ZDHC Wastewater & Sludge

Sample Collection Training

Version 1.0
October 2020
 Introduction to ZDHC & Sample Collection
1 Training Module 2 Planning Activities

Training
Agenda 3
Sampling
Consideration & 4
Collecting Water
Samples
Sampling Location
This training is divided into 8 separate
modules. Participants who wish to be a
certified Wastewater & Sludge Sampler
must undergo training through ZDHC
Field Test Collection Solid Sludge
academy for all 8 modules in this course
and pass the exam at the end. 5 Measurement 6 Samples
The participants do not have to
complete the course in one-sitting. You
may pause and return to the course on a
later date.
Collecting Liquid Sample Documentation
7 Sludge Samples 8 & Shipment
 MODULE 6 & 7
COLLECTING SOLID & LIQUID SLUDGE SAMPLES
1. Can you describe what sludge is?
2. How would you identify sledge collection points
3. What are the potential type of sludge can you collect?

KNOWLEDGE 4. What safety factors should you consider when sampling sludge
and when placing sludge in a sample bottle?

RECAP 5. How should you preserve solid sludge samples?

Have you understood the previous
chapter?
6. How would you produce a representative composite solid
sludge sample when sampling is done at multiple points?
7. What is the minimum amount of liquid sludge sample should
you collect?
8. What are the key consideration when you collect sludge
samples from a tap?
9. If you collect a sludge sample at a point away from the tab,
why is it important that the average flow velocity of the sludge
is more than 2 foot per second?
Sampling Documentation
& Shipment
Chapter 8
.01
OVERVIEW

Proper documentation and safe

sample shipment is crucial to
ensure water and sludge samples
arrive at the lab in good condition.

It also allows the labs to

understand, also for traceability
purposes, what these samples are
and according to what protocol
they should be tested.
Wastewater Sample Collection Request Form

Wastewater Sampling Field Data Form

DOCUMENTS TO BE
COMPLETED BY ON-SITE
SAMPLING TEAM

Chain of Custody Form

Photo Documentation

PHOTO
DOCUMENTATION
Photos listed on this slide
need to be taken to assist
the lab to report in the
analytical report
• All sampling
locations
• Auto-sampler system
• Field testing
instruments
• Persistent foam
observation
• Pictures of sample
containers
• Inside the sample
cold box just prior to
shipment or delivery Courtesy of Hohenstein
 • From the start of the sampling process, until receipt at the lab,
the sample must be preserved with refrigeration to 4ᵒC
• An auto-sampler with refrigeration is ideal. Otherwise the
sample must be placed in an ice bath during sampling
SAMPLE • DO NOT place the ice directly inside the composite sample as
this will dilute the sample as the ice melts
REFRIGERATION • Do not freeze the samples

Before shipment, on-site

sampling team should pack

Source: Terraine.com
the sample in chilled
condition as part of sample
preservation

Freezing can alter sample integrity and a warm

sample can alter many of the test results.
AUTO-SAMPLER
SECURITY

The automatic sampler or

manual composite sample
should be protected with a
custody seal when ever the
sampling crew is not within
site.

Courtesy of
Hohenstein
 A sample collection container kit will
1
be supplied by the lab

This kit provides the appropriate

2 container type and preservative
needed for each test parameter
Sample
Collection
3 Do not rinse the sample containers Containers
The containers may contain corrosive
4 and/or hazardous chemicals so be
careful

Use new powder free disposable

5
gloves for each sample

Using non-approved sampling containers, which are

specially cleaned, can invalidate testing results.
Field blanks shall be collected for the
following parameters:

Field Blanks
1 Total-Phosphorus

2 Total Coliform

3 Mercury
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
4 including halogenated parameters
The field blanks will be provided
by the lab and shall use the
same containers as the samples
and will be filled with ultra-pure
laboratory grade water
 A temperature indicator bottle shall
be included with each shipping
container

TEMPERTATURE The temperature of the bottle will be

measured when the samples arrive
INDICATOR at the laboratory and this
temperature will be used as the
BOTTLES representative sample temperature
during shipment

The temperature indicator bottle will

be clearly labelled

Source:
Eurofin USA

SAMPLE
IDENTIFICATION
CODE
Always ensure the sample
containers are clearly marked
with the appropriate sample ID
code.
Without a proper sample ID
code the lab results cannot be
related to a sample location or
the plant conditions at the time
of sampling.
EXAMPLE
The samples will be identified using
the following ZDHC EDR code:
XXX-D001-July 6 2020 13:45
Where:
• XXX is the plant ID code
• D = discharge
• I = influent
• R= raw wastewater
• S=sludge
• Time = the time the
composite sample is
homogenized and split into
the individual sample
containers
Courtesy of Hohenstein
 • The bulk composite sample must be adequately mixed so that all
the sample containers are filled with the same representative sample
• The composite sample will require mixing several times during the
sample container filling process
A clean 1-L or 2-L glass beaker is useful for transferring from the
FILLING SAMPLING
•
CONTAINERS large bulk composite sample to the small sample containers
COLLECTION

Source: US Geological Survey

 • The sample must be kept
cool, between 2ᵒC and 8ᵒC,
during shipment. This will
PACKING SAMPLES
require ice or cool packs
FOR SHIPMENT
• Containers should be held
upright during shipment

• Use bubble wrap around

individual glass containers
and use adequate packing
material to prevent
movement during shipment,
cushion from shock, and
reduce the risk of leakage
Courtesy of STS

If sample bottles break during shipment, which contain

special preservatives for each test, you may have to come
back and sample again.
 • Samples will be shipped in
cool boxes with sufficient
insulation and artificial
PACKING SAMPLES
refrigerant ("blue ice"), or
ice contained in double
FOR SHIPMENT
zip-lock bags, to maintain
a sample temperature
between 2ᵒC and 8ᵒC for
the duration of
transportation

• If ice is used place the ice

in double zip-lock bags to
prevent leakage

• Shipping containers that

leak fluid, such as melting Courtesy of UL
ice water, will likely be
returned to the shipper
SAMPLE CHAIN OF CUSTODY

• The sampler is responsible for

Facility Name: CHAIN of CUSTODY Page ___ of ___
Project: ZDHC
Waste
water

sample care and custody from the

Facility Evaluat
Address: ion Method of Shipment

Facility Sampler's Name: Sampler's Contact

start of sampling until it is provided

Info:
Contact:

Matrix Prsv.

to the shipper or lab

No. of Containers
Field Sample I.D.

Lab Sample I.D.

Sampling Time
Sampling Date
Water

Other

Yes
Soil

No
Air
• A chain of custody documents this
process

• Custody seals should be placed on

S
K
R
the shipping container

M A
Please Reference the ZDHC
Wastewater Guide for required
standard test methods and reporting
limits.
Sample Received Intact: Yes No Temperature received: No
Ice

The sampling process is

ice

• Reline. by sampler (Sign & Print Name) Date Time Received by (Sign & Print Name)
Lab Work No.

documented in a bound logbook

Relinquished by Date Time Received by

Relinquished by Date Time Received by

Relinquished by Date Time Received by laboratory Da Tim

te e

Example of Chain of Custody Documentation

 The holding time is the time
SAMPLE HOLDING TIME •
between sample collection and
analysis at the lab

• Some of the test parameters

have short holding times.

• Therefore, it is CRITICAL that

the samples reach the lab as
soon as possible. Ask the
facility for advice on local
shipping regulations and
options

• Fecal Coliforms have a 24-hour

holding time. It is acceptable to
collect a grab sample for fecal
coliform and ship before the
composite if that will satisfy the
holding time.

• Ship using overnight delivery

 • To avoid shipping delays, and
compromising sample holding
times, contact the shipping
SAMPLE SHIPMENT
company prior to sample
collection. The shipping
company can help determine the
appropriate customs
arrangements that must be
made
• ZDHC provides sample and
shipping forms that may help to
avoid delays in customs
• If the shipping company was
contacted ahead of sampling
they will have instructions (forms,
declarations) for how to keep the
samples from being held up in
Plan and arrange shipping ahead of
customs
time. For example, involving a customs
• The lab must be notified when agent. If samples get held up in
the sample is shipped so they customs you may need to return and
are prepared to accept it and re-sample.
start analysis when it arrives.

KNOWLEDGE
REVIEW
Before proceeding to the
following chapters, have you
understood these critical
points?
1. Why is documentation and/or chain of custody important?
2. What document should an on-site sampling team complete
during sampling?
3. Should you place ice directly into the sample and/or freeze
4.
the sample for sample preservation?
What types of photos should you take while you are on-
5.
site?
Should you rinse the sample container? Why or why not?
6. What field blanks should you collect?
7. What is the temperature indicator bottle for?
8. At what temperature should you keep the sample at during
shipment, and how should you keep this temperature
range?
9. Describe the way you should pack the sample?
10. What is sample holding time?
11. What should you do to reduce the chance of sample delay?
 When you are ready,
proceed to the final exam