Document ID: EPA-HQ-OW-2002-0039-0074
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2003-07-09T04:00Z

EXAMPLE
PROCEDURE
FOR
COLLECTING
SOURCE
WATER
SAMPLES
FOR
E.
COLI
ANALYSES
JUNE
2003
DRAFT
Draft
June
2003
1
Example
Procedure
for
Collecting
Source
Water
Samples
for
E.
coli
Analyses
1.0
Required
Materials
Check
to
make
sure
the
following
materials
are
available
before
collecting
sample:

Q
Several
pairs
of
new,
powder­
free
latex
gloves
(
Lab
Safety
Supply,
cat.
number
16285XL,
or
equivalent)

Q
Sterile,
non­
toxic,
glass
or
plastic
container
with
a
leak­
proof
lid.
Container
should
be
capable
of
holding
120­
mL
or
250­
mL
with
ample
headspace
to
facilitate
mixing
of
sample
by
shaking
prior
to
analysis
(
Nalgene
polypropylene
wide­
mouth
bottles,
cat.
number,
21050008,
or
equivalent)

Q
Sample
number
label
Q
Turbidimeter
The
following
additional
materials
will
be
needed
if
the
sample
will
be
shipped
off­
site
for
analysis:

Q
Sample
collection
form
Q
Plastic
sample
bags
(
1
gallon)
(
Ziplock,
or
equivalent)

Q
Cooler,
approximately
9­
quart
(
Coleman,
cat.
number,
6209­
703,
or
equivalent)

Q
Two
large
plastic
trash
bags
Q
One
8­
lb.
bag
of
ice
or
Gel
ice
packs
(
VWR,
cat.
number,
15715­
105,
or
equivalent)

Q
Strapping
tape
Q
Two,
self­
adhesive
plastic
airbill
sleeves
Q
Airbill
for
shipment
2.0
Collecting
the
Sample
2.1
Record
the
sample
number,
sample
location,
samplers
name,
observations,
and
sampling
date
and
time
in
a
sampling
log
book
if
the
sample
will
be
analyzed
on­
site.

If
the
sample
will
be
shipped
off­
site,
record
the
following
information
on
the
sample
collection
form:

O
Public
water
system
(
PWS)
name
O
PWS
address
O
Sampler
name
O
Sample
ID
(
optional)

O
Public
Water
System
Identification
(
PWSID)
number
O
Public
Water
System
facility
ID
number
O
Facility
name
Draft
June
2003
2
O
Sample
collection
point
ID
O
Sample
collection
point
name
O
Sample
collection
date
O
Source
water
type
O
Requested
analysis
(
circle
"
E.
coli")

2.2
Water
taps
used
for
sampling
should
be
free
of
aerators,
strainers,
hose
attachments,
mixing
type
faucets,
and
purification
devices.
The
service
line
should
be
cleared
before
sampling
by
maintaining
a
steady
water
flow
for
at
least
two
minutes
(
until
the
water
changes
temperature).
Please
note:
Pre­
rinsing
the
sample
containers
with
sample
is
prohibited
when
collecting
E.
coli
samples.

2.3
Adjust
the
flow
of
water
out
of
the
tap
or
hose
so
the
water
will
not
splash
out
when
it
is
collected
into
the
sample
container.

2.4
If
there
is
not
an
inline
tap
that
allows
for
the
sampling
of
source
water
prior
to
treatment,
samples
should
be
collected
as
close
to
the
intake
as
possible
from
either
land
or
boat.
Source
water
samples
should
be
collected
close
to
the
surface
using
a
grab
sampling
technique.
Samples
may
be
collected
manually
by
direct
submersion
of
the
bottle
into
the
water
or
by
using
a
grab
sampling
device,
as
simple
as
a
metal
pole
with
an
adjustable
clamp
at
one
end
that
holds
the
sampling
bottle
in
place.

2.4
Measure
the
turbidity
of
the
source
water.
Record
the
following
on
the
sample
collection
form:

O
Turbidity
measurement,
in
NTU
2.5
Using
aseptic
technique
(
i.
e.,
sanitize
tap,
do
not
touch
the
inside
of
the
sample
container,
etc.),
fill
the
E.
coli
sample
container,
leaving
at
least
1
inch
of
head
space.
Do
not
expose
an
opened
container
any
longer
than
necessary.
Record
the
system
name,
sampler's
name,
sample
number,
date
and
time
of
sample
collection,
sample
location,
and
analysis
requested
on
the
sample
container.

2.6
Immediately
following
sample
collection,
tighten
the
sample
container
lid.
If
the
sample
will
be
shipped
off­
site
for
analysis,
and
will
not
be
shipped
for
several
hours,
place
the
sample
container
upright
in
a
refrigerator
to
maintain
the
sample
at
a
temperature
of
less
than
10
°
C,
but
not
freezing,
prior
to
shipment.
If
a
refrigerator
is
not
available,
wrap
the
sample
with
insulation
such
as
bubble
wrap
or
paper
towels
(
to
prevent
freezing),
place
the
sample
in
a
ziplock
bag,
and
place
the
bag
containing
the
sample
in
the
shipping
cooler
with
wet
ice
or
ice
packs.
Replace
with
fresh
ice
or
ice
packs
immediately
prior
to
shipment.
Draft
June
2003
3
3.0
Packing
the
Sample
(
Applicable
to
Samples
Shipped
Off­
Site
for
Analysis)

3.1
Insert
two
large
plastic
trash
bags
into
the
shipping
cooler
to
create
a
double
liner.
Immediately
before
packing
the
cooler,
disperse
6
pounds
of
ice
into
3
to
4
plastic,
ziplock
bags.
Gel
packs
or
blue
ice
may
be
used
in
lieu
of
wet
ice,
as
long
as
the
sample
is
maintained
in
the
appropriate
temperature
range.
Seal
the
ziplock
bags,
expelling
as
much
air
as
possible,
and
secure
top
with
tape.

Note!
Shipping
companies
may
delay
sample
shipments
if
leakage
occurs.
Double
liners
and
ziplock
bags
around
ice
will
prevent
leakage
and
delays.

3.2
Place
the
bag
containing
the
samples
into
the
shipping
container.
Place
the
ice
or
ice
packs
around,
but
not
on,
the
sample
bag
to
prevent
freezing.

3.3
If
you
will
be
monitoring
sample
temperature
during
shipment,
place
in
the
cooler
the
temperature
monitoring
device
(
e.
g.,
extra
sample
bottle
for
measuring
sample
temperature
upon
receipt
at
the
laboratory,
thermometer
vial,
or
Thermochron
 
iButton).
Seal
each
liner
bag
by
twisting
top
of
bag
and
tying
in
a
knot
3.4
Peel
the
backing
off
one
of
the
plastic
airbill
sleeves
and
attach
the
sleeve
to
the
inside
of
the
cooler
lid.

O
Sign
and
date
the
sample
collection
form.

Fold
the
completed
sample
collection
form,
and
place
it
inside
the
plastic
sleeve.

3.5
Close
the
cooler
lid,
seal
the
horizontal
joints
with
duct
tape,
and
secure
the
lid
with
tape
by
taping
the
cooler
at
each
end,
perpendicular
to
the
seal.

Note!
Shipping
companies
may
delay
sample
shipments
if
leakage
occurs.
Be
sure
to
seal
the
cooler
joints.

3.6
Peel
the
backing
off
of
the
second
airbill
sleeve
and
attach
the
sleeve
to
the
outside
of
the
cooler
lid.
Complete
the
shipping
airbill
with
the
laboratory
address,
billing
information,
sample
weight,
and
shipping
service.
Remove
the
shipper's
copy
of
the
airbill,
and
place
the
remainder
of
the
airbill
inside
the
plastic
sleeve.

4.0
Shipping
and
Tracking
4.1
Ship
samples
on
the
day
of
collection
and
use
a
reliable
shipping
service
for
next­
day
delivery.

4.2
Contact
the
laboratory
to
notify
them
of
the
sample
shipment.
Request
that
the
laboratory
contact
you
the
next
day
if
the
sample
is
not
received.

4.3
Using
the
airbill
number
on
the
shipper's
copy
of
the
airbill,
track
the
sample
shipment
using
the
shipping
company's
web
page
or
by
contacting
the
shipping
company
over
the
phone.

4.4
If
problems
are
encountered
with
the
shipment,
communicate
with
the
shipping
company
to
resolve,
and
update
the
laboratory
regarding
the
status
of
the
shipment.