Pollutant Testing Guidance Table
Pollutant Testing Guidance Table 1
Suggested Analyses
Pollutant Indicators 2
Category Construction Site Material Visually Observable? Laboratory
Field 3
Hot Asphalt
Asphalt Emulsion Yes - Rainbow Surface
Visually Observable - No Testing Required
or Brown Suspension
Liquid Asphalt (tack coat)
Asphalt Products
Cold Mix
(Sections 37, 39, 92, 93,
94, and Special Provisions)
Yes, Black Solid
Crumb Rubber Visually Observable - No Testing Required
Material
Asphalt Concrete (Any Yes - Rainbow Surface
Visually Observable - No Testing Required
Type) or Brown Suspension
pH EPA 150.1 (pH)
Acidity
HACH pH Test Kit or pH
Anions (acetic acid,
Meter
Acids No SM 2310B (Acidity)
phosphoric acid, sulfuric
HACH Acidity Test Kit
acid, nitric acid,
EPA 300.0 (Anion)
hydrogen chloride)
SM 4500-CL G (Res.
Bleaches No HACH Chlorine Test Kit
Residual Chlorine
Chlorine)
Cleaning Products
Detergents Yes - Foam Visually Observable - No Testing Required
HACH Phosphate Test
TSP No EPA 365.3 (Phosphate)
Phosphate
Kit
EPA 601/602 or
None
VOC
EPA 624 (VOC)
Solvents No
SVOC None EPA 625 (SVOC)
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Pollutant Testing Guidance Table
Portland Cement (PCC) Yes - Milky Liquid Visually Observable - No Testing Required
HACH pH Test Kit or pH EPA 150.1 (pH)
pH
Masonry products No Meter
Alkalinity SM 2320 (Alkalinity)
HACH Alkalinity Test Kit
EPA 625 (SVOC)
Methyl Methacrylate
Sealant (Methyl
No None
Methacrylate - MMA) Cobalt EPA 200.8 (Metal)
Zinc
Incinerator Bottom Ash
Aluminum
Portland Concrete
Bottom Ash
Cement & Masonry Calcium EPA 200.8 (Metal)
Steel Slag
Products
No HACH Calcium Test Kit EPA 200.7 (Calcium)
Vanadium
(Section 27, 28, 29, 40, 41, Foundry Sand
Zinc
42, 49, 50, 51, 53, 63, 65, Fly Ash
72, 73, 80, 81, 83, 90, and
Municipal Solid Waste Ash
Special Provisions)
Mortar Yes - Milky Liquid Visually Observable - No Testing Required
Concrete Rinse Water Yes - Milky Liquid Visually Observable - No Testing Required
Acidity SM 2310B (Acidity)
Alkalinity SM 2320 (Alkalinity)
HACH Acidity Test Kit or
Non-Pigmented Curing EPA 150.1 (pH)
pH
No pH Meter
Compounds
HACH Alkalinity Test Kit EPA 601/602 or
VOC
EPA 624 (VOC)
SVOC EPA 625
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Aluminum EPA 200.8 (Metal)
TDS Meter
Aluminum Sulfate No EPA 160.1 (TDS)
TDS
HACH Sulfate Test Kit
Sulfate EPA 300.0 (Sulfate)
Sulfur-Elemental No HACH Sulfate Test Kit EPA 300.0 (Sulfate)
Sulfate
HACH Nitrate Test Kit EPA 300.0 (Nitrate)
Nitrate
HACH Phosphate Test
Phosphate EPA 365.3 (Phosphate)
Kit
4
Fertilizers-Inorganic No
Organic Nitrogen None EPA 351.3 (TKN)
Potassium None EPA 200.8 (Metal)
Landscaping and Other
TOC EPA 415.1 (TOC)
Products
(Section 20, 24, and
EPA 300.0 (Nitrate)
Nitrate
Special Provisions)
Fertilizers-Organic No HACH Nitrate Test Kit
Organic Nitrogen EPA 351.3 (TKN)
COD EPA 410.4 (COD)
Natural Earth (Sand, Yes - Cloudiness and
Visually Observable - No Testing Required
Gravel, and Topsoil) turbidity
Check lab for specific
Herbicide herbicide
Herbicide
None
Check lab for specific
pesticide
Pesticide Pesticide
No
HACH pH Test Kit or pH
Alkalinity SM 2320 (Alkalinity)
Lime
Meter
HACH Alkalinity Test Kit EPA 150.1 (pH)
pH
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Aerially Deposited Lead 3 No None EPA 200.8 (Metal)
Lead
Yes - Rainbow Surface
Petroleum Visually Observable - No Testing Required
Contaminated Soil 5 Sheen and Odor
Other No Contaminant Specific Contaminant Specific
Contaminant Specific
SM 4500-CL G (Res.
Chlorinated Water No HACH Chlorine Test Kit
Line Flushing Products Total Chlorine
Chlorine)
COD None EPA 410.4 (COD)
Adhesives No
Adhesives HACH Phenol Test Kit EPA 420.1 (Phenol)
Phenols
SVOC None EPA 625 (SVOC)
Paint Yes Visually Observable - No Testing Required
EPA 601/602 or
VOC
EPA 624 (VOC)
Paint Strippers No None
SVOC EPA 625 (SVOC)
EPA 410.4 (COD)
COD
Painting Products
Resins No None
(Section 12-3.08, 20-2.32,
SVOC EPA 625 (SVOC)
50-1.05, 59, 91, and
Special Provisions)
Sealants No None EPA 410.4 (COD)
COD
EPA 410.4 (COD)
COD
EPA 601/602 or
Solvents No None
VOC
EPA 624 (VOC)
SVOC EPA 625 (SVOC)
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EPA 410.4 (COD)
COD
Lacquers, Varnish, EPA 601/602 or
No None
VOC
Enamels, & Turpentine EPA 624 (VOC)
SVOC EPA 625 (SVOC)
EPA 601/602 or
VOC
EPA 624 (VOC)
Thinners No None
EPA 410.4 (COD)
COD
Portable Toilet Waste
Portable Toilet Waste Yes Visually Observable - No Testing Required
Products
None EPA 351.3 (TKN)
Organic Nitrogen
BOD None EPA 405.1 (BOD)
COD None EPA 410.4 (COD)
6,7
Polymer/Copolymer No DOC None EPA 415.1 (DOC)
Nitrate HACH Nitrate Test Kit EPA 300.0 (Nitrate)
Soil
Sulfate HACH Sulfate Test Kit EPA 300.0 (Sulfate)
Amendment/Stabilization
Products
Nickel None EPA 200.8 (Metal)
Straw/Mulch Yes - Solids Visually Observable - No Testing Required
Alkalinity HACH Alkalinity Test Kit SM 2320 (Alkalinity)
Lignin Sulfonate No
TDS Meter EPA 160.1 (TDS)
TDS
COD None EPA 410.4 (COD)
Psyllium No
TDS Meter EPA 415.1 (TOC)
TOC
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COD EPA 410.4 (COD)
Guar/Plant Gums No None EPA 415.1 (TOC)
TOC
Nickel EPA 200.8 (Metal)
HACH SW-1 Test Kit or
pH EPA 150.1 (pH)
pH Meter
Calcium
Sulfate
EPA 200.8 (Metal)
Gypsum No Aluminum HACH Calcium Test Kit EPA 200.7 (Calcium)
HACH Sulfate Test Kit EPA 300.0 (Sulfate)
Barium
Manganese
Vanadium
Chloride HACH Chloride Test Kit EPA 300.0 (Chloride)
Salts (Magnesium Chloride,
Dust Palliative Products
No
Calcium Chloride, and TDS Meter EPA 160.1 (TDS)
TDS
(Section 18)
Natural Brines)
Cations (sodium,
None EPA 200.7 (Cations)
magnesium, calcium)
Ammoniacal-Copper-Zinc-
Arsenic
Arsenate (ACZA)
Total Chromium
Copper-Chromium-Arsenic
EPA 200.8 (Metal)
HACH Total Chromium
Treated Wood Products (CCA)
No Copper Test Kit
(Section 57, 58, 80-
3.01B(2), and Special Ammoniacal-Copper-
Provisions) Arsenate (ACA)
Zinc
Copper Naphthenate
Yes - Rainbow Surface
Creosote Visually Observable - No Testing Required
or Brown Suspension
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Antifreeze and Other
Yes - Colored Liquid Visually Observable - No Testing Required
Vehicle Fluids
Sulfate HACH Sulfate Test Kit EPA 300.0 (Sulfate)
Batteries No
Vehicle Lead None EPA 200.8 (Metal)
HACH pH Test Kit or pH
EPA 150.1 (pH)
pH
Meter
Yes - Rainbow Surface
Fuels, Oils, Lubricants Visually Observable - No Testing Required
Sheen and Odor
Notes:
1 If specific pollutant is known, analyze only for that specific pollutant. See MSDS to verify.
2 For each construction material, test for one of the pollutant indicators. Bolded pollutant indicates lowest analysis cost or best indicator. However, the
composition of the specific construction material, if known, is the first criterion for selecting which analysis to use.
3 See www.hach.com for some of the test kits.
4 If the type of inorganic fertilizer is unknown, analyze for all pollutant indicators listed.
5 Only if special handling requirements are required in the Standard Special Provisions for aerial deposited lead.
6 If used with a dye or fiber matrix, it is considered visually observable and no testing is required.
7 Based upon research conducted by Caltrans, the following copolymers/polymers do not discharge pollutants and water quality sampling and analysis is
not required: Super Tak鈩?, M-Binder鈩?, Fisch Stik鈩?, Pro40dc鈩?, Fisch-Bond鈩?, and Soil Master WR鈩?.
Acronyms:
BOD - Biochemical Oxygen Demand
COD - Chemical Oxygen Demand
DOC 鈥? Dissolved Organic Carbon
EPA - Environmental Protection Agency
HACH - Worldwide company that provides advanced analytical systems and technical support for water quality testing
SM - Standard Method
SVOC - Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds
TDS - Total Dissolved Solids
TKN - Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen
TOC - Total Organic Carbon
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TSP - Tri-Sodium Phosphate
VOC - Volatile Organic Compounds
References:
Construction Storm Water Sampling and Analysis Guidance Document, California Stormwater Quality Task Force, October 2001.
Environmental Impact of Construction and Repair Materials on Surface and Ground Waters, Report 448, National Cooperative Highway Research Program, 2001
Soil Stabilization for Temporary Slopes, Environmental Programs, California Department of Transportation, October 1, 1999.
Statewide Storm Water Management Plan, Division of Environmental Analysis, California Department of Transportation, April 2002.
Statewide Storm Water Quality Practice Guidelines, Environmental Program, California Department of Transportation, August 2000.
Soil Stabilization for Temporary Slopes and District 7 Erosion Control Pilot Study, June 2000.
Stormwater Monitoring Protocols, Guidance Manual, California Department of Transportation, May 2000.
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