Field Measurements Transparency Tubes Shade, no sunglasses See the pattern, read, record See the screw, read, record, average Good methods = good correlation Turbidity

13 Collecting Samples Sample from benchmark Place benchmark over thalweg (deepest part of stream) if possible Wading vs. Sampling Devices

14 Sampling Depth 6/10 of the total depth down from the surface. -Total Depth = 3 feet -Sample at ~1.8 ft down from the surface

15 Collecting Samples (w/ Sampling Device) Rinse the sampler with distilled water to limit cross-contamination Rinse sampler 3 times with sample water to ensure a representative sample

16 Dip samples Sample directly with bottle Sample method with lowest chance of contamination, if done correctly Enter downstream of where sample is to be collected, Walk upstream to sampling site Sample upstream of where you’re standing

17 Collecting Samples Handle bottles and lids carefully Don’t use bottles that are missing caps, or have been separated from their caps for a while Only handle the outside of bottles and caps Make sure bottles are properly labeled Preserve phosphorus samples as soon as possible Sulfuric acid vials from laboratory

18 Collecting Quality Assurance Samples The RLWD collects a set of QA samples with every 10 th sample Duplicate Samples RLWD: w/ every 10 th sample Keep track in sample log Blank Samples Distilled (or deionized) water Using Sampling Equipment Dip Compare techniques Total Suspended Solids Blanks Since 2003 Average Blank TSS Sample Result (mg/L) Sample TypeTotal dip0.22 Kemmerer0.29 Van Dorn0.08 Grand Total0.19

19 Storage and Shipment of Samples Cooler Different sizes Pack securely Ice Packs Chain of Custody Use packing tape on lid Deliver to lab or use overnight delivery service, especially if requesting time-sensitive analysis – (fecal coliform)

20 Lake Sampling Rinsing Integrated Sampler (dust, mice) Make sure Secchi disk is clean Try to avoid drifting

21 Measuring Stage Elevation of the water surface Several Methods Staff Gauges Wire Weight Gauges Measure Down from a Benchmark USGS Gauges

22 Measuring Down from a Benchmark Use a lock as a weight on the end of the tape Measure how much length the lock adds to the tape Lower tape until bottom of lock skims the water Read tape Compensate for the lock (add to reading) Clearly Marked and Documented

23 Measuring Flow Good methods = More accurate readings More sections = more accuracy Accuracy + Range = More reliable rating curves Smaller sections in the swiftest sections Where you measure makes a difference

24 Continuous Monitoring Site selection and placement Choosing equipment Maintenance Data validation and processing Standard Operating Procedure Documents: USGS - USGS Guidelines and Standard Procedures for Continuous Water-Quality Monitors: Station Operation, Record Computation, and Data Reporting British Columbia Ministry of Environment - Continuous Water-Quality Sampling Programs: Operating Procedures

25 Safety Issues Bridges Busy Roads Swift currents, Deep Water Chemicals Mud Poor water quality (bacteria, etc) Weather Footwear (waders, traction, etc) Physical Fitness Vests, Flashers

26 The End Download SOP: http://www.redlakewatershed.org/waterqual ity/Entire%20SOP%20Document.pdf Comments on the SOP are welcome. Ibegun working on Revision 7. River Watch Resources: http://www.internationalwaterinstitute.org/ watchforms.htm


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