MCCCD Official Course Competencies:

WRT248  1992 Fall – 2010 Fall

Water Quality Field Techniques

1.

Collect water samples from surface water, groundwater and bottom material, using specific equipment for water-quality analysis. (I-V)

2.

Sample surface water and bottom material using specific various sampling techniques and equipment. (II-V)

3.

Demonstrate methods of water samples treatment including compositing/splitting and filtration of water samples. (VI)

4.

Complete field water quality analyses including water temperature, specific conductance, pH, total alkalinity/bicarbonate/carbonate and bacteriological analyses. (VII-VIII)

5.

Compare and contrast the electrometric method and the winkler titration method for determining dissolved oxygen and demonstrate both methods. (VII)

6.

Apply safety procedures during all field and laboratory assignments. (I-VIII)

MCCCD Official Course Outline:

WRT248  1992 Fall – 2010 Fall

Water Quality Field Techniques

I. Site Selection

A. Surface water

B. Groundwater

II. Collection of Groundwater Samples

A. Well selection

1. drillers' logs

2. existing chemical analysis

B. Well construction

1. depth

2. method of drilling

3. casing materials

C. Well dumping

1. pumping rate

2. volume considerations

D. Safety

III. Surface Water Sampling

A. Depth-and-point-integrating suspended-sediment samplers

1. hand-held samplers

2. cable-and-reel samplers

3. sampler nozzles and gaskets

B. Bottom-materials sampler

1. hand-held samplers

2. cable-and-reel samplers

C. Methods of cleaning samplers and support equipment

D. Safety

IV. Colection of Surface Water Samplers

A. Methods of sample collection by depth integration

1. equal-discharge-increment sampling method

2. equal-width-increment sampling method

B. Safety

V. Collection of Bottom-Material Samples

A. Methods of sample collection

1. hand-held samplers

2. cable-and-reel samplers

B. Safety

VI. Treatment of Water Samples

A. Compositing and splitting of water samples

B. Filtration of water samples

C. Inorganic constituents

D. Preservation of samples

E. Shipment of samples

VII. Field Water-Quality Analyses

A. Water temperature

B. Specific conductance

C. pH

D. Total alkalinity, bicarbonate, and carbonate

E. Dissolved oxygen

1. electrometric method

2. winkler titration method

3. reporting

F. Bacteriological analyses

1. reasons for collecting samples

2. define bacteria

3. water quality criteria

4. sampling procedures

G. Safety

VIII. Reagents for Field Determinations

A. Specific conductance

B. pH

C. Carbonate and bicarbonate

D. Safety