Water Sampling Kits from the Lab Perspective

​

Kevin Thoenen

Chemical Laboratory Manager

Environmental Services Program

​

​

Sampling Kits & Challenges

• We send many different kits with a wide variety of containers
• Some look the same but have very different purposes
• Some have very specific collection procedures
• Some have collection requirements specific to locations in the water system

​

• Instructions are included with every kit
• Important to use the instruction sheet, read all additional information provided
• If you have questions about collection, do not hesitate to contact us

​

​

Sampling Kits & Challenges

• Sample collection is the most critical step for the lab to provide good results
• Your job is important, we appreciate your diligence and the work you do

​

• Returning kits to the lab
• Challenges with shipping company
• Temperature requirements
• Breakage

​

Sampling Containers

• Some contain liquid or powdered preservatives

​

Common Contaminant Groups Monitored

• Inorganic Compounds (IOCs)
• Nitrate/Nitrite only
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
• Synthetic Organic Compounds (SOCs)
• Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs)
• Lead and Copper (PbCu)

Inorganic Compounds (IOCs)

• Metals

– Clear Nalgene® 500 mL

​

• Wet Chemistry (Minerals) Analytes
• Clear Nalgene 500 mL
• Chloride, Sulfate, Fluoride, Total Dissolved Solids

​

• Possibly......
• Cyanide (non-chlorinated systems) – amber Nalgene 60 mL
• Nitrate-Nitrite – clear Nalgene 60 mL
• Ammonia – clear Nalgene 60 mL

IOC Containers

Common Issues with IOC Kits

• Temperature
• Samples must be received at, or below, 6°C
• Lab checks temperature upon receipt of samples
• Large volume containers, ice packs alone will not cool the samples to 6°C
• Refrigerate overnight prior to packing, freeze ice packs overnight (12 hours)
• Ice bath (50% ice/water ratio), 15-20 minutes should bring temperature down

​

Common Issues with IOC Kits

• Nitrate, Cyanide, and Ammonia containers
• Small amounts of liquid preservative to adjust the pH of the sample
• Lab inspects the sample for proper preservation upon receipt
• Do not rinse containers

​

​

Nitrate/Nitrite

• Single 60 ml clear Nalgene
• Contains a small amount of preservative

​

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)

• Amber glass containers – two (2) - 40 mL
• Include field blanks filled with water free of VOCs
• All you have to do is return, do not open
• Chlorinated water supply kits
• Have an additional two (2) - 40 mL clear glass vials to de-chlorinate – contain a white granular material, sodium thiosulfate
• Removes any free chlorine in the sample
• Fill one clear vial, pour into the amber vial, return empty
• Top off the amber vial with sample if necessary
• Follow the same procedure with second vials

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)

• Amber vials have a small amount of liquid preservative
• Do not rinse clear or amber vials

​

​

Common Issues with VOC Kits

• Too much headspace in the vials
• Rinsing vials prior to sample collection
• Analysts check for preservation
• pH unacceptable
• Chlorinated Supplies, clear vials not used properly
• Not used at all
• Come back filled with sample, instructions say to return empty
• Fill clear vial and pour into one amber vial, only one use

​

​

Common Issues with VOC Kits

• Temperature – must be received at, or below, 6°C
• Frozen samples, sub freezing outdoors
• Shattered vials
• Headspace when thawed
• Contamination of Samples
• Wash hands prior to sampling
• Please make sure clothes and well house do not have VOCs
• Test is very sensitive, if you have a weed-eater in the well house or recently filled with gas, you could contaminate the sample. DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!

How Much Headspace is too Much?

• Large headspace
• Lab will reject samples and send a new kit
• Pea size
• Lab will accept sample and qualify data (28 qualifier)

​

​

Pea size headspace:

​

VOC Sample Collection to Help Prevent Headspace

• Slowly fill vial to the point where you get a “domed meniscus”

​

​

VOC Sample Collection to Help Prevent Headspace

• What if a small amount of the sampled water runs over and down the side?
• This is acceptable, it’s not enough to affect preservation

​

• Chlorinated supply, have to use the clear vials first
• What if I don’t get a “domed meniscus”?
• Add additional sample into the clear vial to slowly top off the amber vial

​

• Carefully replace and tighten the cap
• Again, it may run down the sides of the container however, this is acceptable
• Cap should be sufficiently tight to prevent air entrainment when sample is cooled

​

​

Synthetic Organic Compounds (SOC)

• Several Methods/Containers
• 507/508
• Single 1 L amber glass
• 515.4
• Two (2) – 40 mL amber glass
• 531.1
• Single 20 mL amber glass
• Some have preservatives, do not rinse
• Every 10 sample kits, randomly selected
• Laboratory Quality Control
• Field Blanks for each method, do not open these containers
• Additional sampling in duplicate containers provided

SOC Containers

Common Issues with SOC Kits

• Temperature
• Samples must be received at, or below, 6°C
• Large volume containers
• Ice packs alone will not cool the samples to 6°C
• Refrigerate samples overnight (or ice bath) prior to packing kit
• Freeze ice packs overnight

​

• Breakage
• All containers for SOCs are glass
• Each container is wrapped with padding
• Shipping vendors sometimes abuse the kits
• Broken containers must be resampled

Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs)

• Trihalomethanes (THMs)
• Amber glass vials – two (2) - 40 mL
• Each vial has granular preservative, sodium thiosulfate
• Common issue is excessive headspace
• Use same collection procedures discussed with VOC kits

​

• Haloacetic Acids (HAAs)
• Single 40 mL amber glass vial
• Small volume of liquid preservative

DBP Containers

Lead and Copper Sampling

• Samples collected in 1 L clear Nalgene containers
• Samples taken in the distribution system of a residence or business
• Strict monitoring period, samples must be collected between June 1 and September 30
• Water systems are responsible for return shipping costs
• No charge for shipping if you use the DHSS courier
• Lab receives more than 6,000 bottles between June 1 and September 30
• All kits are sent as a single, large shipment via UPS®, usually around May 30
• Water systems should have the kits in early June

Lead and Copper Sampling

• Samples preserved at the laboratory with a six month holding time
• No temperature requirements, samples are stored at room temperature
• Logistical challenges for the lab
• Storage and subsequent distribution of samples to the laboratory prior to analysis
• Quantity of samples in a short period of time challenges instrument and personnel
• Strive to turn around samples as quickly as possible
• Samples received by the lab prior to August 1 have a quicker turnaround time

​

Lead and Copper Average Turnaround Time

Common Issues with Lead and Copper Samples

• Receiving incomplete orders
• Please wait to ship until all of your bottles have been returned
• No need to place bottles in Ziploc® bags

​

• Bottles are not completely full

​

• Chain of Custody
• Illegible handwriting
• Tiers incomplete, not filled in

​

​

Challenges with UPS Shipping

• Sample breakage and cooler leakage
• UPS will discard any package that is leaking liquid
• Lost or diverted packages
• Uncontrolled temperature in warehouses
• Never send a kit with UPS on a Friday
• Refrigerate samples and send on following Monday
• Call tags
• If UPS drivers do not stop to pick up kits, please let us know
• Laboratory has changed its call tag procedures

​

​

​

​

New Call Tag Procedures

• Laboratory ships kits via UPS to water systems
• Monday through Thursday only, all kits should arrive by Friday

​

• Call tags are issued for the kits on Friday of that week
• UPS will pick up the kits the following Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday
• Contact us if UPS does not pick up the kit by Wednesday
• Tonya Toebben – (573) 526-3327 or tonya.toebben@dnr.mo.gov
• Sample Receiving – (573) 526-3333

​

• New procedures avoid late week pickups
• Samples will not sit in a hot or cold warehouse over a weekend

​

• Please contact us with any questions on call tags

​

DHSS Courier Service

• DHSS has a courier network for transport of lab samples

​

• Pros - Service is extremely reliable
• Designated locations to drop off kits
• https://dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/docs/courier-list.pdf
• Laboratory receives the kits the next morning
• Samples stay in a temperature controlled environment
• Glass container breakage is very rare
• Most reliable and efficient way to return sample kits

​

• Cons - Not as convenient as UPS call tags
• Requires kits to be driven to drop off locations, with the nearest location many miles away

Water Sampling Kits from the Lab Perspective

Questions?

​

​

Sampling kit contact information

​

Tonya Toebben Kevin Thoenen

Laboratory Support Supervisor Chemical Laboratory Manager

(573) 526-3327 (573) 526-6971

tonya.toebben@dnr.mo.gov kevin.thoenen@dnr.mo.gov

​