Part 1. Must be done at the river
Equipment :
500ml sample bottle
Aluminium pole with bottle adaptor
Latex gloves
Safety glasses
Safety
Never carry or lift the pole above your head, as touching power lines could cause electrocution.
Important
Work with a buddy if possible
Work with a buddy where possible when using a pole to sample.
Try to test between 12noon and 2pm
The recommended time for testing is between 10am and 2pm, and ideally, between 12noon and 2pm.
Collect from the same place each month
Check your site guide sheet if you are unsure.
1.Wherever possible and safe, walk out into the middle of the stream. Don't walk out past the top of your gumboots (unless wearing waders).
Important
Sample should be taken halfway across the stream and at half the depth.
If there is a riffle at your site, sample should be taken upstream of the riffle.
Collect in flowing water
Collect the sample water from a flowing section of the water body in midstream (if possible). Do not collect sample water from backwater or stagnant pools.
If the river/stream is very wide and you can't access the centre, extend your sample pole fully, and reach as far as you can across the stream to collect the sample.
If sampling from the bank or bridge, ensure you are standing on a stable, level surface. A good idea to get someone to hold your shirt from behind to make sure you don't overbalance when collecting the sample.
If the water level is low and you can't fully submerge the bottle, gently face empty bottle upstream on your sample pole, and lower it slowly into the water to collect a sample, but without disturbing the sediment/rocks on the bottom.
If you can't get a full bottle of water with extremely low levels, you may have to repeat this process a few times, but make sure you're always sampling upstream of anywhere that has been disturbed by your sample bottle.
To loosen the extension handle of the long arm sample pole, turn to the left. Extend the pole, with the sample bottle in place. There is a texta mark on the pole - do not open it further than here! Make sure the pole is not too long and difficult to handle. Twist handle to the right to lock the pole into place.
2. Loosen the extension handle of the long arm sample pole (if needed).
3. Hold the pole above and below the point of connection.
4. With the bottle in the sample pole, plunge the open bottle (neck down) into the water and then turn the bottle around to face upstream to collect a full bottle of water.
5. Collect and rinse bottle three times before collecting your sample.
If collecting from the bank, Bring the sample in and tip it onto the bank. Repeat this to rinse the bottle twice.
If collecting from midstream, Collect and tip the rinse water out downstream of where you are taking your sample (to prevent stirring up the sediment).
Make sure the bottle is fully submersed to avoid collecting particles that may be floating on the water’s surface.
6. Collect your sample.
7. Lift out of the water.
Bring in on the pole and cap or begin to test from the bottle.
Pack Up
Close the extension pole and twist right to lock in. Take sample bottle out of the snap adaptor.