Specifications

A Remote Automated Water Quality Stream Gauging System Design 20
20
6. SAMPLE RETRIEVAL
6.1. Collection
When sample bottles are retrieved from a station, a pre-printed, waterproof label is attached
to the bottle. This labelling system uses Avery L7060 heavy duty labels although any label
that is waterproof and laser printable will suffice. The labels contain the site name, sample
identification number and the year.
When a sample bottle is removed from the auto sampler, the next label in the series is
attached. If there is no sample in the bottle, a label is attached to show that sample collection
was attempted.
If the numbers on the labels do not match the numbers on the data staff can immediately
investigate the cause of the error.
When all samples have been collected from the auto sampler, it is restarted and the reset
switch on the logger is depressed. The program then logs the time the switch is pressed and
resets the bottle remaining counter to 24. A manual record detailing the date of retrieval and
any other comments is completed at this time.
6.2. Submission
On return to the laboratory, the data for each sample is queried from the database server to
construct a sample submission sheet. This sheet includes the time and collection of the
sample, the water quality parameters at the time of collection and the event number. This
information is used to determine the number of samples to analyse and what analyses may
be appropriate.