ACFT Water Sampling Guide

Routine Chemistry

Testing requires 500 mL of water without preservative

ParameterUnitCanadian Drinking Water GuidelinesAnalysis MethodHolding Time
Calciummg/L ICP-MS30 days
Ironmg/L0.3 AOICP-MS30 days
Magnesiummg/L ICP-MS30 days
Potassiummg/L ICP-MS30 days
Sodiummg/L200 AOICP-MS30 days
Fluoridemg/L1.5 MACIon Chromatography30 days
Chloridemg/L250 AOIon Chromatography30 days
Nitrite (N)mg/L1 MACIon Chromatography30 days
Nitrate (N)mg/L10 MACIon Chromatography30 days
Sulfatemg/L500 AOIon Chromatography30 days
pH 7.0 - 10.5pH Meter30 days
ConductivityµS/cm Conductivity Meter30 days
Total Alkalinitymg/L Titration30 days
Carbonatemg/L Titration30 days
Bicarbonatemg/L Titration30 days
Hydroxidemg/L Titration30 days
Total Dissolved Solidsmg/L500 AOCalculated30 days
Total Hardness (CaCO₃)mg/L Calculated30 days

Transportation Conditions:

Sample must be collected in ACFT bottles with an ACFT requisition form.
No headspace. Fill bottle and send to lab unpreserved.

Analysis Method

ICP-MS: Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines

MAC: Maximum Acceptable Concentration
AO: Aesthetic Objective

Trace Elements

Testing requires 500 mL of water without preservative

ParameterUnitCanadian Drinking Water GuidelinesAnalysis MethodHolding Time
Aluminummg/L2.9 MACICP-MS14 days
Antimonymg/L0.006 MACICP-MS14 days
Arsenicmg/L0.010 MACICP-MS14 days
Bariummg/L2.0 MACICP-MS14 days
Berylliummg/L ICP-MS14 days
Boronmg/L5 MACICP-MS14 days
Cadmiummg/L0.007 MACICP-MS14 days
Chromiummg/L0.05 MACICP-MS14 days
Cobaltmg/L ICP-MS14 days
Coppermg/L2 MAC, 1 AOICP-MS14 days
Mercury *mg/L0.001 MACICP-MS14 days
Leadmg/L0.005 MACICP-MS14 days
Manganesemg/L0.12 MAC, 0.02 AOICP-MS14 days
Molybdenummg/L ICP-MS14 days
Nickelmg/L ICP-MS14 days
Seleniummg/L0.05 MACICP-MS14 days
Silvermg/L ICP-MS14 days
Strontiummg/L7.0 MACICP-MS14 days
Thalliummg/L ICP-MS14 days
Titaniummg/L ICP-MS14 days
Vanadiummg/L ICP-MS14 days
Uraniummg/L0.02 MACICP-MS14 days
Zincmg/L5.0 AOICP-MS14 days

Transportation Conditions:

Sample must be collected in ACFT bottles with an ACFT requisition form.
No headspace. Fill bottle and send to lab unpreserved. Sample is preserved in the lab.

Analysis Method

ICP-MS: Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Canadian Water Drinking Guidelines

MAC: Maximum Acceptable Concentration
AO: Aesthetic Objective

* Mercury

* Mercury result is for screening only. Public health inspector to contact ACFT if confirmation is required

Nitrite/Nitrate Only

Testing requires 500 mL of water without preservative

ParameterUnitCanadian Drinking Water GuidelinesAnalysis MethodHolding Time
Nitrite (N)mg/L1 MACIon Chromatography72 hours
Nitrate (N)mg/L10 MACIon Chromatography72 hours

Transportation Conditions

No headspace. Store at ≤ 6 °C.
Send to ACFT via Purolator courier.

Contact ACFT required

Public health inspector to contact ACFT to discuss requirements

Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines

MAC: Maximum Acceptable Concentration

alberta centre for toxicology