There should be at least three sampling sites for each classified section of the river but more monitoring

stations may be established as necessary. If a very long stretch of the river has only one classification, at
least three monitoring sites should be established; one each at the downstream, midstream and
upstream sections or one monitoring station for every 5 kilometers may be designated. Samples may be
taken at any accessible point representing each river section.

Where the river is wide and it is judged that there is a big difference in water quality between the left
and right banks, samples can also be taken from the left and right banks, at a point representative of the
water quality of the river.

Refrain from taking samples at or near man-made structures (e.g., dams, weirs) as the samples may not
provide representative data because of unnatural flow patterns, unless necessary for specific studies.

Variability of flow patterns caused by artificial physical structures such as dams, weirs, and wing walls
must be considered in sampling site selection. These structures may influence the representative quality
of the water. Samples should be taken (a) upstream of the structure and (b) downstream of the
structure.

According to the American Society for Testing and Materials, there should be a minimum of three (3)
sampling sites per water body classification and a sampling site should be selected where the water is
well mixed. The variability of flow patterns caused by artificial physical structures must also be
considered in selecting sample sites since these structures may influence the representative quality of
the water.