EPA > OWOW > Monitoring and Assessing Water Quality > Volunteer Stream Monitoring: A Methods Manual > Chapter 5

Method	Location (Lab or Field)	Comments	Table 5.2 Summary of chemical monitoring methods Volunteers can measure some parameters in the field or in the laboratory.
Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
Winkler with eye dropper	Either	If lab, the sample is fixed in field and titrated in lab; must be measured within 8 hours of collection.
Winkler with digital titrator or buret	Either
Meter	Field	The meter is fragile and must be handled carefully.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Winkler with eye dropper	1st part - Either 2nd part - Lab	If lab, the sample is fixed in field and titrated in lab; must be measured within 6 hours of collection.
Winkler with digital titrator or buret	1st part - Either 2nd part - Lab	If lab, the sample is fixed in field and titrated in lab; must be measured within 6 hours of collection.
Meter	1st part - Either 2nd part - Lab	The meter is fragile and must be handled carefully; must be measured within 6 hours of collection.
Temperature
Thermometer	Field	Cannot be done in the lab.
pH
Color comparator	Either	If lab, measured ASAP within 2 hours of collection.
pH "Pocket Pal"	Either	If lab, measured ASAP within 2 hours of collection.
Meter	Either	If lab, measured ASAP within 2 hours of collection.
Turbidity
Meter	Either	If lab, measured ASAP within 24 hours of collection.
Total Orthophosphate
Ascorbic Acid w/ color comparator	Either	If lab, measured within 48 hours of collection.
Ascorbic acid w/ spectophotometer	Either	If lab, measured within 48 hours of collection.
Nitrate
Cadmium reduction w/ color comparator	Either	If lab, measured within 48 hours of collection.
Cadmium reduction w/ spectrophotometer	Either	If lab, measured within 48 hours of collection.
Total Solids
Oven drying/weighing	Lab	Must be measured within 7 days of collection.
Conductivity
Meter	Either	If lab, measured ASAP within 28 days of collection.
Total Alkalinity
Titration	Either	If lab, measured within 24 hours of collection.
Fecal Bacteria
Membrane filtration	Lab	Must be measured within 6 hours of collection.

Table 5.2