ABSTRACT
Although numerous methods for water quality analysis are currently available, many new analytical methods are being developed and old methods updated due to continual improvement of analytical technology. Often, selecting an analytical method from a
10.1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 157 10.2 Selection of Analytical Methods ................................................................ 158
10.2.1 Using Standard Methods .............................................................. 158 10.2.2 Meeting Method Performance Requirements .............................. 159 10.2.3 Considering Method Comparability ............................................ 160
10.3 Analytical Procedures for Selected Water Quality Parameters ................. 161 10.3.1 Alkalinity ..................................................................................... 164 10.3.2 Aluminum .................................................................................... 165 10.3.3 Ammonia ..................................................................................... 169 10.3.4 Arsenic ......................................................................................... 171 10.3.5 Calcium ........................................................................................ 171 10.3.6 Chloride ....................................................................................... 175 10.3.7 Coliforms and Escherichia coli ................................................... 176 10.3.8 Copper .......................................................................................... 180 10.3.9 Fluoride ........................................................................................ 181 10.3.10 Iron ............................................................................................... 181 10.3.11 Lead ............................................................................................. 184 10.3.12 Magnesium ................................................................................... 185 10.3.13 Manganese ................................................................................... 186 10.3.14 Mercury ........................................................................................ 186 10.3.15 Nitrate .......................................................................................... 189 10.3.16 Orthophosphate ............................................................................ 189 10.3.17 Pesticide-Diuron ........................................................................ 191 10.3.18 pH ................................................................................................. 194 10.3.19 Specific Conductivity ................................................................... 195 10.3.20 Turbidity ....................................................................................... 196
10.4 Summary .................................................................................................... 197 References .............................................................................................................. 197
plethora of new and existing methods is difficult, but very essential, since using an improper method can lead to inaccurate or false results. One purpose of this chapter is to explain the selection criteria of analytical methods for water quality monitoring programs. This is followed by a description of the analytical procedures for a selected group of water parameters. These procedures have been simplified from original descriptions of standard methods. It is the authors’ intent to provide these simplified procedures to nonlaboratory professionals, including field sampling staff, so that they may gain insights on how water samples are analyzed in a laboratory. This chapter may also be used as a simple laboratory manual for laboratory technicians after they have read and understood the complete original methods. General information for each parameter is also presented to aid in interpreting the analysis and in referencing measured values, as compared to expected concentration ranges and numerical regulations.
