WATR 2840 Environmental Monitoring and Sampling

Protocols for collecting and analyzing environmental samples to assess air, water, and soil quality.

Course overview

This course covers the theory and practice of environmental monitoring. You will learn how to design sampling strategies for different environments and handle samples correctly to maintain data integrity. The focus is on air, water, and soil quality assessment using standard methods.

You will spend time in the field collecting samples and in the laboratory analyzing them. The course emphasizes safety, chain-of-custody procedures, and data validation.

Who takes this course

• Environmental Technology

Credits: 3 · Hours: 45

Prerequisites

• WATR 1220 Fundamentals of Water Chemistry
• WATR 1800 Hydrology and Watershed Management

Learning outcomes

• Select appropriate sampling devices and preservation methods for water, soil, and air matrices.
• Execute field sampling plans that meet provincial quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) standards.
• Prepare and analyze samples for key contaminants including heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and nutrients.
• Evaluate data sets for statistical outliers and reporting limits.
• Document all sampling activities in a field logbook compliant with regulatory requirements.

Evaluation