Drinking water sample handling

Although simple analytical tests often provide the needed information regarding a water sample, such as the formation and presence of chloroform and other organohaUdes in drinking water, require some very speciali2ed methods of analysis. The separation of trace metals into total and uncomplexed species also requires special sample handling and analysis (12). 

The environmental analytical problem generally presents two questions what substances are present in an environmental sample and how much of each of the substances is there Sometimes these questions can be answered by spectroscopic techniques in a direct manner with little sample handling. However, the range of needs encompasses a vast array of matrices and levels of determination. To indicate some scope to the problem consider a list of potential matrices soil, sediment, water, plants, animals, fly ash, sludge, waste water, leachates, food, blood, urine, hair (fur), drinking water, commercial pesticide formulations, air, dust, automobile and truck... 

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