Sampling, Monitoring and Records for a Well System
On a system whose treatment is minimal, monitoring is not paperwork attached to the job -
monitoring is a large part of the job, because it is the only way the invisible natural
barrier is verified.
Taking a bacteriological sample that means something
A large share of unexpected positives at small systems are sampling faults. That does not mean
they can be dismissed - every positive must be investigated as though real - but it does mean
technique is worth getting right:
- Use the correct sterile bottle with its dechlorinating agent already in it. Do **not rinse
the bottle** - rinsing removes the agent and can contaminate it.
- Choose a suitable tap: a smooth-nosed tap on a line in regular use, not a swivelling or
leaking tap, not a mixer, and not one fitted with an aerator, screen, hose or water treatment
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