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Here are some common questions from some members. If you have any problems
or questions, please email us!
After I log in and try to access the data manager, I get
booted back to the sign in page. What's happening?
SOLUTION
Carl Benson solved this problem. He says, "We have our internet settings for
blocking cookies set on high, so when we tried to upload the info it would
kick us out of the site. We lowered the setting and were able to upload after
that."
I uploaded the completed Excel form with my data and information into my "Current
Data" folder like I'm supposed to. Today, the Daily Digest said it was moved
to the "STORET compatible" folder. Why?
SOLUTION
Carl Benson solved this problem. He says, "We have our internet settings for
blocking cookies set on high, so when we tried to upload the info it would
kick us out of the site. We lowered the setting and were able to upload after
that."
For Value Type, is flow an actual or calculated value since
you have to multiply velocity by the cross section to get it?
SOLUTION
This question is common. Deb Dorland of Montana DEQ writes:
The convention we apply is as follows: When the result value reported
is determined by measurement, the Value Type is Actual. Consider the case
where a lab takes an aliquot of a few ml for analysis, and then calculates the
result to standardize back to mg/L. Although the result has been calculated,
it was calculated from a value that was measured directly. In Flow,
you are taking measurements to determine area and velocity that are used in the
calculation.
In contrast, Total Nitrogen (TN) is sometimes calculated by just adding up
the different nitrogen parameters that have been reported, and nothing new is
measured directly. The calculation is made from other reported characteristic
results. Here Value Type would be calculated.
Another example that's a little less clear, is the calculation of TDS from
Specific Conductance (conductivity). In this case, I still consider it
a calculated value, even though SC has been measured, and the reason is that
no direct measurement of the dissolved solids has been performed. So if you are
measuring conductivity, multiplying by a factor to get Total Dissoulved Solids
and are reporting TDS, use Calculated as the Value Type. (However, it would be
best in that case to just report conductivity (Specific Conductance.)
I am looking for input as to how some of the other monitoring groups deal
with and safety procedures for the volunteers using chemical kits.
"As part of our chemical monitoring program, we have drafted a memo on
chemical safety procedures for the chemical volunteers. ...Some of the antidotes
for the spills are not common substances. For example, if a volunteer spills
alkaline potassium iodide azide, they need to neutralize it with dilute hydrochloric
acid. Hydrochloric acid is not a common household substance. We're wondering
if we need to even send this memo to the volunteers, and if so, do we need to
supply them with hydrochloric acid in case they spill something? We have a large
spill kit in our office. Do we need to supply our volunteers with spill kits?
If you have any experience with chemical programs and could provide us with how
you handle this?"
SOLUTION
See this response from the National volunteer monitoring listserv CSREESvolmon@lists.uwex.edu.
In terms of chemical safety the first course of action is to thoroughly rinse
the affected area with water, even using the water you just collected. We
had 1 volunteer (a chemist mind you) spill alkaline potassium hydride on himself
and not wanting to contaminate the stream, drive home before washing it off. So
now we explicitly remind our volunteers to plunge their hands into the water. We
also tell them that even if they took all the reagents in the DO kit and poured
it into the water it would not harm
the water. Forget the HCl, you are just substituting one potentially hazardous
material with another. Often info on how to deal with a spill assumes you
are in a lab.
If you are using LaMotte kits, contact LaMotte at 800-344-3100. Linda
Watts is the person I deal with, she is quite knowledgeable. If you are
using another brand contact the manufacturer and tell them that what you are
looking for is advice for volunteers, not if the chemical is spilled in a lab.
Our Safety and Risk department has given all labs a bucket of sand to pour
on spills. Garden soil works well too. We give all our volunteers goggles
and at least 1 pair of nitrile gloves. We don't expect the gloves to last
all season but to serve as a reminder to use gloves, which they can buy in hardware
stores or supermarkets. We tell our volunteers to keep a roll of paper
towels handy.
We also give our volunteers paper plates (Chinet brand) and urge them to do
all their titrations on the plate. The plates are fairly thick, the top is more
absorbent than the really shiny ones and the lip of the plate contains most spills.
The 6 3/4" plates will contain 100 ml and the 8 3/4" ones, 300 ml of
liquid (I just checked). We are now also using these
paper plates in the lab, especially for salinity titrations which involve the
use of silver nitrate, which stains everything brown.
The best approach to safety is training carefully and thoroughly and using common
sense.
Good luck!
Linda Green
URI Cooperative Extension Water Quality
Department of Natural Resources Science
1 Greenhouse Road
Kingston, RI 02881-0804
401-874-2905
www.uri.edu/ce/wq/
www.usawaterquality.org/volunteer
Here are some common terms that used frequently in monitoring activities.
If there are terms you need clarified, please email us!
Many definitions are available at Water on the Web at www.waterontheweb.org/resources/glossary.html
Gallery
An artificial, underground structure implanted to collect groundwater. A
Gallery is a man made underground cavity or structural container, often associated
with a mine or a mining operation. They are used, but rarely, as a convenient
site from which to sample groundwater.
Specific Conductance
Specific conductance is a measure of the conductivity
of water standardized to 25 deg C. Conductivity increases with increasing temperature.
Most modern conductivity meters automatically compensate for temperature, thus
giving a reading of specific conductance.
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