ISO/TC 147/SC 6 - Sampling (general methods)

The purpose of this document is to describe test plans and different operating methodologies of these test plans to define and verify the acceptable length of stability of a substance in a sample under specified conditions of preservation (temperature, matrix, light, addition of a stabilizer, where appropriate, type of preservation etc.) before starting analytical protocols (chemicals and physico-chemicals analysis). Biological and microbiological methods are excluded. It is necessary to have an analytical method with performances that have already been characterized (repeatability, intermediate precision, trueness, accuracy and uncertainty) in order to perform the stability study and implement its test plans.

This document sets out the general principles for, and provides guidance on, the design of sampling programmes and sampling techniques for all aspects of sampling of water (including waste waters, sludges, effluents, suspended solids and sediments). It does not include detailed instructions for specific sampling situations, which are covered in the various other parts of ISO 5667 and in ISO 19458.

This document contains details on the sampling of domestic and industrial waste water, i.e. the design of sampling programmes and techniques for the collection of samples. It covers waste water in all its forms, i.e. industrial waste water, radioactive waste water, cooling water, raw and treated domestic waste water. It deals with various sampling techniques used and the rules to be applied so as to ensure the samples are representative. Sampling of accidental spillages is not included, although the methods described in certain cases may also be applicable to spillages.

This document specifies general requirements for sampling, preservation, handling, transport and storage of all water samples including those for biological analyses. It is not applicable to water samples intended for microbiological analyses as specified in ISO 19458, ecotoxicological assays, biological assays and passive sampling as specified in the scope of ISO 5667‑23. This document is particularly appropriate when spot or composite samples cannot be analysed on site and have to be transported to a laboratory for analysis.

ISO 5667-12:2017 provides guidance on the sampling of unconsolidated sediments for the determination of their geological, physical and chemical properties, as well as the determination of biological, microbiological and chemical properties at the water and sediment interface. Guidance on achieving sediment cores is given specifically for the measurement of rates of deposition and detailed strata delineation. The main emphasis of this document is to provide methods that achieve sediment samples. The environments considered are - limnic (rivers, streams and lakes, natural and man-made), and - estuarine, including harbours. Industrial and sewage works for sludges, paleolimnological sampling and sampling of open ocean sediments are specifically excluded from this document (and are addressed in ISO 5667-15), although some techniques may apply to these situations. Sampling of suspended solids is outside the scope of this document and reference can be made to ISO 5667-17 for such guidance.

ISO 5667-16:2017 gives practical guidance on sampling, pre-treatment, performance and evaluation of environmental samples in the context of performing biological tests. Information is given on how to cope with the problems of biotesting arising from the sample and the suitability of the test design. It is intended to convey practical experience concerning precautions to be taken by describing methods successfully proven to solve or to circumvent some of the experimental problems of biotesting of, for example, waters. Primarily dealt with are substance-related problems concerning sampling and pre-treatment of environmental samples (e.g. waste water samples) for the performance of biotests. This guidance is on ecotoxicological testing with organisms (single-species biotests; in vivo and in vitro). Some features addressed in this document also apply to biotests using single-cell systems (in vitro bioassays) and biodegradation studies as far as sampling and sample preparations are concerned. Testing of substances in the water solubility range is also addressed. Reference has been made as far as possible to existing International Standards and guidelines. Information taken from published papers or oral communication has been utilized as well. ISO 5667-16:2017 is applicable to biological tests for determining the effect of environmental samples like treated communal and industrial waste water, groundwater, fresh water, aqueous extracts (e.g. leachates, eluates), pore water of sediments and whole sediments. This document is also applicable to chemical substances. ISO 5667-16:2017 is not applicable to bacteriological examination of water. Appropriate methods for bacteriological examination are described in other documents (see ISO 19458[17]).

ISO 5667-4:2016 gives guidelines for the design of sampling programmes, techniques and the handling and preservation of samples of water, from natural and man-made lakes during open-water and ice-covered conditions. It is applicable to lakes with and without aquatic vegetation. Guidance on sampling for microbiological examination is not included.

ISO 5667-24:2016 provides an audit protocol to monitor conformity with declared, or assumed, practices in all areas of water quality sampling. Specifically, this part of ISO 5667 provides guidance on the systematic assessment of sampling practices and procedures in the field, and assessing conformity with those given in the organization's sampling manual. It is applicable to the audit of sampling activities from the development of a sampling manual through to the delivery of samples to the laboratory. NOTE 1 The design of the sampling manual is the prerogative of the data user and this part of ISO 5667 is not intended to deliver criticism of a manual's structure. ISO 5667-24:2016 is applicable to sampling practices associated with wastewaters, including discharges to water bodies, environmental monitoring, potable water supplies from source to tap, commercial and industrial uses of water, and power generation. ISO 5667-24:2016 is applicable to the auditing of sampling practices relevant to the management of water stored in containers, such as temporary supply tanks and bottled supplies. However, it is not applicable for the auditing (or calibration and maintenance) of on-site test equipment or kits. NOTE 2 BS 1427 covers water test kits used "in the field". The following sampling occasions are excluded from both the field- and desk-audit procedures set out in this part of ISO 5667: a) chemical and microbiological incidents, which are investigated by agencies such as the emergency services, e.g. where an immediate risk to the health of the sampling practitioner/operative is evident; b) radiochemical sampling of water quality, other than that specified as a routine requirement under the UK Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations,[9][10][11][12] i.e. radiochemical incidents which are investigated by agencies such as the emergency services. Informative Annex A contains a series of forms to assist with auditing. These are for guidance only. Informative Annex B gives procedures for monitoring temperature control, while Informative Annex C provides guidance on measuring the uncertainty associated with sampling practices.

ISO 5667-14:2014 provides guidance on the selection and use of various quality assurance and quality control techniques relating to the manual sampling of surface, potable, waste, marine and ground waters. NOTE The general principles outlined in this part of ISO 5667 might, in some circumstances, be applicable to sludge and sediment sampling.

ISO 5667-6:2014 sets out the principles to be applied to the design of sampling programmes, sampling techniques, and the handling of water samples from rivers and streams for physical and chemical assessment. It is not applicable to the sampling of estuarine or coastal waters nor for microbiological sampling. (Procedures for microbiological sampling are given in ISO 19458.) ISO 5667-6:2014 is neither applicable to the examination of sediment, suspended solids or biota, nor to dammed stretches of rivers or streams. Also, it is not applicable to passive sampling of surface waters (see ISO 5667‑23). In cases where naturally occurring or artificially constructed dams result in the retention or storage of water for several days or more, the stretch of the river or stream should be considered as a standing water body. For sampling purposes, see ISO 5667‑4.

ISO 5667-13:2011 gives guidance on the sampling of sludges from wastewater treatment works, water treatment works and industrial processes. It is applicable to all types of sludge arising from these works and also to sludges of similar characteristics, e.g. septic tank sludges. Guidance is also given on the design of sampling programmes and techniques for the collection of samples.

ISO 5667-23:2011 specifies procedures for the determination of time-weighted average concentrations and equilibrium concentrations of the free dissolved fraction of organic and organometallic compounds and inorganic substances, including metals, in surface water by passive sampling, followed by analysis.

ISO 5667-21:2010 establishes principles to be applied to the techniques of sampling water provided for drinking and for use in the manufacture of food and beverage products. The guidance given in ISO 5667-21:2010 is generally confined to those circumstances where water is drawn from municipal or similar public or private abstraction, treatment or distribution systems for which prior treatment or quality assessment has resulted in the water being classified as suitable for drinking or potable process purposes. Specifically, ISO 5667-21:2010 is applicable to water that is supplied by tanker or other non-contiguous bulk means, but not contiguously as part of a piped distribution system, during any stage of use up to and including the point of consumption or transfer to a piped distribution system. ISO 5667-21:2010 is also applicable to the distribution and bulk storage of water on aircraft, trucks, trains, ships, and other vessels and vehicles, as well as to sampling situations that can arise during the investigation of system defects, initiation of new systems, re-initiation of systems that have been unused for long periods or emergency situations where the safety of sampling operatives is not compromised. ISO 5667-21:2010 does not provide guidance on: a) the sampling of source water, e.g. groundwater and impoundments; b) the sampling of potable water supplies derived from contiguous piped supplies covered by ISO 5667-5; c) the sampling of beverage products (including bottled waters) or food containing potable water used in its preparation; d) the sampling of drink vending machines.

ISO 5667-22:2010 give guidelines for the design, construction and installation of groundwater quality monitoring points to help ensure that representative samples of groundwater can be obtained. Within the guidance consideration is given to: a) the impact of installation materials on the environment; b) the impact of the installation on sample integrity; c) the impact of the environment on the installation and the materials used in its construction. These guidelines allow the impacts to be considered and accounted for when designing a groundwater sampling programme. They also allow an informed assessment of data and results obtained from existing installations, the construction of which can potentially have an impact on sample integrity. These guidelines are intended for installations and monitoring in different environments including those where background or baseline groundwater conditions are being established or monitored and those in which impacts of contamination are being investigated.

ISO 5667-15:2009 provides guidance on procedures for the preservation, handling and storage of samples of sewage and waterworks sludge, suspended matter, saltwater sediments and freshwater sediments, until chemical, physical, radiochemical and/or biological examination can be undertaken in the laboratory. The procedures in ISO 5667-15:2009 are only applicable to wet samples of sludge, sediment and suspended matter.

ISO 5667-11:2009 provides guidance on the sampling of groundwaters. It informs the user of the necessary considerations when planning and undertaking groundwater sampling to survey the quality of groundwater supply, to detect and assess groundwater contamination and to assist in groundwater resource management, protection and remediation. ISO 5667-11:2009 does not apply to sampling related to the day-to-day operational control of groundwater abstractions for potable purposes. The guidance includes sampling of groundwater from both the saturated (below water table) zone and the unsaturated (above the water table) zone.

ISO 5667-17:2008 is applicable to the sampling of suspended solids for the purpose of monitoring and investigating freshwater quality, and more particularly to flowing freshwater systems such as rivers and streams. Certain elements of ISO 5667-17:2008 can be applied to freshwater lakes, reservoirs, and impoundments; however, field sampling programmes can differ and are not necessarily covered here.

ISO 5667-20:2008 establishes principles, basic requirements, and illustrative methods for dealing with the use of sample data for decision making based on the assessment of the confidence that water quality: meets targets and complies with thresholds; has changed; and/or lies in a particular grade in a classification system. ISO 5667-20:2008 also specifies methods for preliminary examination of the sensitivity of decisions to error and uncertainty, although it does not cover the full range of statistical techniques. ISO 5667-20:2008 provides general advice on decision making related to constraint formulation for expression of thresholds and targets and the form and scale of sampling programmes.

ISO 5667-5:2006 establishes principles to be applied to the techniques of sampling water intended for human consumption. For the purposes of ISO 5667-5:2006, water intended for human consumption comprises: all water either in its original state or after treatment, intended for drinking, cooking, food preparation, or other domestic purposes, regardless of its origin, plus all water used in any production undertaking for the manufacture, processing, preservation or marketing of products or substances intended for human consumption unless the competent national authorities are satisfied that the quality of the water cannot affect the wholesomeness of the foodstuff in its finished form. The guidance given in ISO 5667-5:2006 is confined to those circumstances where water is drawn from municipal or similar distribution systems (including individual systems) where prior treatment and/or quality assessment has resulted in the water being classified as suitable for drinking or potable process purposes. Specifically, ISO 5667-5:2006 is applicable to water that is in continuous supply relative to any stage of use up to and including the point of consumption in a distribution system. This includes distribution within large buildings in which additional water quality management might be applicable. ISO 5667-5:2006 is also applicable to sampling situations that can arise relative to the investigation of system defects or emergency situations where the safety of sampling operatives is not compromised. ISO 5667-5:2006 does not provide guidance for water sources or for products generated by using drinking water. The followings items are examples of cases not addressed by the present document: the sampling of source water, for example groundwater and surface water impoundments; sampling of drinking water supplies derived from non-continuous sources (for example, from road tankers); sampling of bulk storage of water on airplanes, trains and ships; the sampling of beverage products (including bottled waters) or food containing potable water used in its preparation; sampling of drink vending machines that dispense unsealed cups of drinks.

ISO 5667-19:2004 provides guidance for the sampling of sediments in marine areas for analyses of their physical and chemical properties for monitoring purposes and environmental assessments. It encompasses sampling strategy, requirements for sampling devices, observations made and information obtained during sampling, handling sediment samples, and packaging and storage of sediment samples. ISO 5667-19:2004 does not provide guidelines for data treatment and analysis. ISO 5667-19:2004 is not intended to give guidance for sampling of freshwater sediments.

Recommends procedures and equipment for sampling water and steam in boiler plants including examples of sampling apparatus, to provide samples for physical and chemical analysis that are representative of the main body of water or steam from which they are taken. The procedures for sampling apply to raw water, make-up water, boiler feed water, condensate, boiler water, cooling water. Does not apply to the sampling of water and steam in nuclear power plants.

Provides guidance on the design of sampling programmes and the choice of instrumentation and techniques for the sampling of the quality of wet deposition. Does not cover measurement of the quantity of rain, dry deposition or other types of wet deposition such as mist, fog and cloudwaters. The main objectives are control of local emissions and assessment of long range transport of airborne pollutants.

Provides guidance on the principles to be applied to the design of sampling programmes, sampling techniques and the handling and preservation of samples of sea water from tidal waters. Does not apply to the collection of samples for microbiological or biological examination. The main objectives are quality characterization measurement, quality control measurement, measurements for specific reasons, and examination of the effects of man-made structures.

ISO 5667-3:2012 establishes general requirements for sampling, preservation, handling, transport and storage of all water samples including those for biological analyses. It is not applicable to water samples intended for microbiological analyses as specified in ISO 19458, ecotoxicological assays, biological assays, and passive sampling as specified in the scope of ISO 5667-23. ISO 5667-3:2012 is particularly appropriate when spot or composite samples cannot be analysed on site and have to be transported to a laboratory for analysis.

This part of ISO 5667 provides guidance on the sampling of groundwater at potentially contaminated sites. It is applicable to situations where contamination of the subsurface could exist as a result of downward migration of pollutants whose source is at the surface or just below it, and when the guidance provided in ISO 5667-11 is inappropriate.

ISO 5667-1:2006 sets out the general principles for, and provides guidance on, the design of sampling programmes and sampling techniques for all aspects of sampling of water (including waste waters, sludges, effluents and bottom deposits).

ISO 5667-6:2005 sets out the principles to be applied to the design of sampling programmes, sampling techniques and the handling of water samples from rivers and streams for physical and chemical assessment. It is not applicable to the sampling of estuarine or coastal waters and has limited applicability to microbiological sampling. It is also not applicable to the examination of sediment, suspended solids or biota.

ISO 5667-3:2003 gives general guidelines on the precautions to be taken to preserve and transport all water samples including those for biological analyses but not those intended for microbiological analysis. These guidelines are particularly appropriate when spot or composite samples cannot be analysed on-site and have to be transported to a laboratory for analysis.

Corrects an expression in subclause 16.4.

Provides guidance on the sampling of sediments from rivers, streams, lakes and similar standing waters and estuarines. Sampling of industrial and sewage works sludges and ocean sediments are excluded.

Gives general guidelines on the precautions to be taken to preserve and transport water samples (filling the container, use of appropriate containers, preparation of containers, cooling or freezing of the samples, filtration or centrifuging of samples, techniques generally suitable for the preservation of samples). These guidelines are particularly appropriate when a sample (spot or composite sample) cannot be analysed on site and has to be transported in order to be analysed in the laboratory.

Provides guidance on the design of sampling programmes, sampling techniques and the handling of water samples taken from groundwater for physical, chemical and microbiological assessment. The general purpose of sampling programmes for groundwaters is to survey the quality of groundwater supplies, to detect and assess groundwater pollution, to assist in groundwater resource management, and other more detailed objectives.

Contains details on the sampling of domestic and industrial waste water, i.e. the design of sampling programmes and techniques for collection of samples including safety aspects. Covers waste water in all its forms. Sampling of accidental spillages is not included, although the methods described in certain cases may also be applicable to spillages.

Does not include detailed instructions for specific sampling situations and sampling procedures. This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (1982). Annex A forms an integral part of this standard.

Establishes detailed principles to be applied to the design of sampling programmes, to sampling techniques and to handling and preservation of water samples. This part does not include the sampling of sources (to which applies ISO 5667).

Sets out the principles to be applied to the design of sampling programmes, sampling techniques and the handling of water samples for physical, chemical and microbiological assessment. Does not apply to the sampling of estuarine or coastal waters and is of limited applicability to the sampling of canals and other inland waters with restricted flow regimes.

Presents detailed principles to be applied to the design of programmes, techniques and the handling and preservation of samples of water. The main objectives are measurements of quality characterization, of quality control and for specific reasons. Microbiological examinations are not included.

Sets out the general principles to be applied for the purposes of quality control, quality characterization, and identification of sources of pollution of water, including bottom deposits and sludges. Is intended to be used in conjunction with ISO 5667-2 and ISO 5667-3.