Evaluation of preservation methods for selected nutrients in ground water at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho

Water from 28 wells completed in the Snake River Plain aquifer at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) was sampled as part of the US Geological Survey`s quality-assurance program to determine the effect of different preservation methods on nutrient concentrations. Samples were preserved with filtration and with mercuric chloride and chilling, chilling only, or sulfuric acid and chilling. The samples were analyzed for ammonia, nitrite, nitrite plus nitrate, and orthophosphate by the US Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory. The study was done in cooperation with the US Department of Energy. The comparison between samples preserved with mercuric chloride and chilling and samples preserved by chilling only showed that all sample pairs were in statistical agreement. Results for ammonia and nitrite plus nitrate samples preserved with sulfuric acid and chilling were within the 95 percent confidence level of the results for the samples preserved by the other two methods and can be considered equivalent to them. Results of this study indicate that discontinuing the use of mercuric chloride as a preservation method for nutrients in water samples will not affect the comparability of data collected at the INEL before and after October 1, 1994