United States (US) Army Environmental Hygiene Agency for water quality control within
the continental United States (CONUS), whereas Army laboratories (TOE) and
preventive medicine organizations perform this service overseas. ResponsibiIity for the
interpretation of analyses is neither that of the preventive medicine specialist nor of the
laboratory. The interpretation is made by the surgeon, preventive medicine officer,
sanitary engineer, or environmental science officer who requests the chemical analysis.
4-8.
COLLECTION OF SAMPLES.
a. General. Samples should be collected in chemically clean, glass-stoppered
bottles of at least two-liter capacity. Protective cloth hoods should be provided over the
tops of the bottles. Bacteriological water sample bottles wiII not be used for this
purpose.
b. Procedure.
(1) Choose a sampling point that wiII provide the information desired. For
example, if the chemical nature of a ground water is desired, the sample should be
collected at the source or as near to it as possible.
(2) Flush the system by opening the sampling faucet and allowing the water
to run untiI it is reasonably certain that the sample is representative.
(3) Remove the protective cover and stopper from the bottle. Rinse the
bottle with the water being sampled and then fill the bottle to within one-half inch of the
bottom of the neck.
(4) Replace the stopper and the protective hood. Indicate the
Complete the information required of DD Form 710 (see figure 4-1) and forwards the
form with the sample to the appropriate laboratory immediately. DD Form 710 is
available through normal publications channels.
4-9.
FIELD CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL TEST EQUIPMENT
The scope of physical and chemical tests on water that may be conducted by
AMEDD units is limited by the equipment available and the training of the personnel.
a. Standard Equipment. The following items of testing equipment are standard
items of issue found in various preventive medicine units:
The color comparator is the most frequently used item of equipment in the preventive
medicine inventory. It is used to measure the pH and the chlorine residual in water. The
complete item consists of the comparator itself, a carrying case, three bottles of
indicator solution (orthotolidine, sodium arsenite, and wide range pH indicator), and two
MD0160
4-12