PMSA Conference
Heger, Sampling
1/20/2014
1
Sara HegerUniversity of Minnesota
Pathogens Confined space Power
Bacteria- can cause diarrhea, fever, cramps, vomiting, weakness, or loss of appetite. ◦ Examples-E.Coli, Salmonella, cholera
Parasites- can cause coughing, breathing difficulties, abdominal pain, and intestinal blockage◦ Examples-Giardia, Cryptosporidium, helminths (worms)
Viruses- can cause tiredness, abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea◦ Examples-Hepatitis A
Oral-hand to mouth contact during eating, drinking, and smoking. Or by wiping your face with contaminated hands or gloves. (major source of infection)
Dermal-skin contact from wastewater splashes. Having cuts, scratches, and wounds raise the risk.
Eyes-pathogens can enter the body through the eyes
Lungs-inhaling airborne microbes carried by dust, mist, or fumes.
Respiratory exposures All of the tools touched Truck door handle Steering Wheel Radio Gear shifter Lunch Cigarette, gum, etc.
PMSA Conference
Heger, Sampling
1/20/2014
2
Vaccinations for typhoid fever, tetanus, paratyphoid, polio, hepatitis
Use of waterless hand cleaners, anti-bacterial soaps, hand wipes
Clean implements (soil auger, paddles, sludge/scum tubes, hand tools for opening riser covers)
First aid kit
Wear latex or rubber gloves Wipe down surfaces (steering wheels,
gearshifts, door handles, door tools) with disinfectant
Keep hands and fingers away from mouth, nose, eyes, ears
Separate work clothes from personal ones Soak work clothes in hot water with chlorine
bleach
Meet all requirements TRAINING: Certification Lifting equipment◦ Harness◦ Partner
Testing
Dissolved Oxygen pH Temperature Sludge volume Settlability Odor Turbidity
Concentration of O2 dissolved in water◦DO low in septic tank <0.3 mg/L◦DO >2 from advanced units
PMSA Conference
Heger, Sampling
1/20/2014
3
Concentration of O2 dissolved in water◦ Measure with meter and probe or colorimetric
kit◦ DO expressed as mg/L ◦ negative log of hydronium ion
concentration◦ measure with pH meter, an
electronic device with probe◦ pH of domestic wastewater ranges
from 6.5 to 7.5◦ rapid changes can kill bacteria
• Measures acid or base quality of water
High◦ Fats
Temperature◦ < 75o
Low◦ Nitrogen◦ < 50o
◦ Bacteria◦ < 40o
Tank performance◦ Full at 25-33 %
Scum- Scum hook Sludge-◦ Sludge judge◦ Dipstick◦ True-Core
ATU: Settle-ability◦ Later
PMSA Conference
Heger, Sampling
1/20/2014
4
From Aeration chamber of ATUs
30 Minute Settlability Test◦ Beaker with 10 even
gradations◦ Fill beaker with
sample from aeration chamber.
◦ Let stand for 30 minutes and read level of clear zone.
20% to 60% is ok.
Turbidity is the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by individual suspended solids that are generally invisible to the naked eye similar to smoke in the air
The measurement of turbidity is a key test of overall water quality
BOD5◦ Biochemical oxygen demand◦ 5 day test of how much oxygen is used breaking
down organic material present in sample◦ < 170 mg/l is a typical home◦ Higher the number the dirtier the wastewater is◦ Bacteria in the soil or treatment unit eat up the
organic material while consuming oxygen
PMSA Conference
Heger, Sampling
1/20/2014
5
Amount of oxygen consumed by microbes during decomposition of organic matter
Indicates overall organic strength of wastewater
High BOD means high levels of organics Expressed in mg/L Raw Domestic wastewater ranges from
100 to 400 mg/L BOD
Measurement of change in DO concentration in samples over a given period of time at a specified temperature
Standard test is 5 days at 20oC (BOD5)
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Volume > 100 ml Bottles Plastic, Glass Preservation Storage Cool, 4°C Timing 48 Hours
Amount of organic matter oxidized by a strong chemical oxidant◦ also oxidizes additional compounds that
microorganisms don’t decompose◦ COD values always greater than BOD values◦ COD can be used to estimate BOD if BOD:COD
ratios are developed◦ COD tests take 3 to 4 hours
Samples digested with sulphuric acid and chromium and silver salts
Results colorimetrically analyzed Expressed in mg/L
PMSA Conference
Heger, Sampling
1/20/2014
6
Volume > 100 ml Bottles Plastic, Glass Preservation Storage Cool, 4°C Timing 48 Hours
FOG◦ Fats, Oils, & Grease◦ Fats are animal based and solid at room
temperature◦ Oil are vegetable based and liquid at room
temperature◦ Grease is burnt fats and oils Petroleum-based FOG industry/automotive repair not readily broken down by microorganisms
◦ Typical home is <25 mg/l
Volume > 100 ml Bottles Glass Preservation HCL or HSO4 pH<2 Storage Cool, 4°C Timing 28 days
Total suspended solids (TSS)◦ sample filtered through pre-weighed filter◦ filter and residue dried at 103 -105oC◦ increase in weight of filter represents TSS
Total dissolved solids (TDS)◦ filtered sampled dried in pre-weighed dish at
180oC◦ change in weight of dish represents TDS
TSS◦ Total suspended solids◦ Measures both organic and inorganic
solids which have not settled out (polyester, dirt, etc)◦ Typical home is <60 mg/l◦ Effluent filter in septic tank can reduce but
really just keeps it constant
PMSA Conference
Heger, Sampling
1/20/2014
7
Volume > 100 ml Bottles Plastic, Glass Preservation Storage Cool, 4°C Timing 7 days
Indicator organism ◦ cultured in standard tests to
indicate contamination◦ membrane filter technique direct count of colonies trapped and cultured◦ multiple tube fermentation method provides an estimate of the MPN per100 ml◦ measured as colonies/100 mL
Volume > 100 ml Bottles Plastic, Glass Preservation 0.008% Na2S2O3 Storage Cool, 4°C Timing 6 Hours
Organic N◦ found in cells of all living things
(proteins, peptides, amino acids)◦ principle compound in feces and urine 70% in Urine◦ Converted in septic tank to ammonium
Ammonium N (NH4+)
◦ positively charged, binds to soil particles◦ converted to NO3
- in aerobic conditions ◦ Primary form of nitrogen leaving a septic
tank
Nitrate N (NO3-)
◦ stable over a wide range of conditions◦ negatively charged, not held by soil◦ high potential for leaching to groundwater◦ converted to N2 in anaerobic conditions◦ primary for of nitrogen after secondary
treatmentNO3
-
PMSA Conference
Heger, Sampling
1/20/2014
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TKN Volume> 100 ml
BottlesPlastic, Glass
Preservation Storage
Cool, 4°C Timing
48 hours
Nitrate Volume> 100 ml
BottlesPlastic, Glass
Preservation Storage
Cool, 4°C Timing
48 hours
Alkalinity is the quantitative capacity of water to neutralize an acid
Mainly a measure of how much carbonate in the water
Key for nitrogen removal
Volume > 100 ml Bottles Plastic, Glass Preservation Storage Cool, 4°C Timing 14 days
Found in body wastes, food residues, fertilizers, detergents, industrial discharges◦ Primary & secondary orthophosphates (H2PO4
- and HPO4
2-) - forms available to plants◦ P in soil often forms insoluble compounds◦ Rarely mobile in soil, but can move with soil particles
during erosion◦ Typical level is 8-12 mg/l
Volume > 100 ml Bottles Plastic, Glass Preservation Storage Cool, 4°C Timing 48 Hours Volume
Inorganic chemical compounds ◦ often found in industrial discharges◦ stable and resistant to decomposition◦ some essential for animal & plant nutrition ◦ at higher levels some can be highly toxic◦ in soils, solubility increases as pH decreases
PMSA Conference
Heger, Sampling
1/20/2014
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Stable organic compounds◦ slow to decompose◦ can persist in soil and groundwater for years◦ many are synthetic compounds industrial discharges solvents & household cleansers paint medical products
Volume > 100 ml Bottles Glass Preservation Storage Cool, 4°C Timing 28 days
Sample purpose Analysis methods Timing of sampling Sampling location Sample collection Sample containers Sample volume Sample transport Laboratory Interference
Diagnostic - troubleshooting Performance - evaluating system Can be collected for a specific component
diagnostic Effluent sample for overall system
performance Meet regulatory performance standards
Representative Reproducible Defensible Useful
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Heger, Sampling
1/20/2014
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Freshly flowing versus processed water
Peak loading time vs Resting period
Depends on materials◦ BOD ◦ Solids◦ pH
w/in 18 hrs of peak Lab hours
Sample collected on a Thursday, temperature on the left is appx 85° and temperature on the right is 76°
Sample collected on Saturday afternoon, temperature on the left was appx 76° and temperature on the right
was appx 102°
Sample collected on a Saturday afternoon,
temperature appx 102° Temperature has dropped to appx 95°
What are you sampling?◦ Influent◦ Effluent
Where in the system
Influent samples are collected from the beginning of a component.
Effluent sample is collected from the outlet of a component.
Influent
InfluentEffluent
EffluentEffluent Influent
PMSA Conference
Heger, Sampling
1/20/2014
11
Grab Sample- One sample taken from one point and time◦ Gives an idea of what is happening right then
Composite-◦ Multiple samples taken from one point at
multiple times and integrated together for analysis ◦ Pulled from a location that provides a composite.◦ Multiple grab samples at different flow periods.◦ Averaging over the course of a day
One time One location Snapshot
May change through out:◦ Time◦ System
Over time◦ Take grabs related to: Time Flow◦ Mix the samples for an AVERAGE
Over the System◦ Take grabs related to: Area/ Volume◦ Mix the samples for an AVERAGE
Grab sample with composite sample characteristics
Selecting right tool for the job.◦ Sludge judge◦ Dip Stick◦ Sample bottle◦ Dipper◦ Vacuum pump
Use clean collection equipment
Collect from “cleanest” end first
PMSA Conference
Heger, Sampling
1/20/2014
12
Depends on test Process
performance Best – external
sampling port Outlet baffles Discharge from
system Consistency
Pressure Distribution - Pump tank Gravity System - Outlet of the septic tank Propriety System - Use manufacturers’
recommendations◦ ATU ~ DO: Out of the unit
NOT usually from beneath systems
Types of Containers◦ Glass◦ Polyethylene
Test specific Check with laboratory Clearly label the
sample container with water proof markings
Water tight
PMSA Conference
Heger, Sampling
1/20/2014
13
There are requirements that need to be followed for standard method testing:◦ Sample Container◦ Preservation◦Maximum holding time
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)◦ Container- Polyethylene or Glass◦ Preservation- 4°C (ice)◦ Maximum holding time- 48 hours
Oil and Grease (FOG)◦ Container- Glass◦ Preservation- 4°C and add HCL or H2SO4 to pH<2◦ Maximum holding time- 28 days
Fecal Coliforms◦ Container- Polyethylene or Glass◦ Preservation- 4°C and 0.008% Na2S2O3
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◦ Maximum holding time- 6hrs
Temperature◦ Container- Polyethylene or Glass◦ Preservation- None◦ Maximum holding time- Analyze immediately (within 15 min)
Test Dependent Rule of thumb◦ Quart
Check with laboratory More tests = More
sample Cleaner water = More
sample Fill the container
Lab requirements
Container Timing◦ How long the
sample lasts ‘Immediately’
means with in 15 minutes
It is in your actual physical possession It is in your view, after being in your physical
possession It was secure beyond a reasonable doubt if
not in your view
PMSA Conference
Heger, Sampling
1/20/2014
14
Ice Chest w/ ice Check with lab for
constraints on analysis
Maximum holding time◦ Test must be started
w/in the time requirement
Document COC
Testing methods Data Range◦ Non-detection◦ Greater than X◦ Too numerous to
count Standard methods Purpose of the data Lab accreditation◦ Check for specific
test
Standards in the Operating permit Good values◦ Flow◦ Parameters
Bad values Re-sampling◦ What does this mean◦ Who pays
How good is your data (sample)?
Chemical◦ Contaminants in waste
stream◦ Disinfectants◦ Person collecting sample
Solids◦ Scum◦ Debris on baffle
Containers Improper handling◦ Transport