B.C. Environmental Laboratory Manual

In cooperation with the B.C. Environmental Laboratory Technical Advisory Committee, the Ministry of Environment has produced the 2015 edition of the British Columbia Environmental Laboratory Manual. New or updated methods included in the 2015 edition are listed below.

The manual is available as a PDF in nine sections for ease of access:

• Title Section Includes links to sections A through H. (PDF)
• Section A: Laboratory Quality Assurance / Quality Control (PDF)
• Section B: Physical, Inorganic and Miscellaneous Constituents (PDF)
• Section C: Metals (PDF)
• Section D: Organic Constituents and Compounds (PDF, 1MB)
• Section E: Microbiological Examination (PDF)
• Section F: Toxicity Test Methods (PDF)
• Section G: Air Constituents — Inorganic (PDF)
• Section H: Air and Vapour Constituents — Organic (PDF)

New or Updated Methods included in the 2015 Edition

• Section A
  Sample Preservation & Holding Time Requirements Table
  2.17 Control Limits
• Section B
  Colour, True, Single Wavelength PBM
  Cyanide in Soils by Sodium Hydroxide
  Total Organic Carbon in Soil/Sediment by Combustion (PBM)  
• Section C
  Digestion for Total Metals in Water – Prescriptive
  Strong Acid Leachable Metals (SALM) in Soil – Prescriptive
  Metals in Animal Tissue and Vegetation (Biota)
• Section D
  Calculation of Light and Heavy Extractable Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Solids or Water (LEPH & HEPH)
  Calculation of Volatile Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Solids, Waters, or Air (Vapour) – VPH
  Extractable Petroleum Hydrocarbons (EPH) in Water by GC/FID
  Oil and Grease in Water by Hexane Extraction and Gravimetry – PBM
  Volatile Organic Compounds in Solids – PBM
  Volatile Hydrocarbons in Soil by GC/FID

Methods Posted for Review

1. BC ENV Sample Preservation and Holding Time Requirements (PDF)
2. Detection of Total Coliforms and E. coli by Colilert® in Water (PDF)
3. Detection of Total Coliforms and E. coli in Water by Membrane Filtration and Chromocult® Coliform Agar (CCA) – Prescriptive (PDF)
4. Detection of Total Coliforms in Water by Membrane Filtration and mEndo Media – Prescriptive (PDF)
5. Detection of Total Coliforms in Water by Multiple-Tube Fermentation (PDF)
6. Detection of Total Coliforms in Water by Multiple-Tube Fermentation – Prescriptive (PDF)
7. Detection of Total Coliforms, Thermotolerant (Fecal) Coliforms and E. coli by Colilert® in Water – Prescriptive (PDF)
8. Determination of Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) in Water by Pour Plate, Spread Plate, Membrane Filtration and Enzyme Substrate Test Methods (PDF)
9. Determination of Thermotolerant Coliforms in Water by Multiple-Tube Fermentation Technique (PDF)
10. Determination of Thermotolerant Coliforms in Water by Multiple-Tube Fermentation Technique – Prescriptive (PDF)
11. Enterococci Membrane Filter Technique (MF) for Fresh Water, Wastewater and Marine Water – Prescriptive (PDF)
12. Liquid-Solid Partitioning (Leachability) as a Function of pH (Metals, Inorganics, and SVOCs) – Prescriptive (PDF)
13. Multiple-Tube Fermentation Technique (MPN) for Fecal Coliform Bacteria in Fresh Water, Wastewater and Marine Water (PDF)
14. Multiple Tube Technique (MPN) for Salmonella in Solids (PDF)
15. Multiple-Tube Technique (MPN) for Thermotolerant Coliforms Bacteria in Bivalve Molluscan Shellfish (PDF)
16. Sample Preparation for Dissolved Metals or Mercury in Water – PBM (PDF)
17. Total Extractable Hydrocarbons (C10-C30) in Water (PDF)

Methods Awaiting Director’s Approval

• No methods awaiting director's approval.

Methods Approved By Director

1. 17α-Ethinylestradiol (EE2) in Water by LC/MS/MS – PBM (PDF)
2. Alcohols in Soil and Water - PBM (PDF)
3. Asbestos in Soil - PBM (PDF)
4. Asbestos in Water by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) - Prescriptive (PDF)
5. Chlorinated and Non-Chlorinated Phenols in Soil – PBM (PDF)
6. Cyanide Analysis (Total, WAD, Free) (PDF)
7. Cyanide by Manual Distillation (PDF)
8. Digestion for Total Metals in Water - Prescriptive (PDF)
9. Diisopropanolamine (DIPA in Water and Soil Samples by HPLC - PDM (PDF)
10. Extractable Petroleum Hydrocarbons (EPH) in Solids by GC/FID (PDF)
11. Extractable Petroleum Hydrocarbons (EPH) in Water by GC/FID (PDF)
12. Glycols in Soil and Water - PBM (PDF)
13. Liquid-Solid Partitioning (Leachability) as a Function of pH (Metals, Inorganics, and SVOCs) – Prescriptive (PDF)
14. Liquid-Solid Partitioning (Leachability) of VOCs - Prescriptive (PDF)
15. Methylmercury in Soil or Sediment (PDF)
16. Methylmercury in Water (PDF)
17. Nonylphenols and Ethoxylates in Soil by LC/MS/MS/ (PDF)
18. Nonylphenols and Ethoxylates in Water by LC/MS/MS/ (PDF)
19. PAH Soil by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) (PDF)
20. PAH Water by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) (PDF)
21. Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Soils by LC/MS/MS – PBM (PDF)
22. Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Water by LC/MS/MS – PBM (PDF)
23. Phenols Chlorinated & Non-Chlorinated Water (PDF)
24. Section F Toxicity Test Methods (PDF)
25. Strong Acid Leachable Metals (SALM) in Soil - Prescriptive (PDF)
26. Sulfolane in Water and Soil Samples - PBM (PDF)
27. Trace Metals Analysis by ICP-MS (PDF)
28. Volatile Hydrocarbons (VH) in Waters by GC/FID – PBM (PDF)
29. Volatile Organic Compounds in Soil (PDF)
30. Volatile Organic Compounds Water (PDF)