Sample Collection Procedures

Instructions on how to collect water samples for different contaminants for Safe Drinking Water Act compliance at public water systems.

Videos

• Haloacetic Acids
• Lead and Copper
• Nitrate
• Total Coliform
• Total Organic Carbon
• Trihalomethanes

Written instructions

• 1, 4-Dioxane (PDF) (July 2020)
• Arsenic (PDF) (March 2021)
• Asbestos (PDF) (October 2019)
• Diquat (PDF) (April 2022)
• Disinfection Byproducts - Bromate (PDF) (February 2021)
• Disinfection Byproducts - Chlorite (for Systems using Chlorine Dioxide) (PDF) (September 2021)
• Disinfection Byproducts (PDF) (October 2023)
• EDB Ethylene Dibromide (PDF) (April 2022)
• Endothall (PDF) (August 2021)
• Fluoride (PDF) (March 2021)
• IOC Metal, Mercury, and Free Cyanide (PDF) (June 2022)
• Lead and Copper - Community Public Water Systems (PDF) (June 2024)
  • Sample Collection Procedures -Lead and Copper (PDF) (August 2024)
  • Lead & Copper Drinking Water Sample Sites (PDF) (August 2024)
  • Water System Checklist for Lead and Copper Sampling (PDF) (June 2024)
• Lead and Copper - Noncommunity Public Water Systems (PDF) (February 2021)
• Manganese (PDF) (July 2020)
• Nitrate (PDF) (June 2024)
• Nitrite (PDF) (March 2025)
• Ortho-phosphate, Total Phosphate (PDF) (March 2021)
• Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) (PDF) (August 2024)
  • PFAS Field Blanks (PDF) (June 2024)
• pH (Field) (PDF) (June 2018)
• Radium 226/228 and Gross Alpha (PDF) (March 2021)
• Silica (PDF) (March 2021)
• SOC Suite (Herbicide, BNA, Carbamate, and Glyphosate) (PDF) (January 2024)
• Sodium (PDF) (March 2021)
• Source and Water Quality Parameters (PDF) (July 2022)
• Sulfate (PDF) (April 2020)
• SUVA (UV abs., UV Absorbance @ 254 nm, and Dissolved Organic Carbon ([DOC]) (PDF) (April 2020)
• Total Alkalinity (PDF) (July 2021)
• Total Coliform (PDF) (September 2022)
  • Total Coliform Sample Collection Guidance for Community Public Water Systems (PDF) (September 2024)
• Total Organic Carbon (TOC) (PDF) (August 2024)
• Trip Blanks (PDF) (March 2021)
• Tritium (PDF) (June 2025)
• VOC (PDF) (April 2022)
• Water Stable Isotopes (PDF) (March 2022)
• Water Quality Parameters – Phosphate Inhibitor - Community (PDF)(April 2024)
  • Water Quality Parameter Drinking Water Sample Sites (PDF) (August 2024)
• Water Quality Parameters – Phosphate Inhibitor - Noncommunity (PDF)(February 2025)

Forms

• Tritium and Stable Isotopes Laboratory Request Form (PDF)

Resources

• Guidance for Successful Sample Submission (PDF)
• Sample Bottles: Visual (PDF)
• Environmental Laboratory Sampling and Analysis Guide with images of sample bottles can be found at Environmental Laboratory website.