How to Fill the Sampling Bottle

Grab Sample (Interactive site)

• Wear disposable powder-free gloves when sampling

• Grab samples with the stormwater entering directly into bottles supplied by the lab without transferring into another container to prevent unnecessary contamination. Transferring water sample into another container for oil and grease analysis is not acceptable

• Keep hands away from the opening of the sampling bottle during sampling to prevent contaminating the sample

• Rinse bottles two times with water being collected, unless a preservative or dechlorinating agent has been added to bottle prior to use

• Hold the bottle with its opening facing upstream (into the flow of water) so that the water enters directly into the bottle without flowing over the bottle or hands

• Grab water sample from moderate flow with turbulence, if possible, so the stormwater discharge will be well-mixed and representative. It is not recommended to sample in still water. The sample location, movement of the water flow need to be recorded in the field note book

• Grab Sample from a central portion of the stormwater flow without touching the bottom of channels or pipes to prevent stirring up solid particles

• Fill the bottle to about one to two inches of the top to allow for thermal expansion (unless sample analysis requires that no air space be left)

• The sample is capped and shaken immediately after the collection. Place water samples in a cooler with ice to maintain a 4°C environment till samples arrive at the lab. Samples should be delivered to the lab within the shortest holding time of the water parameter need to be analyzed are used depending on constituent being tested for and method of analysis being used

Copyright @ January,2005 Prepared by Transportation Environmental Resource Center (TERC)