TEST METHOD: Electrical conductivity of waters
Revised 3 June 2002
OVERVIEW
EC is an important indicator of water salinity.
TASK SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
Safety boots are mandatory
| SPECIFIC JOB STEPS | HAZARDS WITHIN THIS STEP | HAZARD CONTROL |
| Calibrate the meter following the directions in the EC meter manufacturer's manual | Out of date calibration solution. | Date calibration solution containers when opened and replace after the specified time (see label for details). |
| Insert the EC probe and temperature probe (if separate) into the water sample and stir gently. | ||
| Wait until the reading stabilises and record reading in the laboratory daybook. Report the EC as mS/cm. | EC does not directly correlate to total soluble salts. | An approximation useful for salinities up to seawater strength is to multiply the EC by 670, to obtain TSS mg/L. |