SOP FOR SAMPLING, TESTING AND RELEASE OF WATER SAMPLES

1. OBJECTIVE:

1. To lay down the procedure for Sampling, Testing and Release of Water Samples.

2. SCOPE: 

1. This procedure is applicable for the Sampling of water samples documentation from generation points, storage and distribution system and user points.

3. RESPONSIBILITY:

1. Quality Control Officer/ Microbiologist are responsible for Receipt & testing and follow procedure as per the procedure mentioned in this SOP. 

2. QC Head is responsible for Approval & release and implementation and compliance of the procedure as per this SOP.

4. ABBREVIATIONS

1. SOP    :    Standard Operating Procedure

2. QC    :    Quality Control

3. CFU    :    Colony Forming Units 

4. TOC    :    Total Organic Carbon

5. STP    :    Standard Testing Procedure

6. NMT    :    Not More Than

7. NLT    :    Not Less Than 

8. Sec.     :    Second 

9. COA    :     Certificate of Analysis

10. IPA     :     Isopropyl Alcohol   

5. PROCEDURE: 

1. Following types of water samples are to be collected : 

Type of Water	Source
(i) Raw Water (Drinking Water)	Bore-well water (Storage Tanks)
(ii) Soft Water	Softened Drinking Water
(iii) Purified Water	Generation points, storage and distribution

2. Collect sufficient number of sample bottles (Glass stoppered bottles or polypropylene bottles) according to the sampling plan included in this SOP as per the Annexure-IV. 

3. Take stoppered glass bottle cleaned with 2N HCl, rinsed with purified water and dried in oven at 250°C for 2 hour to  collect the water sample for Total Organic Carbon [TOC] analysis/ Oxidisable substances.

4. Take Steam sterilized glass bottles/ polypropylene bottles for collection of samples for testing of microbial analysis and pathogen test.

5. Make the required number of sampling bottles ready.

6. Ensure that all the bottles are properly capped/closed and bottles are segregated as per the requirement (i.e. steam sterilized bottles for CFU, cleaned bottles for pH, Conductivity, Nitrates and Heavy metals and stoppered neck/ TOC bottles for Total Organic Carbon analysis etc.)

7. Collect all the sufficient bottles and go to the sampling sites.

8. Check the following points before sampling:   

1. Ensure that the sampling points are properly identified.

2. System should be in operation.

3. Storage tanks and distribution loops should be under recirculation. 

9. Sampling Procedure:

1. Fully open the valve of sampling point/ user point. 

2. Drain the water for at least 30 Sec. 

3. Wear the hands gloves and spray with 70% IPA solution both gloves and sampling point.

4. After draining start collecting the sample from the sampling point.

10. Collection of Water Samples For Microbial analysis:

1. Collect the water sample for microbial analysis in a sterilized bottle.

2. Bring the sample bottle near the sampling point.

3. Hold the bottle from the base and slowly open the bottle.(Take precaution not to touch mouth of the bottle).

4. The water being present in the sterilized bottle has to be discarded from the bottle and proceed for the sampling.

Note: Do not rinse the bottle while sampling for microbial analysis.

5. Without any delay collect about 250 ml of water sample.

6. Close the bottle immediately after collection.

11. Collection of Water Samples For TOC Analysis/ Oxidisable Substances:

1. Open the bottle specified for the sample.

2. Rinse the bottle with at least 3 times with water to be sampled.

3. Fill the sample without leaving any air space and close it immediately.

12. Collection of Sample For Chemical Analysis:

1. Hold the sampling bottle at bottom and open the cap.

2. Rinse the bottle for at least thrice with the sampled water and collect the sample in the bottle without leaving air space. 

13. Identification of The Bottles/ Tubes:

1. Following details should be maintained on the sampling bottles vials :

• Sampled For    :

• Sampling Point    :

• Date of sampling    :

• Sampled By    :

• Initials / Date    :

14. Bring the sample to quality control department for analysis.

15. If the samples are not to be tested within 6 hours of sampling, for microbial analysis keep the samples in the refrigerator at 2 -8º C. Testing should not be delayed beyond 24 hours of sampling. If the samples collected for TOC analysis are delayed add 0.5 ml of 2 M HCl and store at 2 – 8ºC. Testing should not be delayed beyond 24 Hours.

16. Follow the Standard Test Procedure for Purified Water, Raw Water and Soft Water.

17. The testing of water samples shall be done as per respective STP’s. 

18. The observations of analysis shall be entered in ERP , on the basis of which a COA shall be generated through ERP.

19. Prepare the test data report of same as per annexure I, II, III & IV of purified. The COA and the test data shall be retained in the record files for reference.