KENTUCKY WATERSHED WATCH STREAM GRAB SAMPLE COLLECTION Standard Operating Procedure WWSOP02000 Effective Date: 11/01/2015
Grab Sample SOP This presentation is based on the “Kentucky Watershed Watch Stream Grab Sample Collection Standard Operating Procedure WWSOP02000” and is available from wwky.org
Stream Grab Sample Collection Procedures • Stream safety • Sample site location • Pre-sampling information • Recordkeeping • Collection procedures • Transportation • Preservation • Results
Sample Site Location Site Coordinates and Photos GPS (decimal degrees – 5 decimal places) • OR Digital map (KGS WW Site - http://kgs.uky.edu/wwky/main.htm or Google Earth) Take photos upstream and downstream of • sampling point – with recognizable landmarks; should be taken annually during Summer sampling event Label photos: “ Site# upstream ” and • “ Site# downstream ” Submit information to Water Watch office • Email: OllieTheOtter@ky.gov Phone: 502-782-7032
Pre-sampling Information You will receive for sampling: • Instructions • Transport information • Chain of Custody Records • Gloves (disposable) • Sample containers • Preservative (if required) • You will receive materials from program coordinators or by mail • Read instructions upon receipt! (Critical info on sample times and delivery included) • Inspect all sample and preservative containers upon receipt for damage or breakage
Pre-sampling Information Sample containers vary for the job at hand
Pre-sampling Information Watershed Watch Chain of Custody Record The sampling containers are pre-marked with a unique Site Number The Site Number should match the number on the “Chain of Custody Record”
Pre-sampling information I received a bottle with a site number I don’t recognize! Check the documents in your packet, you may have been randomly assigned to collect a blank or a duplicate
Pre-sampling Information Blank - A sample bottle filled while at the stream site with distilled water • Serves as a check for possible contamination during sample handling or processing at the lab • DO NOT indicate that the sample is a blank – the lab should not know
Pre-sampling Information Duplicate - A sample bottle filled with stream water at your site at the same time as your regular sample • Serves as a check for variability among samples that should yield approximately the same lab results • DO NOT indicate that the sample is a duplicate – the lab should not know
Pre-sampling Information Proper attire for handling samples • Gloves (disposable) • Eye protection
Collection Procedures Basic equipment needed
Collection Procedures Selecting your sample collection location On your first visit to your site, select an area of the stream where the flow is concentrated and where you can completely submerge and fill the bottle without touching the bottom NOTE: It is important that you collect your sample at the same location each time
Collection Procedures Concentrated Flow Location
Collection Procedures Sample Collection Location High Gradient
Collection Procedures Sample Collection Location Low Gradient
Collection Procedures Grab Sample Collection • Enter stream at a downstream location • Walk upstream to avoid disturbing bottom • Collect sample at the same location each time in the middle of your concentrated flow location and at mid-depth of stream
Collection Procedures Grab Sample Collection Flow Rate 0 = Dry 1 = Ponded Do not sample 2 = Low during these 3 = Normal flow conditions 4 = Bank Full 5 = FLOOD!
Collection Procedures For E. coli grab sample collection: • Put on disposable gloves • DO NOT RINSE BOTTLE • Point mouth of bottle directly over surface of water, dip and scoop bottle upstream beneath water surface, and through water column in one swift motion to fill above line marked on bottle • If preservative is in bottle, take caution to angle mouth so as not to spill any while collecting sample • Cap container, leaving at least a small airspace at top to allow lab mixing • Place in wet ice immediately
Collection Procedures For grab sample collection other than E. coli : • Put on disposable gloves • Rinse bottle with stream water three times (fill bottle ¼ full of stream water, cap, shake, and discard downstream) • Point mouth of bottle upstream (against the flow), submerge entire bottle to mid-depth of stream, scoop and fill • Rinse cap in stream and cap bottle • Add preservative (if necessary) and place in wet ice
Equipment Chemical Safety What to do if you get a chemical on you • For emergency first aid in the field, flush affected area with large amounts of water and seek medical attention immediately • Follow the first aid procedures found on the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
Preservation • Samples must be kept immersed in wet ice (but not frozen) until received by laboratory • Some samples may require other preservatives (check your sample event packet)
Preservation Like containers, preservation methods vary (You don’t have to memorize these)
Preservation Sample Holding Time: • length of time a preserved sample can be stored after collection and before it is analyzed without significantly affecting the results • from the minute you collect a sample, the clock starts ticking on the holding time • varies for different types of analysis • established by the US Environmental Protection Agency
Preservation Sample Holding Times E. coli = 6 hours maximum Other than E. coli = Follow holding time instructions received in your sampling event packet
Recordkeeping Watershed Watch Chain of Custody Record The Chain of Custody Record (COC) serves to: • document and record the transfer of the samples from the stream to the laboratory • function as a field measurement form • provide a place for field observations
Recordkeeping Chain of Custody Record Watershed Watch Chain of Custody Record prepopulated information • Site # • Location description • Sample collector name and contact info Correct any preprinted information if necessary
Recordkeeping Volunteer entries on Watershed Watch Chain of Custody Record the Chain of Custody • Date and Time of sample collection • Field Observations and Measurements • Date and time of sample Relinquished/Received must be identical Cross through any mistakes and initial – do not erase
Something new on your chain of COC _ID: 1234 Watershed Watch Chain of Custody Record custody form There is now a COC ID number on the top of each chain of custody form. This number changes with every sampling event. This number ties your sampling site to a specific sampling event.
Transportation Sample Delivery 1. Make delivery arrangements before the sampling event 2. Take your sample and COC to the designated drop-off location 3. Double-check your recordkeeping paperwork 4. Make sure to sign your COC
Transportation 6 hrs Sampler Sampler ( E. coli ) Sampler Drop Sampler Runner Off LAB Sampler Collection Runners 7:00-10:00 AM 9:00-1:00 PM
Results Professional labs analyze samples
Results Bacteria Analysis (Older Method) Colony Forming Units (CFU) • Lab processes your stream sample and applies it to a special plate • Plate is kept warm for a specified period of time • Colonies of microscopic bacteria that have formed are counted • Results are recorded in CFU
Results E. coli Analysis (Newer Method) Add Colilert Pour sample Seal tray and Count to sample fluorescent into keep warm and dissolve wells and Quanti-Tray for 24 hours convert
RESULTS Results will be posted on the Watershed Watch Data Portal after having been reviewed by the Basin Data and Volunteer Data Managers http://kgs.uky.edu/wwky/main.htm
Interpretation E. coli • shortened form of Escherichia coli • microscopic bacteria that live in the intestines of warm-blooded animals and are passed in fecal material • used as an indicator of the possible presence of pathogens that may cause infection or illness Enlarged photo of E. coli bacteria
Interpretation Sources of E. coli in Streams
Interpretation Surface Water Quality Standards for E. coli • Swimming Standard of 240 cfu/100 ml (single grab sample) • Standards apply during Recreation Season from May 1 to October 31
Interpretation Nutrients • generally refers to forms of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) • excess nutrients in streams can cause overgrowth of algae and plants, which disrupts healthy natural processes • this can lead to large decreases in dissolved oxygen, a condition called eutrophication
Interpretation Nutrients EUTROPHICATION Excess of nutrients (N & P) Abundant growth of algae Algae die Decomposition of algae by bacteria consumes oxygen Low dissolved oxygen levels can lead to fish kills
Interpretation Sources of Nutrients in Streams
Recommend
More recommend
