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 fiel preservation required; H2SO4 may be used | |
| Total Phosphorous | 7 days | Glass or PET | No fiel 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 days | 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 | | | ||
Water hold times for Ontario Drinking Water (ODW)
Modified on: Tue, 22 Jan, 2019 at 2:09 PM
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