4 Important Factors to Collecting a Sample
- Know where your sample locations are.
- Know how you are are going to collect your sample.
- Have your sample collection location ready.
- Take your time to collect your sample
Know where your sample locations are.
Not knowing where your sample location(s) is, is a recipe for failure. If you don’t know where the sample location(s) is in advance, you are not prepared to collect a sample. The location may be difficult or unsafe to get to, It may be blocked or otherwise inaccessible.
Know how you are are going to collect your sample.
Will you be collection the sample from a pipe 10 ft underground? Will your sample need to be collected off flat concrete? Will you need to open a manhole to collect the sample. …or will your sample be conveniently “water falling” into your collection container? Make sure that when you collect the sample that you do not need to move or disturb filters or other objects that could cause a sediment disturbance that may elevate pollutants in your representative sample.
Have your sample collection location ready.
As part or your regular facility BMP maintenance, be sure to have the sample collection location and filtration media clean and ready for your upcoming collection. Make sure that the location is accessible and the BMPs are in place and not in the way of sampling. Moving BMPs at the time of sampling can disturb settled particulates that may effect your representative sample results
Take your time to collect your sample
When you are collecting your sample, it’s likely to be raining. Plan for it.
When you are collecting your sample, it’s likely to be cold. Plan for it.
You only have to collect a few samples a season, so take your time and do it right. Make sure you know how you are going to collect your sample and you have what you need to get the samples collected correctly. Rushing your sample collection can result in disturbing settled particulates that may elevate pollutant levels.
If possible take some photos.
After you collect your samples
Review your sample labels
Put your bottles on ice or in a refrigerator
Complete your sample report
Call, email or text letting us know that you have samples to pick up for lab delivery.