Overview - ISO 5667-10:2020 (Water quality - Guidance on sampling of waste water)
ISO 5667-10:2020 provides guidance for the sampling of domestic and industrial waste water to ensure representative, reliable water quality data. The standard addresses the design of sampling programmes and practical techniques for collecting samples from all forms of waste water - including industrial effluents, radioactive liquid effluents, cooling water, and raw or treated domestic waste water. Sampling of accidental spillages is excluded, though some methods can be applicable.
Key technical topics and requirements
The standard covers the full sampling workflow and emphasizes representativeness, traceability and safety. Major technical topics include:
- Design of sampling programmes - objectives, selection of sampling points and representativeness criteria.
- Sampling frequency and timing - guidance on scheduling and number of samples to capture variability.
- Sampling locations - procedures for sewers, channels, manholes, treatment plants, industrial sites and cooling systems.
- Main sampling strategies - comparison of spot (grab) sampling and composite sampling (automatic and manual), including event-triggered sampling.
- Sampling equipment - requirements and options for automatic samplers, peristaltic/vacuum pumps, manual samplers, tank sampling and ballasted collectors.
- Sample handling - homogenization, distribution into laboratory bottles, preservation, packaging, transport, storage temperature and time considerations.
- Quality assurance and control - contamination avoidance, identification, records, and quality control of sampling devices.
- Reporting and documentation - analytical reports and sampling protocols to support interpretation and legal defensibility.
- Safety - personnel and equipment safety measures for waste water sampling.
- Informative annexes provide examples, cleaning protocols, field forms and equipment compatibility tables.
Practical applications and who uses it
ISO 5667-10 is used where reliable waste water monitoring is required:
- Municipal and industrial environmental monitoring programs
- Waste water treatment plant operators and process engineers
- Environmental consultants and field sampling teams
- Regulatory agencies enforcing discharge permits and compliance
- Laboratories receiving samples for chemical, microbiological or radiological analysis
Benefits include improved data comparability, defensible compliance evidence, and reduced sampling bias.
Related standards
ISO 5667-10 is part of the ISO 5667 series. Relevant companion standards include:
- ISO 5667-1 (design of sampling programmes)
- ISO 5667-3 (preservation and handling)
- ISO 5667-14 (QA/QC)
- ISO 19458 (microbiological sampling)
Referencing these ensures complete coverage of water quality sampling, sample preservation, and quality assurance best practices.
