People require a certain and, most importantly, considerable amount of water every day. For businesses and individuals, this volume is constantly increasing, leading to an increase in polluted runoff. To ensure that sources of clean water intake do not suffer, wastewater analysis must be carried out in a laboratory.
Conditions for sending water for testing
Chemical analysis of wastewater is required to verify the activities of enterprises and organisations if their work involves interference with the natural environment or to confirm the harmlessness of products extracted from natural sources.
Laboratory analysis is ordered not only by legal entities but also by private individuals, if it has to be done:
- Independent assessment of water used for drinking needs from water supply systems, when it is taken from wells and open reservoirs.
- Bottled water quality control.
- Environmental monitoring in swimming pools and ponds.
- Microenvironmental testing in freshwater and marine aquaria
- Evaluating irrigation water.
- Selection of filters for existing sources.
Wastewater analysis is required if the water quality is to be checked and/or a water treatment system is to be developed for further use of the resource for the designated purpose.
Objectives of wastewater analysis:
- Determine the extent of the facility’s impact on the water source.
- Evaluating the performance of the treatment plants.
- Drawing up a wastewater content report for public authorities during the project approval process.
- Wastewater analysis for private persons for water supply and wastewater disposal systems.
How the tests are carried out
The quality of a water source is directly related to the composition of the effluent. The frequency of the checks is determined by the water authority and samples may be taken by the company that wishes to establish the level of pollutants. The sample is sent to an accredited laboratory and the results provide a contaminant report and recommended treatment.
The analysis of wastewater includes:
- Concentration of inorganic compounds (substances in free and bound forms are indicated).
- Suspended solids content.
- Contamination levels with oil-like substances and petroleum products.
- Oxygen consumption by the system during chemical and biochemical processes.
- Solution temperature.
The accuracy and reliability of the test results depends on the performance of the equipment. Our laboratory offers the analysis of sewage in St.Petersburg on modern devices with minimum error of results of research.
Surface water sampling
Preparation of water and containers for analysis
For transferring samples for testing you need to take a clean plastic or glass bottle without traces of pollutants on the inside surface.
The conditions for selecting a bottle and drawing the water:
- A sample volume of at least 5 litres must be provided.
- Sugary drinks, kvass, alcohol, including beer are not suitable.
- The selected bottle is rinsed several times with a large volume of clean water and then filled with the test runoff.
- The sample is sealed tightly with a lid, after which the container in an upright position is taken to the laboratory.
- The wastewater analysis report is prepared from the samples delivered on the same day.
Analyzing wastewater samples at an accredited laboratory ensures that you get reliable results without overpaying.
Research methods
For standard tests, chemical and/or microbiological investigations are carried out. Radiological analyses are carried out for areas at risk of radiation propagation.
Chemical analysis reveals the percentage of toxic compounds and determines their level in relation to the maximum permissible level.
Microbiological testing aims to establish the species and concentrations of pathogenic bacteria.
Radiological testing establishes the radiation background.