Samplers for Industrial-Waste
Surveys
Hubert S. Kline
Industrial Hygiene Engineer, Frigidaire Division
General Motors Corporation
Dayton, Ohio
In an industrial-waste survey program, a sampler may be defined
as a device for obtaining a portion of the flowing waste for study.
With modern-day direct-reading equipment it is possible to modify
the definition of a sampler to include means for obtaining samples or
indicating directly the chemical nature of the flowing waste. Thus,
an indicating pH meter could well be classified as a sampling instru¬
ment. Inasmuch as flow is integrated so closely with samplying, this
paper will include a brief review of methods and equipment for obtain¬
ing flow and pH data as well as samples for chemical analysis. As
a composite example of the principles discussed, the paper concludes
with a brief description of the sampling station used in connection
with the Frigidaire industrial-waste control program.
Flow Measurement
Certain industrial plants rely more heavily than others on dilution
of their plant effluents by the receiving body of water. Therefore,
it is important that flow rates, both of the waste water and the receiv¬
ing stream, be definitely known. This is especially true during dry-
weather flow periods when dilution may be greatly diminished. For¬
tunately some of our public agencies have established gaging stations
on most of the heavily populated rivers and have available flow data
which may be obtained upon request. Many of the state stream com¬
missions, conservancy districts, water resources boards, and private
utilities along such bodies of water are likewise sources for this infor¬
mation. If stream-flow information is lacking in the area, it is then
advisable for the industry to consider establishment of their own stream-
flow gaging station. With the flow characteristics of the receiving
stream at hand, it is rather simple for the particular industry to evalu¬
ate its own waste discharge rates in order to determine if stream
standards can be or are being satisfied.
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