Water Sampling: Field

Equipment and
Techniques
Samplers
Dugouts and Ponds
Samples from dugouts or ponds may be taken directly from the source or from a faucet or valve supplied by the
water body. Although it is more convenient to sample from a faucet or valve this is not always desirable.
Depending on the goal of the analysis it may be better to sample directly from the source even when a faucet is
available.

The following devices can be used to obtain water samples directly from the dugout or pond.

Sampling Iron
A sampling iron is a device made of iron or steel and painted with a rust inhibitor. Typically, it uses a 2-L sample
bottle, but smaller bottles may be used. The sample bottles are placed in the sampler and secured by a neck
holder. A sample is obtained over the entire depth (depth-integrated sample) by allowing the sampler to sink to
the desired depth at a constant rate and then retrieving it at approximately the same rate. The rate should not
allow the bottle to fill completely until it reaches the surface.

These types of samplers are relatively easy to make in the farm shop. Usually welding a few pieces of steel will
provide an adequate sampler. Other non-leaching materials and variations of the sampler design other than that
described here can also be effective.

The sampling iron is most useful near the centre of the dugout or pond when sampled from the side of a boat or
off of a dock or other support structure. The necessary safety precautions need to be taken when using this
sampler or performWSing any other type of work on or near open water.

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©2018 Government of Alberta | Last reviewed/revised January 21, 2015 | Reformatted for pdf: March 2019 | Agriculture & Forestry
Sampling Tube
A sampling tube is usually constructed from some form of potable water tubing (i.e. Tygon) fitted to a one-way
foot valve. As the tube is lowered into the water, the foot valve opens, allowing water to enter the tube. The tube
is lowered at a consistent rate to the desired depth. Once the tube is pulled upwards to retrieve the sample, the
foot valve closes, keeping the water in the tube.

The sampling tube is most useful near the centre of the dugout or pond when sampled from the side of a boat or
off of a dock or other support structure. The necessary safety precautions need to be taken when using this
sampler or performing any other type of work on or near open water.

Sampling Stick
In contrast to the sampling iron and sampling tube, a sampling stick is easily used from the shoreline of a dugout
or pond. The length of the stick gives the extra reach to obtain a representative sample from the middle of the
water body. This type of sampler can be purchased but can be easily constructed using a long shaft with some
form of sample container attached to its end. Depending on the length of the shaft, a 1 to 2 litre sample volume
should be sufficient for most applications. Too large of a sample container will result in a very heavy and
awkward sample to handle. The shaft may be made to be of a fixed length or extendable. The sample container
may be fixed-solid or simply tied to the end of the sampling stick.

The sampling stick should be used to obtain a sample from the approximate upper two thirds of the dugout or
pond. The sample should not simply be taken directly from the surface as this water will not be as representative
of a sample during most conditions unless a sample a surface growth is required, or if water is being used from
the surface.

Groundwater Systems
Sampling devices used in groundwater monitoring should consider well diameter and yield, as well as limitations
in the lift capacity of the sampling devices and the effect on the analytes in the water sampled from the materials
in the sampling devices. Commonly used devices include electric submersible pumps, bailers, suction-lift pumps,
and positive displacement bladder pumps. Bailers are often used to both purge and sample small diameter
shallow wells.

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Table 3: Water-Quality Sampling Devices for Monitoring Wells
Type Advantages Disadvantages
Bailer • Can be constructed in a wide variety • Sampling procedure is time consuming;
of diameters sometimes impractical to properly
• Can be constructed from a variety of evacuate casing before taking samples
materials • Aeration may result when transferring
• No external power source required water to the sample bottle
• Very portable
• Low surface-area-to-volume ratio,
resulting in a very small amount of
outgassing of volatile organics while
sample is contained in bailer
• Easy to clean
• Readily available
• Inexpensive
Suction-lift Pump • Relatively portable • Sampling is limited to situations where
• Readily available water levels are within about 20 ft of the
• Inexpensive ground surface
• Vacuum effect can cause the water to
lose some dissolved gas

Air-lift Samplers • Relatively portable • Causes changes in carbon dioxide

• Readily available concentrations; therefore this method is
• Inexpensive unsuitable for sampling for pH-sensitive
parameters
• Suitable for well development
• In general, this method is not an
appropriate method for acquisition of
water samples for detailed chemical
analyses because of degassing effect on
the sample
• Oxygenation is impossible to avoid
unless elaborate precautions are taken

Gas- operated Pump • Can be used in diameters as small
as 1 inch (25.4mm)
• Can be constructed from a variety of
materials
• Relatively portable
• Reasonable range of pumping rates
• Driving gas does not contact water
sample, eliminating possible
contamination of gas stripping
• Gas source required (bottled gas and/or
compressor)
• Large gas volumes and long cycles are
necessary when pumping from deep
wells
• Pumping rates are lower than those of
suction or jet pumps
• Commercial units are relatively
expensive

Submer-
sible Pump

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©2018 Government of Alberta | Last reviewed/revised January 21, 2015 | Reformatted for pdf: March 2019 | Agriculture & Forestry
 • Wide range of diameters
• Constructed from various materials
• 12-volt pump is highly portable;
other units are fairly portable
• Depending on size of pump and
pumping depths, relatively large
pumping rates are possible for wells
larger than 2 inches (51 mm) in
diameter
• Readily available
• With one exception, submersible pumps
(see points below) are too large to fit in
2- inch (51 mm) diameter well casings
• Conventional units are unable to pump
sediment-laden water without incurring
damage to the pump
• 1.75 inch (44.5 mm) pump delivers low
pumping rates at high heads
• Smallest diameter pump is relatively
expensive

Edited from: Driscoll, F.G. 1995. Groundwater and Wells, Second Edition. Johnson Screens, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Choosing a Sampling Location Checklist

Sampling Guidelines Reason

• Avoid faucets that are seldom used • Water may be stagnant
• Avoid sampling from a dead-end main • Water may be stagnant
• Avoid a faucet that leaks around the stem • The faucet may become
contaminated
• Avoid any faucet that is dusty, dirty or corroded • Possible sources of contamination
• Avoid swing faucets • More susceptible to contamination in
the swing connection
• Avoid faucets that cannot deliver a smooth stream of water • Contain air bubbles
• Avoid sampling from a flexible hose, garden hose • Debris and contamination
• Avoid sampling from faucets with aerators or screen • Debris and contamination
• Avoid sampling from faucets that have a point-of-use carbon filter • Debris and contamination
attached
Avoid sampling from: • Potential contamination
• a dripping faucet
• a frost free yard hydrant or wall hydrant
• an outside hose bib with an unremovable vacuum breaker
• a faucet with an unremovable aerator
• a metal fixture with external plastic or rubber inserts
• Choose cold water faucets only • Bacteria may be affected, if hot
water is tested
• The chemistry of the water may be
changed
• Choose a faucet that is NOT connected to the building’s water • Debris and contamination
softener
• Choose a smooth-end faucet over a threaded-end faucet • Possibility of contamination around
the threads

Sample Bottles
The specific sample bottles required for the type of testing you request will be provided to you by the laboratory.
They are usually well labelled as to the type of sample they are to contain as well as any special instructions
necessary. Ask the laboratory staff if you have any questions regarding filling the sample bottles and the
preservation techniques required for the different types of bottles. You can also ask the laboratory if it is possible
to use your own appropriate sample bottle that you may have available at the time depending on the tests that
you require.

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An example of the type of sample preservation techniques include:

• General chemistry bottles - no preservative, stored at a cool temperature (i.e. 4°C)

• Metals - usually use a nitric acid solution as a preservative
• Nutrients - usually use a sulphuric acid solution as a preservative

These are only examples. You must check with the specific bottles, preservation techniques, sampling and
shipping instructions that the laboratory has provided to you.

Routine care should be taken to prevent bottle and other glassware breakage during sampling; for example, over-
tightening of tops, and improper packaging and storage of glass sampling bottles may result in breakage during
transport.

Sample Preservation
Unique Problems Associated with Water Samples
Water samples are in a chemically dynamic state, and the moment they are removed from the sample site,
chemical, biological, and/or physical processes that change their compositions may begin. Analyte
concentrations may become altered due to volatilization, sorption, diffusion, precipitation, hydrolysis, oxidation,
and photochemical and microbiological effects.

Free chlorine in a sample can react with organic compounds to form chlorinated by-products. Some treated
drinking water and treated wastewater is likely to contain free chlorine.

Samples with photosensitive analytes, such as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorophenols, and bromo- or
iodo-compounds, should be collected and stored in amber glass containers to protect them from light.

The composition of water samples may also change because of microbiological activity. This is especially
prevalent with organic analytes in wastewater subjected to biological degradation. These samples (and samples
containing organic analytes in general) should be cooled immediately, stored, and shipped at a low temperature
(about 4°C).

Inorganic analytes may also form salts that precipitate. These precipitates may adhere to the sides of the
collection bottle if the sample is not prepared properly and will prevent proper analysis. The most common
occurrence is precipitation of metal oxides and hydroxides due to metal ions reacting with oxygen. This
precipitation is prevented by adding nitric acid; the combination of a low pH (less than 2) and nitrate ions keeps
most metal ions in solution.
Waters with cyanides or sulphides require a sodium hydroxide preservative to be added to ensure that hydrogen
cyanide or hydrogen sulphide gas is not evolved. Waters with ammonia are preserved by adding sulphuric acid.

Sample preservation is required to maintain the integrity of the sample. This simply means the water being tested
in the laboratory should be as representative as possible of the water that was sampled.

Sample Preservation Techniques

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Careful collection and handling of samples must be made to minimize errors. The objective is to provide the
laboratory with a set of samples that closely represent the aquatic environment from which they are taken. To
ensure consistency and efficiency, sample handling, preservation, storage, and transportation procedures must
be properly and accurately documented and adhered to.

The stability of analytes depends on how well the samples are preserved. Preservation instructions must specify
proper containers, pH, protection from light, absence of headspace, chemical addition, and temperature control.
The chemistry of all analytes must be considered, recognizing that certain reactions may still occur under
recommended preservation conditions.

Holding time is the length of time a sample can be stored after collection and preservation, and before preparation
and analysis, without significantly affecting the analytical results. Holding times vary with the analyte,
preservation technique, and analytical methodology used. Maximum holding times are specified by the method
used, and must be taken into account when sampling and analysis protocols are being developed.

Samples preserved by cooling should be refrigerated or sealed and placed in wet ice; blue ice, a synthetic glycol
packaged in plastic bags and frozen, is acceptable for maintaining low temperatures. These placed in a common
cooler, usually supplied by the laboratory is normally sufficient.

Preservation methods are limited generally to pH control, chemical addition, refrigeration, and sometimes
freezing.

Always read the sampling instructions provided by the laboratory and ask them for additional information if
unsure.

Safety Precautions when Handling Chemical Preservatives

Reviewing the appropriate Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) usually provided or obtainable by the laboratory,
provide safety information required for handling chemicals.

Acids and bases used to preserve water samples should be stored and handled with care. Care must be
exercised to avoid inhaling vapours or direct contact with skin, eyes, and clothing. Gloves and sometimes an
apron should be used when working with these chemical preservatives.

Skin which has been in contact with acids or bases should be washed immediately with plenty of water. After the
skin has been washed, the contaminated area may be swabbed with a neutralizing solution. This procedure
should be followed by a second washing with soap.

If any chemicals enter the eyes, they should be rinsed immediately with plenty of water. Rinse the outside of the
eyes as well. It may be necessary to hold the eyelids open during the wash procedure. Continue rinsing for
several minutes. After first aid, all eye injuries must be treated professionally. Consult medical services if
deemed necessary and/or contact the laboratory for additional information.

Field Sampling Data Sheets

It can be helpful to use field sampling sheets to record particular details of the sampling, particularly if you are
obtaining a large number of samples. You can determine the type of information to record that would best benefit
your operation. Record keeping of the sample ID number, location, date, time, type of sample, and method of
preservation are some basic things you will want to keep track of. You may also want to record the name of the
person performing the sampling, the weather, flow rates, flow meter readings, general and particular
observations, as well as any other information which may be useful to you.

It is a good idea to keep this information in a centralized place such as a file folder, log book, or binder as well as
a computer file. It can be useful to compare the field sampling information with the water quality results when you
receive the analysis back from the laboratory.

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©2018 Government of Alberta | Last reviewed/revised January 21, 2015 | Reformatted for pdf: March 2019 | Agriculture & Forestry