ASTM: D1889: Turbidity of Water

Summary
Analytes
Revision
Data and Sites

Official Method Name

Standard Test Method for Turbidity of Water

Current Revision

July 10, 2000. Originally published as D1889-61

Media

WATER

Instrumentation

Turbidity

Method Subcategory

Physical

Method Source

ASTM

Citation

Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Section 11, Water and Environmental Technology, Volume 11.01, Water (I)

Brief Method Summary

Nephelometery is based on comparison of the intensity of light scattered by the contained static water sample under defined conditions to the intensity of light scattered by a reference standard in the sample container. The higher the intensity of scattered light, the higher the turbidity of sample.

Scope and Application

This test method covers the determination of turbidity in water and wastewater.
This test method is applicable to the measurement of turbidities in the range from 1.0 to 40 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU).
Higher turbidities may be measured using this test method by serial dilution to applicable range.
This test method was tested on municipal drinking water and final effluent discharges.

Applicable Concentration Range

0.05 - 40.0 NTU

Interferences

Floating or suspended large particles and entrained air bubbles will give false or unstable readings. Certain turbulent motions also create unstable reading conditions of nephelometers.
Dissolved material that imparts a color to the water may cause serious errors in nephelometric reading unless the instrument has special compensating features.
Scratches, finger marks, or dirt on the walls of the sample cell may give erroneous readings. Cells should be kept scrupulously clean both inside and outside and discarded when they become etched or scratched. The cells must not be handled where the light strikes them when indexed in the instrument well.
Cuvette used must be indexed first for standardization followed by unknown (sample) determination.

Quality Control Requirements

Sample Handling

Collect the sample in accordance with the applicable standard, Specification D 1192 and Practices D 3370 or EPA180.1 for EPA compliance.

Maximum Holding Time

Determine the turbidity on the day the sample is taken. If this is not feasible, store the sample in the dark for up to 24 h and refrigerate at 4^oC if possible, but do not freeze. Prolonged storage is not recommended because of irreversible changes.

Relative Cost

Unknown

Sample Preparation Methods

Bring the sample to room temperature and

This method has 1 analyte associated with it.

Analyte	Detection Level	Bias	Precision	Pct False Positive	Pct False Negative	Spiking Level
Turbidity(E-10617) Turbidity Water Clarity	0.050 NTU	98% Rec (ML)	8.00 % RSD (ML)			4.50 NTU

Precision Descriptor Notes:	Round-robin data for this test method were obtained by the use of SDVB standards. EMSL (Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory, EPA, Cincinnati, Ohio) examined this data for its statistical significance. For other matrices, these data may not apply. Formazin was not used in the round-robin test because of its short term stability. Formazin can be used as a fresh short-term calibration mixture but the results might not be applicable to this collaborative test study. SDVB are stable and can be accurately quantitated by gravimetric procedures. Linear calibration of each instrument was performed prior to collaborative study, involving ten laboratories and three nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU) levels.
Detection Level Note:	None.

Precision Descriptor Notes:

Round-robin data for this test method were obtained by the use of SDVB standards. EMSL (Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory, EPA, Cincinnati, Ohio) examined this data for its statistical significance. For other matrices, these data may not apply. Formazin was not used in the round-robin test because of its short term stability. Formazin can be used as a fresh short-term calibration mixture but the results might not be applicable to this collaborative test study. SDVB are stable and can be accurately quantitated by gravimetric procedures. Linear calibration of each instrument was performed prior to collaborative study, involving ten laboratories and three nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU) levels.

Detection Level Note:

None.

Revision	PDF/Link
July 10, 2000. Originally published as D1889-61

The Water Quality Portal contains sample results from sites that use this method.

Download WQP data

Select data:

Sites only
Sample results only

File format:

Comma-separated
Tab-separated
MS Excel 2007+

Sites where this method was used

Loading Sites ...

ASTM: D1889: Turbidity of Water

WHO WE ARE

LEGAL