Protocols for Physical, Chemical, and Biological Water Quality Parameters
Click on the parameters below to open PDF documents detailing sampling methods (analysis methods sometimes included).
EPA = U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
SM = Standard Methods
MWWP = Massachusetts Water Watch Partnership
Please note that some of the protocols listed for EPA and SM may be outdated. Newer versions may exist.
Parameter | Field Methods | Lab Methods |
---|---|---|
Alkalinity, as CaCO3, mg/L | MWWP Lakes MWWP Rivers |
EPA 310.1 single end-point SM 2320B MWWP double end-point |
Ammonia (as N), mg/L | n/a | EPA 350.2 titration EPA 350.3 probe SM 4500-NH3 distillation & titration SM 4500-NH3 selective electrode SM 4500-NH3 phenate |
Benthic Macroinvertebrates | Collecting | Sorting |
BOD | n/a | EPA 405.1 SM 5210B 5-day BOD |
Chlorophyll | MWWP Lakes | SM 10200 H |
Color | n/a | EPA 110.1 spectrophotometric EPA 110.2 platinum cobalt comparison SM 2120 |
Coliform Bacteria | SM 9060A MWWP Lakes MWWP Rivers |
SM 9010-9040 intro & quality control SM 9222B |
Kjeldahl Nitrogen | n/a | EPA 351.3 SM 4500N-organic |
Nitrate (as N), mg/l | n/a | EPA 353.3 SM 4500 NO3 E cadmium reduction |
Oxygen, dissolved | MWWP Lakes MWWP Rivers |
EPA 360.1 probe EPA 360.2 titration SM 4500-O A,B,C iodometric SM 4500-O A,G probe Hach Azide Modification of Winkler. 8215 and 8332 |
pH | MWWP Lakes MWWP Rivers |
EPA 150.1 SM 4500-H B |
Phosphorous, total | MWWP | EPA 365.2 single reagent EPA 365.3 double reagent SM 4500-P E MWWP low range |
Solids, total | n/a | SM 2540 B |
Residue, filterable Solids, suspended |
n/a | EPA 160.1 SM 2540 C |
Residue, non-filterable Solids, dissolved |
n/a | EPA 160.2 SM 2540 D |
Solids, settleable | n/a | SM 2540 F |
Salinity | n/a | SM 2520 4 methods |
Specific Conductance | n/a | EPA 120.1 SM 2510 B |
Temperature | MWWP Lakes MWWP Rivers |
EPA 170.1 SM 2550 B |
Turbidity | n/a | EPA 180.1 SM 2130 |