Planning for and Collecting Valid and Meaningful Drinking Water Samples

1. James Latimer Environmental Program Specialist Drinking Water Program AK Dept. of Environmental Conservation E-mail: james.latimer@alaska.gov Planning for and Collecting Valid and Meaningful Drinking Water Samples 2010 Sustained Compliance WorkshopAnchorage, AKSept 23-24, 2010

2. Presentation Summary • Sample Planning – generalized and detailed • Collecting Samples – preparations and procedures • Sample Demonstration – total coliform & chemical • Sample Results – understanding results and following through as needed • Questions

3. Sample Planning • Planning Tools • Total Coliform Sample Siting Plan • Lead & Copper Sample Plan

4. Importance of Planning • Planning ahead can be critical to maintaining an adequate supply of safe and healthy water • To succeed, we need to know (and do): • what needs to be done • when & where to sample

5. A Monitoring Summary includes: What to sample for & where to sample How often to sample Date of last sample Date next sample is due Definitions and explanations DEC contact information

6. Other Examples of Monitoring Summaries

7. Other Planning Tools Quarter • Printed media • e.g., wall or desk calendar • Electronic media • e.g., email alerts

8. Specific Sample Plans The following sampling plans will not be covered today: • A source water monitoring plan for Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2); or • A Stage 2 Disinfectant and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (Stage 2 DBPR) Initial Distribution System Evaluation (IDSE) sampling plan

9. Creating, Using, & Modifying a Total Coliform Rule (TCR) Sample Siting Plan

10. Total Coliform Sample Siting Plan (18 AAC 80.410) • Who is required to have one? • Applies to Community, Non Transient Non-community, & Transient Non-community public drinking water systems • What it is? • Where and when to sample • Routine sampling; and • In the event of total coliform positive result: • Within 24 hours, and the following month • Sample site selection is important • Keep a copy readily available onsite, & revise as needed

11. DEC TCR Sample Siting Plan* “Template” * for smaller systems, serving 1000 or less people http://dec.alaska.gov/eh/dw/publications/forms.html

12. System Information

13. Quarterly-Monthly Sampling Chart

14. What to do if a result is positive/present for total coliform bacteria or E. coli

15. Distribution System Schematic • Any format • E.g., engineer schematic, hand-drawn, notes on satellite image, and others • DEC Drinking Water Program staff review & approve all Total Coliform Sample Siting Plans

16. Lead and Copper Sampling Plan (CWS and NTNCWS) • Site selection • Based on materials evaluation (pipes and fixtures containing lead and/or copper), & use (i.e. residential vs. commercial) • Do not include sites with point-of-use or point-of-entry treatment devices for inorganics (1 exception) • What to do if not enough sites. • Names or IDs of sites should be clear and consistent • Consistent locations provide results that can be compared over time • Accessibility - changes • Activity/Inactivity (i.e. , schools) • First Draw, after 6 hours with no-flow • Newly replaced pipes or fixtures may influence results

17. Lead and Copper Sampling Plan Essentials • Provide an explanation for selection of sites • Provide clear and complete descriptions and names for each site, and include alternative sites • Note sample procedures • Flushing procedures • Describe how 6-hour idle flow time will be met • Note if residents will collect samples • Emphasize collection from cold water tap • Emphasize use of consumptive taps

18. Collecting Samples • Preparations • Supplies, Instructions, Forms • Collecting samples • Tap or site issues • Potential contamination • Container specifics • Demonstrations • Total Coliform • Volatile Organics (VOCs) • Recording & reporting data

19. Pre-collectionPreparations • Supplies • Sample bottles • Valid free chlorine residual powder packets • Tools & paper towels • Cooler (s) • Ice & packing materials • Disinfectant • Forms • Other items as needed • Arrangements • Lab hours • Flights • Coordinate with any relevant contractors • Courtesy reminders to home or business owners –ensure access • Payments • Other items as situation warrants

20. Quiz & Clues –Distribution System Free Chlorine Residual • Same Time & Location as each Total Coliform Sample • Collect prior to Total Coliform sample • Free - and check powder packet type & expiration date • There is at least one approved free chlorine residual test strip • When and where do we sample distribution chlorine residual? • Do we sample before or after total coliform sampling, and does it matter? • Is this a free or total chlorine measurement? • How about test strips?

21. Distribution Chlorine Residual http://dec.alaska.gov/eh/dw/publications/sample.html

22. Common Methods of Determining Free Chlorine Residual Follow instructions provided by the manufacturer

23. Total Coliform BacteriaSampling Reminders • Arrange transportation • Keep enough extra sample bottles on site • Confirm sample location on the sample siting plan • Personal and area sanitation is important • Prepare faucet (avoid sampling at drinking water fountains): • Disinfect then flush • Fill to 100+ ml - not too little • < 100ml gets rejected • Not too much • Sample bottles are brittle • Pad for shipping, and do not submit if damaged • Cool, yet not frozen • Double check forms • Limited hold time

24. Total Coliform Bacteria Sampling http://dec.alaska.gov/eh/dw/publications/sample.html

25. A Completed Form/Analysis

26. Non-TCR Samples Today’s Special - VOCs • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) • Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) & Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) • Lead & Copper • Inorganics • Arsenic • Fluoride • and more... • Special bottle/lid • Open septa lid prevents contamination while allowing for sample extraction at lab • Do not rinse bottle • Low tap flow • Close to tap • Bottle angled • Fill completely - no air space • Minimize overflow

27. VOC Sampling http://dec.alaska.gov/eh/dw/publications/sample.html

28. Lab Forms

29. Partially Completed Forms the lab the lab

30. Sampling Demonstrations • West aisle • Kelly Cobbs (DEC) • East aisle • Leticia Tadina (DEC)

31. Reporting • Ensure that time and money are not wasted: • Recheck forms & labels for accuracy & completeness • Label on bottle • Labs are required to report results directly to DEC • PWSs are responsible to ensure that DEC receives results

32. Points To Ponder & To Act On • Plan & sample as far ahead as possible • Develop, revise, and keep handy TCR and Pb/Cu sample plans • Understand and use the Monitoring Summary, and use in combination with a calendar or other sample scheduling or tracking media. • Sampling begins and ends with accurately and completely filling out forms • Understand & address sample issues specific to each type of sample collected • Accurate results are very important • Water is very important • Your job is very important

33. Thee End! ??? Questions, comments ???