Sampling Protocol for Drinking Water Testing – UWSP Water
and Environmental Analysis Lab
Choose the instructions
for the test packages you wish to run:
·
Homeowners
Package, Metals Package and Triazine
·
Homeowners
Package and Triazine
·
Homeowners
Package and Metals Package
·
Triazine
Your water test results will
be most accurate if you collect the samples following the procedure below. Collect your samples on the designated
day only! Samples more than 36 hours old
when they reach the lab cannot be accurately analyzed for bacteria.
If you are
taking a Homeowners Package sample, a Metals Package sample, and a Triazine
sample:
Take
the Metals Package sample first.
The Metals Package bottle is small and rounded, with red tape on the
cover. This sample should be taken
first thing in the morning, before any water is run in your home.
CAUTION! This bottle
contains a strong acid which acts as a preservative. DO NOT rinse the bottle or you will lose the preservative.
•
Choose the faucet in
your home which supplies most of your drinking water.
•
Run the water for 2
or 3 seconds.
•
Slow the water flow to a
trickle and fill the Metals Package bottle to within 1/4 inch from the
top. DO NOT OVERFLOW! Avoid splashing when you fill the
bottle. Replace the cap tightly.
If
you splash acid on yourself, rinse affected area for 5 minutes under cold
water.
Next,
choose a non-swivel metal faucet in your home for the Homeowners Package. The Homeowners Package bottle is rectangular
and has a white cover.
•
Choose a faucet where
water is not softened or otherwise treated.
(This may be the same faucet you just sampled, or a different
faucet). Wash your hands thoroughly
with soap and water. Remove any faucet
screen or other attachments.
•
Flame the cold water
faucet with a candle or torch. Heat tip
of faucet until it is hot. Be sure only
metal parts are contacted by flame.
Caution - some newer faucets are plastic!
•
Run water for 5
minutes.
•
Carefully remove the cover
of the Homeowners Package sample bottle.
Do not let fingers touch the mouth or inside of the cap. The cap may be placed top down on a clean
surface.
•
Turn the water stream
down until it is about the size of a pencil.
Fill the bottle. Avoid splashing. Do not rinse the bottle. Leave one-half inch air space at the
top. Replace the cap tightly.
Next,
collect your Triazine sample.
The triazine sample bottle is cylindrical and has a blue cap.
•
Rinse the triazine plastic sample container 3 times with
tap water.
•
Fill the bottle to 1/2
inch from the top. Replace the cap
tightly.
Refrigerate
your samples until you take them to the dropoff site.
If you are
taking a Homeowners Package sample and a Triazine sample:
Choose
a non-swivel metal faucet in your home for the Homeowners Package. The Homeowners Package bottle is rectangular
and has a white cover.
•
Choose a faucet where
water is not softened or otherwise treated.
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Remove any faucet screen or other
attachments.
•
Flame the cold water
faucet with a candle or torch. Heat tip
of faucet until it is hot. Be sure only
metal parts are contacted by flame.
Caution - some newer faucets are plastic!
•
Run water for 5
minutes.
•
Carefully remove the cover
of the Homeowners Package sample bottle.
Do not let fingers touch the mouth or inside of the cap. The cap may be placed top down on a clean
surface.
•
Turn the water stream
down until it is about the size of a pencil.
Fill the bottle. Avoid splashing. Do not rinse the bottle. Leave one-half inch air space at the
top. Replace the cap tightly.
Next,
collect your Triazine sample.
The triazine sample bottle is cylindrical and has a blue cap.
•
Rinse the triazine plastic sample container 3 times with
tap water.
•
Fill the bottle to 1/2
inch from the top. Replace the cap
tightly.
Refrigerate
your samples until you take them to the dropoff site.
If you are
taking a Homeowners Package sample and a Metals Package sample:
Take
the Metals Package sample first.
The Metals Package bottle is small and rounded, with red tape on the
cover. This sample should be taken first thing in the morning, before any
water is run in your home.
CAUTION! This bottle
contains a strong acid which acts as a preservative. DO NOT rinse the bottle or you will lose the preservative.
•
Choose the faucet in
your home which supplies most of your drinking water.
•
Run the water for 2
or 3 seconds.
•
Slow the water flow to a
trickle and fill the Metals Package bottle to within 1/4 inch from the
top. DO NOT OVERFLOW! Avoid splashing when you fill the
bottle. Replace the cap tightly.
If
you splash acid on yourself, rinse affected area for 5 minutes under cold
water.
Next,
choose a non-swivel metal faucet in your home for the Homeowners Package.
The Homeowners Package bottle is rectangular and has a white cover.
•
Choose a faucet where
water is not softened or otherwise treated.
(This may be the same faucet you just sampled, or a different
faucet). Wash your hands thoroughly
with soap and water. Remove any faucet
screen or other attachments.
•
Flame the cold water
faucet with a candle or torch. Heat tip
of faucet until it is hot. Be sure only
metal parts are contacted by flame.
Caution - some newer faucets are plastic!
•
Run water for 5
minutes.
•
Carefully remove the
cover of the Homeowners Package sample bottle.
Do not let fingers touch the mouth or inside of the cap. The cap may be placed top down on a clean
surface.
•
Turn the water stream
down until it is about the size of a pencil.
Fill the bottle. Avoid
splashing. Do not rinse the
bottle. Leave one-half inch air space
at the top. Replace the cap tightly.
Refrigerate
your samples until you take them to the dropoff site.
If you are
taking a Metals Package sample and a Triazine sample:
Take
the Metals Package sample first.
The Metals Package bottle is small and rounded, with red tape on the
cover. This sample should be taken first thing in the morning, before any
water is run in your home.
CAUTION! This bottle
contains a strong acid which acts as a preservative. DO NOT rinse the bottle or you will lose the preservative.
•
Choose the faucet in
your home which supplies most of your drinking water.
•
Run the water for 2
or 3 seconds.
•
Slow the water flow to a
trickle and fill the Metals Package bottle to within 1/4 inch from the
top. DO NOT OVERFLOW! Avoid splashing when you fill the
bottle. Replace the cap tightly.
If
you splash acid on yourself, rinse affected area for 5 minutes under cold
water.
Next,
run the water for five minutes. Then,
collect your Triazine sample. The triazine sample bottle is cylindrical and has a blue
cap.
•
Rinse the triazine plastic sample container 3 times with
the tap water.
•
Fill the bottle to one-half
inch from the top. Replace the cap
tightly.
Refrigerate
your samples until you take them to the dropoff site.
If you are
taking only a Homeowners Package sample:
Choose
a non-swivel metal faucet in your home for the Homeowners Package. The
Homeowners Package bottle is rectangular and has a white cover.
•
Choose a faucet where
water is not softened or otherwise treated.
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Remove any faucet screen or other
attachments.
•
Flame the cold water
faucet with a candle or torch. Heat tip
of faucet until it is hot. Be sure only
metal parts are contacted by flame.
Caution - some newer faucets are plastic!
•
Run water for 5
minutes.
•
Carefully remove the
cover of the Homeowners Package sample bottle.
Do not let fingers touch the mouth or inside of the cap. The cap may be placed top down on a clean
surface.
•
Turn the water stream
down until it is about the size of a pencil.
Fill the bottle. Avoid
splashing. Do not rinse the
bottle. Leave one-half inch air space
at the top. Replace the cap
tightly. Refrigerate your sample until
you take it to the dropoff site.
If you are
taking only a Triazine sample:
•
It is not critical which
faucet you use if you take only a Triazine sample.
•
Run the water for 5
minutes.
•
Rinse the triazine
plastic sample bottle 3 times with tap water. The triazine sample bottle is
cylindrical and has a blue cap.
•
Fill the bottle to 1/2
inch from the top. Replace the cap
tightly.
Refrigerate
your sample until you take it to the dropoff site.