Test | Holding Time | Containers | Notes |
ODW
| ODW |
INORGANICS IN WATERS | Metals
| 60 days (if field preserved); 14 days (if unpreserved)
| PET or HDPE
| Nitric acid preserving solution; can be preserved at the laboratory; Must sit for 24 hours prior to analysis; NO FILTRATION - total analysis
|
Lead in Plumbing
| 60 days (if field preserved); 14 days (if unpreserved)
| PET or HDPE
| Nitric acid preserving solution; can be preserved at the laboratory; Must sit for 24 hours prior to analysis; NO FILTRATION - total analysis
|
NO3, NO2, together
| 7 days
| Glass or PET
| No field preservation required
|
Fluoride
| 30 days
| PET
| No field preservation required
|
NTA
| 30 days
| PET
| No field preservation required
|
Cyanide (free)
| 14 days (if preserved)
| Glass or PET
| NaOH preservation solution
|
Mercury
| 14 days
| Glass or PET
| HCl preservation solution
|
Bromate
| 28 days
| PET
| No field preservation required
|
NDMA
| 10 days until extraction; 28 days after extraction
| Glass container with Teflon lined lid
| Protect from light; no field preservation required
|
Alkalinity, pH
| 14 days
| PET
| No field preservation required
|
Ammonia (NH3)
| 7 days
| PET
| No field preservation required
|
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
| 7 days
| PET or glass
| H2SO4 preservation solution
|
Chloride
| 30 days
| PET or glass
| No field preservation required
|
Colour
| 14 days
| PET or glass
| No field preservation required
|
Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC)
| 14 days
| PET or glass
| No field preservation required
|
Hexavalent Chromium (Cr6+)
| 5 days
| Glass
| No field preservation required
|
Orthophosphate
| 7 days
| Glass or PET
| No field preservation required
|
Silica
| 14 days
| PET
| No field preservation required
|
Sulphate
| 30 days
| PET
| No field preservation required
|
Sulphide
| 30 days
| Glass
| Zn-acetate + NaOH preservation solution
|
TKN
| 7 days
| PET
| No field preservation required; H2SO4 may be used
|
Total Phosphorous
| 7 days
| Glass or PET
| No field preservation required; H2SO4 may be used
|
Total Organic Carbon (TOC)
| 7 days
| 40mL glass vials or PET
| No field preservation required
|
Turbidity
| 2 days (analyze as soon as possible)
| 40mL glass vials or PET
| Protect from light; no field preservation required
|
Total dissolved solids (TSS)
| 14 days
| PET or glass
| No field preservation required
|
ORGANICS IN WATERS | Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
| 7 days (unpreserved); 14 days (preserved)
| 40mL glass vials with Teflon silicon rubber septum; 250mL glass bottles with Teflon foil lined lids
| Na2S2O3 for chlorinated water; NaHSO4 for raw or non-chlorinated water
|
Triazine Herbicides
| 20 days to extraction; 40 days after extraction
| Glass bottle with Teflon lined lid
| Protect from light; No field preservation required
|
Carbamate Pesticides
| 20 days to extraction; 40 days after extraction
| Glass bottle with Teflon lined lid
| H2SO4, Na2S2O3 preservation solution
|
OC Pesticides
| 20 days to extraction; 40 days after extraction
| Glass bottle with Teflon lined lid
| Protect from light; No field preservation required
|
Total PCBs
| 20 days to extraction; 40 days after extraction
| Glass bottle with Teflon lined lid
| Protect from light; No field preservation required
|
OP Pesticides
| 14 days to extraction; 50 days after extraction
| Glass bottle with Teflon lined lid
| Na2S2O3 preservation solution; Protect from light
|
PA Herbicides, Chlorophenols
| 20 days to extraction; 40 days after extraction
| Glass bottle with Teflon lined lid
| Na2S2O3 preservation solution; Protect from light
|
Paraquat & Diquat
| 20 days to extraction; 36 days after extraction
| PET, HDPE
| Na2S2O3 preservation solution
|
Glyphosate
| 20 days to extraction; 40 days after extraction
| PET, HDPE
| Na2S2O3 preservation solution
|
Diuron
| 20 days to extraction; 40 days after extraction
| Glass bottle with Teflon lined lid
| Na2S2O3 preservation solution; Protect from light
|
Benzo(a)pyrene
| 20 days to extraction; 40 days after extraction
| Glass bottle with Teflon lined lid
| Na2S2O3 preservation solution; Protect from light
|
Dioxins & Furans (TEQ)
| 30 days until extraction; 1 year after extraction
| Glass bottle with Teflon lined lid
| No field preservation required
|
Microcystin-LR
| 21 days until extraction; 28 days after extraction
| Glass bottle with Teflon lined lid
| Na2S2O3 preservation solution; Protect from light
|
Haloacetic Acids (HAA)
| 28 days
| 40mL glass vials
| No field preservation required
|
Total Phenols, 4AAP
| 30 day
| Glass bottle with Teflon lined lid
| H2SO4 preservation solution; protect from light
|
PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers)
| 30 days until extraction; 1 year after extraction
| Glass bottle with Teflon lined lid
| No field preservation required
|
Extractable Organics (PHCs, PAHs)
| 14 days to extraction; 1 year after extraction
| Glass bottle with Teflon lined lid
| Na2S2O3 preservation solution; Protect from light
|
PFASs
| 30 days until extraction; 1 year after extraction
| PE / PET
| No field preservation required
|
Microbiology | E. coli
| 48 hours (preserved)
| Sterile plastic or glass
| Na2S2O3 field preservation
|
Total Coliforms
| 48 hours (preserved)
| Sterile plastic or glass
| Na2S2O3 field preservation
|
Heterotrophic Plate Count
| 48 hours (preserved)
| Sterile plastic or glass
| Na2S2O3 field preservation
|
Legend:
|
|
|
HDPE - high density polyethylene
|
|
|
PET - polyethylene terephthalate
|
|
|
PP - polypropylene
|
|
|
H/LD PE - high / low density polyethylene
|
|
|
