Print this Page

Sampling

Metals

Analytical ParametersSampling Requirements
Metals, dissolved (water)1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Filter on site with 0.45 µm filter. Preserve with HNO3 to pH<2 and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 6 months.
Metals, suspended (water)1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Cool to 6 °C and SVL will filter with 0.45 µm filter. No preservation needed. Holding time 6 months.
or
Filter on site with 0.45 µm filter and submit filter to SVL for analysis. Please provide the volume of sample filtered.
Metals, total (water)1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Preserve with HNO3 to pH<2 and cool to 6°C. Holding time 6 months.
Metals, total (soil)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 6 months.
Mercury, dissolved(water)1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Filter on site and preserve with HNO3 to pH<2. Holding time 28 days.
Mercury, total (water)1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Preserve with HNO3 to pH<2. Holding time 28 days.
Mercury, total (soil)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 28 days.
Priority Pollutant List Metals (PPL) (water)1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Preserve with HNO3 to pH<2. Holding times are 28 days for mercury; 6 months for the remaining metals.
Priority Pollutant List Metals (PPL) (soil)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding times are 28 days for mercury; 6 months for the remaining metals.
Target Analyte List Metals(TALM) (water)1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Preserve with HNO3 to pH<2. Holding times are 28 days for mercury; 6 months for the remaining metals.
Target Analyte List Metals(TALM) (soil)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6°C. No preservation needed. Holding times are 28 days for mercury; 6 months for the remaining metals.
Target Analyte List (TAL)includes CN (water)1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Preserve with HNO3 to pH<2.
1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Preserve with NaOH to pH>12 and store at 6 °C. Holding times are 28 days for mercury, 6 months for the remaining metals, and 14 days for cyanide.
Target Analyte List (TAL)includes CN (soil)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6°C. No preservation needed. Holding times are 28 days for mercury, 6 months for the remaining metals, and 14 days for cyanide.

Inorganics

Analytical ParametersSampling Requirements
Acidity - Total as CaCO31 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 14 days.
Alkalinity - Total1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 14 days.
Alkalinity - CO3,HCO3,OH1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 14 days.
Asbestos (bulk)Please call for instructions.
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Preserve with H2SO4 to pH<2 and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 28 days.
Chromium, hexavalent *1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 24 hr.
Cyanide - Total (water)1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Preserve with NaOH to pH>12 and cool to 6 °C (if the sample has been chlorinated, add 0.6 g ascorbic acid). Holding time 14 days.
Cyanide - Total (soil)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 14 days.
Cyanide - Weak Acid Dissociable (WAD) (water)1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Preserve with NaOH to pH>12 and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 14 days.
Cyanide - Amenable to Chlorination1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Preserve with NaOH to pH>12 and cool to 6 °C (if the sample has been chlorinated, add 0.6 g ascorbic acid). Holding time 14 days.
Cyanide - Free (water)1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Preserve with NaOH to pH>12 and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 14 days.
Cyanide - Reactive (water)1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Preserve with NaOH to pH>12 and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 14 days.
Cyanide - Reactive (soil)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 14 days.
Anions: Chloride, Fluoride, Sulfate, Nitrate, Nitrite, Bromide, Ortho-Phosphate, Thiocyanate1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding times are 48 hr for nitrate and nitrite and 28 days for the remaining anions.
MBAS (Surfactants)1 - 1000 mL plastic bottle. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 48 hr.
Nitrogen - Ammonia1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Preserve with H2SO4 to pH<2 and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 28 days.
Nitrogen - Nitrate + Nitrite (by method 353.2)1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Preserve with H2SO4 to pH<2 and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 28 days.
Nitrogen - sum of Nitrate + Nitrite (by method 300.0)1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 48 hr.
Nitrogen - Total Kjeldahl (TKN)1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Preserve with H2SO4 to pH<2 and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 28 days.
Oil and Grease (water)1 - 1000 mL amber glass bottle. Preserve with HCl to pH<2 and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 28 days.
Phenols (Total)1 - 500 mL amber glass bottle. Preserve with H2SO4 to pH<2 and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 28 days.
Phosphate (Ortho)1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 48 hr.
Phosphorus - Total1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Preserve with H2SO4 to pH<2 and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 28 days.
Specific Gravity1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed.
Sulfide - Acid Volatile Sulfide (AVS)Please call for instructions.
Sulfide - Hydrogen Sulfide1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Preserve with NaOH to pH>9, add 2 mL of zinc acetate and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 7 days.
Sulfide - Reactive Sulfide (water)1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Preserve with NaOH to pH>9, add 2 mL of zinc acetate and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 7 days.
Sulfide - Reactive Sulfide (soil)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 7 days.
Arsenic Speciation (As+3As+5)1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Preserve with 1 mL of concentrated HCl for every 100 mL of sample. Reduce headspace and cool to 6 °C.

Physical Tests

Analytical ParametersSampling Requirements
Flash Point (water)1 - 100 mL HDPE bottle. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 10 days.
Flash Point (soil)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 10 days.
Conductance, Specific (EC) (water)1 - 100 mL HDPE bottle. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 28 days.
Conductance, Specific (EC) (soil)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed.
Corrosivity as pH (water)1 - 100 mL HDPE bottle. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 24 hr.
Corrosivity as pH (soil)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 24 hr.
Hardness (Ca + Mg) as CaCO31 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Preserve with HNO3 to pH<2 and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 6 months.
Hardness as CaCO3 by titration1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Preserve with HNO3 to pH<2 and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 6 months.
pH (water)1 - 25 mL HDPE bottle. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Analyze immediately.
pH (soil)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed.
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 7 days.
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 7 days.
Total Solids (TS)1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 7 days.
Total Volatile Solids (TVS)1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 7 days.
Settleable Solids1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 7 days.
Turbidity1 - 500 mL HDPE bottle. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 48 hr.
Color1 - 100 mL HDPE bottle. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 48 hr.
Odor1 - 200 mL HDPE bottle. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 24 hr.

Leaching Procedures

Analytical ParametersSampling Requirements
TCLP Extraction: Metals & Semi-volatiles1 - 1000 mL wide mouth HDPE bottle filled with approximately 500 g of soil. Cool to 4 °C. No preservation needed.
TCLP Extraction: Volatiles only1 - 1000 mL wide mouth HDPE bottle filled with approximately 500 g of soil. Cool to 4 °C. No preservation needed.
SPLP Extraction1 - 1000 mL wide mouth HDPE bottle filled with approximately 500 g of soil. Cool to 4 °C. No preservation needed.

Biological Tests

Analytical ParametersSampling Requirements
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)1 - 1000 mL HDPE bottle. Cool to 6 °C. Holding time 48 hr.
Carbonaceaous Biochemical Oxygen Demand (cBOD)1 - 1000 mL HDPE bottle. Cool to 6°C. Holding time 48 hr.
Chlorophyll a1 - 1000 mL amber HDPE bottle. Cool to 6 °C, dark. Filter within 48 hr. After filtration, store at -20 °C, dark. Holding time 21 days.
Coliform (includes quantitray testing)1 - 150 mL clear sterile bottle, prepreserved with sodium thiosulfate. Cool to <10 °C. Holding time 30 hr between collection and prep for DW; 8 hr for SW and WW samples.
Coliform MPN1 - 150 mL clear sterile bottle, prepreserved with sodium thiosulfate. Cool to <10 °C. Holding time 30 hr between collection and prep for DW; 8 hr for SW and WW samples.
Heterotrophic Plate Count1 - 150 mL clear sterile bottle, prepreserved with sodium thiosulfate (unpreserved bottles are acceptable). Cool to <10 °C. Holding time 8 hr.
Iron Bacteria1 - 150 mL clear sterile bottle (unpreserved). Cool to <10 °C. Holding time 30 hr between collection and prep.

Organics

Analytical ParametersSampling Requirements
Volatile Organics (VOC) in Drinking Water2 - 40 mL VOA vials. Preserve with HCl to pH<2 and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 14 days.
Halogenated Volatile Organics (water)2 - 40 mL VOA vials. Preserve with HCl to pH<2 and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 14 days.
Halogenated Volatile Organics (soil)1 - 4 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 14 days.
Aromatic Volatile Organics (water)2 - 40 mL VOA vials. Preserve with HCl to pH<2 and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 7 days.
Aromatic Volatile Organics (soil)1 - 4 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6°C. No preservation needed. Holding time 14 days.
Chlorinated Pesticides & PCBs (water)2 - 1000 mL amber glass bottles. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 7 days.
Chlorinated Pesticides & PCBs (soil)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 14 days.
Chlorinated Herbicides (water)2 - 1000 mL amber glass bottles. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 7 days.
Chlorinated Herbicides (soil)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 14 days.
PCBs (water)2 - 1000 mL amber glass bottles. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 7 days.
PCBs (soil)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 14 days.
PCBs(oil sample)1 - 40 mL VOA vial. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 14 days.
Semi-volatile Organics (SVOC) (water)2 - 1000 mL amber glass bottles. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 7 days.
Semi-volatile Organics (SVOC) (soil)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 14 days.
Volatile Organics (VOC) (water)2 - 40 mL VOA vials. Preserve with HCl to pH<2 and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 14 days.
Volatile Organics (VOC) (soil)1 - 4 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 14 days.
Explosive Residues (water)2 - 1000 mL amber glass bottles. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 7 days.
Explosive Residues (soil)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 14 days.
Total Organic Carbon (TOC) (water)1 - 1000 mL amber glass bottle. Preserve with H2SO4 to pH<2 and cool to 6°C. Holding time 28 days.
Total Organic Matter (TOM) (soil)1 - 4 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6°C. No preservation needed.
Total Organic Halides (TOX) (water)1 - 1000 mL amber glass bottle. Preserve with H2SO4 to pH<2 and cool to 6 °C.
Total Organic Halides (TOX) (soil)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed.
Total Organic Halides (TOX) (oil sample)1 - 1000 mL amber glass bottle. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 28 days.
TPH - Diesel/Motor Oil(water)1 - 1000 mL amber glass bottle. Preserve with HCl to pH<2 and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 14 days.
TPH - Diesel/Motor Oil (soil)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 14 days.
TPH - DRO (water)1 - 1000 mL amber glass bottle. Preserve with HCl to pH<2 and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 14 days.
TPH - DRO (soil)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 14 days.
TPH - Gasoline/BTEX (water)2 - 40 mL VOA vials. Preserve with HCl to pH<2 and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 14 days.
TPH - Gasoline/BTEX (soil)1 - 4 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 14 days.
TPH - GRO/BTEX (water)2 - 40 mL VOA vials. Preserve with HCl to pH<2 and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 14 days.
TPH - GRO/BTEX (soil)1 - 4 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 14 days.
TPH - HCID (water)2 - 40 mL VOA vials. Preserve with HCl to pH<2 and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 14 days.
TPH - HCID (soil)1 - 4 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 14 days.
TPH - IR (water)1 - 1000 mL amber glass bottle. Preserve with HCl to pH<2 and cool to 6 °C. Holding time 28 days.
TPH - IR (soil)1 - 4 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 28 days.
BTEX (water)2 - 40 mL VOA vials. Preserve with HCl to pH<2 and cool to 6°C. Holding time 14 days.
BTEX (soil)1 - 4 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed. Holding time 14 days.

Soil/Overburden Testing

Analytical ParametersSampling Requirements
Paste pH1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed.
Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed.
Loss on Ignition (LOI)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed.
Sand, Silt, Clay (textural class)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6°C. No preservation needed.
Total Sulfur1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed.
Total Carbon1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed.
Acid/Base Account (ABA):1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6°C. No preservation needed.
Acid Neutralization Potential (ANP)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed.
Acid Generation Potential (AGP)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6°C. No preservation needed.
Total Sulfur1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6°C. No preservation needed.
Sulfate Sulfur (HCL Extractable)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed.
Pyritic Sulfur (HNO3 Extractable)1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed.
Non-Extractable Sulfur1 - 8 oz. soil jar. Cool to 6 °C. No preservation needed.
Meteoric Water Mobility (MWM)Fill one 5 gallon bucket with 12 kg of mine rock sample. No preservation needed.

Permanent link to this article: http://www.svl.net/sampling