Water Quality Constituents to Monitor (Primary Monitoring Program Sample Clauses

Water Quality Constituents to Monitor (Primary Monitoring Program. Phosphorus, both soluble reactive (SRP) and TP is the most important constituent ultimately controlling the DO levels. Analytical procedures are extremely important. Laboratory quality control can be acceptable, while determined concentrations in the river may be in error, especially for TP due to different digestion procedures and contamination. SRP should be determined on samples filtered through P-free filters using the EPA 365.1 ascorbic acid method. TP should be determined by the same method for SRP following digestion with persulfate according to Standard Methods (APHA 2005). A contract laboratory that can meet these rigorous reporting limit and laboratory performance requirements is required for analysis of P forms. Other constituents to monitor include temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration, pH, and specific conductance. All of these can be used to indicate sources of contamination in the same way dissolved oxygen concentrations are usually used as a surrogate to indicate increased concentrations of phosphorus and loading present in the basin.