National Norms and Standards relating to Environmental Health

Step 2: At sampling point, the cap must then be remove without contaminating the inner surface of thecap and neck of the sample bottle with hands. Do not rinse the bottle;Step 3: Secure a weight under the sample bottle and lower a plastic sample bottle in borehole until thebottle is submerged in the water;Step 4: The must then be filled with groundwater;Step 5: The bottle must then be raised to the surface ensuring that the sample bottle does not getcontaminated as a result of touching the inner walls of the borehole;Step 6: Replace the cap immediately. Leave ample air space in the bottle (at least 2.5cm) to facilitatemixing by shaking before examination; andStep 7: Label and sample sheet must be completed for each sample. The label should contain thesample or station number, date and location. The data sheet contains the more detailed information whichneeds to be recorded on-site on the day of sampling.Step 8: Place sample bottle in a cooled container (e.g. cool box) directly after collection. Try and keep thecooled container dust-free and out of any direct sunlight.Step 9: place the sample bottle in a cooled container (e.g. cool box) directly after collection fortransportation to the laboratory within 6 hours.Sampling a borehole with a pumpStep 1: Find the nearest tap on the line where you must collect the water quality sample;Step 2: Open the tap and let water run to waste for at least two minutes;Step 3: At the sampling point remove cap without contaminating the inner surface of cap and neck of thesample bottle with your hands;Step 4: Fill sample bottle without rinsing and replace the cap immediately. When the sample is collectedleave ample air space in the bottle (at least 2.5cm) to facilitate mixing by shaking before examination;Step 5: Label and sample sheet must be completed for each sample. The label should contain thesample or station number, date and location. The data sheet contains the more detailed information whichneeds to be recorded on-site on the day of sampling.Step 6: Place the sample bottle in a cooled container (e.g. cool box) directly after collection. Try and keepcooled container dust-free and out of any direct sunlight.Step 7: place the sample bottle in a cooled container (e.g. cool box) directly after collection fortransportation to the laboratory within 6 hours.Treatment facility or distribution system samplingStep 1: The tap or valve must be opened and the water let to run to waste for at least two minutes;Step 2: The cap of the sample bottle must be removed without contaminating the inner surface of the capand the neck of the sample bottle with hands;Step 3: The sample bottle must then be filled with water without rinsing and the cap replacedimmediately. Ample air space should be left in the bottle (at least 2.5cm) to facilitate mixing by shakingbefore examination, if required by the laboratory;Step 4: Label and sample sheet must be completed for each sample. The label should contain thesample or station number, date and location. The data sheet contains the more detailed information whichneeds to be recorded on-site on the day of sampling.Step 5: Place the sample bottle in a cooled container (e.g. cool box) directly after collection fortransportation to a laboratory within 6 hours.SECTION 6:MONITORING IN DRINKING WATER QUALITY FAILURESIn terms of the Water Services Act, section 5(4), should the results of the water samples taken by WSAsor Water Services Providers indicate that the water supplied poses a health risk, the WSA or WaterService Provider must inform the Director-General of the Department of Water Affairs and the head of therelevant Department of Health and it must take steps to inform its consumers-• That the quality of water that it supplies poses a health risk;• Of the reasons of the health risk;• Of any precautions to be taken by consumers;DOH. Norms and standards for environmental health in South Africa Feb 2013 100