ISO 5667-15:2026

Overview

ISO 5667-15:2026 is the international standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for ensuring water quality through effective sampling processes. Part 15 of this series focuses specifically on the preservation and handling of samples of sludge, sediment, and suspended matter. The standard provides comprehensive guidance on procedures for preserving, handling, and storing samples from sewage, waterworks sludge, marine sediments, freshwater sediments, and suspended matter. It covers requirements for both chemical, physical, radiochemical, hydrobiological, and microbiological analyses within laboratory settings.

Proper sample preservation and handling are crucial for maintaining sample integrity, preventing contamination, and ensuring that laboratory analyses yield reliable and accurate results. The procedures described do not apply to dried samples, sediment eluates, extracts, samples intended for biotesting (see ISO 5667-16), or microplastics analyses (see ISO 5667-27).

Key Topics

• Sample Preservation
  Methods and procedures aimed at stabilizing sludge, sediment, and suspended matter to maintain their original properties from collection until laboratory analysis. Preserving sample integrity ensures valid test results.

• Sample Handling and Storage
  Guidelines for physical handling, appropriate sample containers, cooling/freezing needs, and maximum storage times based on the analysis type. Proper handling reduces the risk of degradation or loss of analytes.

• Sample Collection and Identification
  Protocols for volume requirements, collection techniques, avoidance of contamination, and clear labeling. For chemical analysis of volatile compounds, special care is taken to avoid headspace and volatilization.

• Safety Precautions
  Emphasizes staff protection-including protective gear and training-as well as safe handling of hazardous materials and gases, especially in sludge samples.

• Chain of Custody
  Documentation and traceability requirements throughout sampling, transport, and laboratory receipt to ensure quality control and sample accountability.

• Sample Transport
  Recommendations for transporting samples, including cooling or freezing, appropriate temperature monitoring, proper packaging, and minimizing contamination.

Applications

ISO 5667-15:2026 is a critical standard for organizations and laboratories involved in:

• Environmental Monitoring:
  Used by governmental agencies, research institutes, and consulting firms to monitor pollution and water quality in rivers, lakes, coastal areas, wastewater facilities, and industrial sites.

• Water and Wastewater Treatment:
  Ensures samples from treatment facilities are properly handled for compliance testing, process optimization, and regulatory reporting.

• Regulatory Compliance:
  Helps demonstrate adherence to legal and international requirements for sample preservation and environmental protection.

• Scientific Research:
  Supports studies on the composition, transport, and fate of pollutants in sediments and sludges, including heavy metals, nutrients, pathogens, and organic compounds.

• Laboratory Accreditation:
  Laboratories implementing ISO 5667-15 practices improve credibility and meeting accreditation demands for quality and reliability in environmental sample analyses.

Related Standards

To ensure a comprehensive approach, ISO 5667-15:2026 should be used in conjunction with other relevant standards:

• ISO 5667-1: General guidance on the design of sampling programmes and sampling techniques.
• ISO 5667-3: Preservation and handling of water samples in general.
• ISO 5667-14: Guidance on quality assurance and quality control of sample containers.
• ISO 5667-16: Procedures for samples intended for biotesting with ecotoxicological or biological assays.
• ISO 5667-27: Specific guidance for microplastics sampling and analysis.
• ISO/TS 5667-25: Validation protocols for preservation times and methods.
• ISO 6107: Definitions relating to water quality terminology.
• ISO 11074: Definitions and principles of soil quality sampling.

Implementing ISO 5667-15:2026 ensures that environmental samples of sludge, sediment, and suspended matter are preserved and handled according to best international practices, supporting valid, comparable water quality assessments worldwide.