EPA releases sampling guidance for unknown contaminants in drinking water

WASHINGTON, DC, Dec. 1, 2008 -- EPA has released a sampling guidance document to help drinking water utilities address unknown contaminants in drinking water. The Sampling Guidance for Unknown Contaminants in Drinking Water provides comprehensive guidance that integrates pathogen, toxin, chemical, and radiochemical sample collection, preservation, and transport procedures to support multiple analytical approaches for the detection and identification of potential contaminants in drinking water.

The guidance is intended to support sampling for routine and baseline monitoring to determine background concentrations of naturally occurring pathogens, sampling in response to a triggered event, and sampling in support of remediation or decontamination efforts. While intended for drinking water utilities, it may also be a useful reference for emergency response personnel.

>> View the guidance document

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