May 14, 2026

Environmental Water Sample Collection Following Flooding V.2

DOI
https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.4r3l2dd64g1y/v2
  • Grace Semabia Kpeli1,
  • Prince Agyirey-Kwakye2,
  • Counsellor Nutifafa Livingstone1,
  • Lillian Teye Cudjoe1,
  • Emmanuel Edem Dotse1,
  • Ebenezer Nyarko1,
  • Ebenezer Zar1,
  • Obed Nyarko-Otu1,
  • Hubert Kwame Agbogli1,
  • Godwin Glilekpeh1,
  • Solomon Korankye1,
  • Priscilla Essandoh1,
  • Daniel Elorm Kabotso3
  • 1Department of Biomedical Science, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Sokode Lokoe, Ho, Ghana;
  • 2AttoDiagnostics Limited, Norwich, UK;
  • 3Department of Basic Science, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Sokode Lokoe, Ho, Ghana
  • GSK's workspace
Grace Kpeli
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DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.4r3l2dd64g1y/v2
Protocol Citation: Grace Semabia Kpeli, Prince Agyirey-Kwakye, Counsellor Nutifafa Livingstone, Lillian Teye Cudjoe, Emmanuel Edem Dotse, Ebenezer Nyarko, Ebenezer Zar, Obed Nyarko-Otu, Hubert Kwame Agbogli, Godwin Glilekpeh, Solomon Korankye, Priscilla Essandoh, Daniel Elorm Kabotso 2026. Environmental Water Sample Collection Following Flooding. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.4r3l2dd64g1y/v2Version created by Grace Kpeli
License: This is an open access  protocol  distributed under the terms of the  Creative Commons Attribution License,  which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working
Created: May 14, 2026
Last Modified: May 14, 2026
Protocol  Integer ID: 317106
Keywords: flood water, water sampling, grab sampling, environmental microbiology, water quality, Volta River, environmental water sample collection, collection of environmental water sample, environmental water sample, water sample, dam spillage, controlled dam spillage, following flooding, flooding this protocol, sterile grab sampling, epa guideline, downstream community, volta region, sample labelling, ghana, georeferencing
Disclaimer
Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0)
Abstract
This protocol describes the collection of environmental water samples from downstream communities affected by controlled dam spillage. It covers site selection, GPS georeferencing, sterile grab sampling, sample labelling, and cold-chain transport in compliance with EPA guidelines. The procedure was developed for post-flooding microbiological surveillance in the North Tongu District, Volta Region, Ghana.
Guidelines
Quality Control
- All samples collected in duplicate from each site.
- Sterile bottles immersed before opening to prevent surface contamination.
- Gloves changed between sites.
- GPS coordinates recorded for all sites to ensure spatial traceability.
- Samples transported on ice in sealed styrofoam boxes.
Materials
Equipment
- Handheld GPS device
- Sterile 1.5 L wide-mouth bottles with caps (sufficient for 2 bottles per site)
- Sterile styrofoam insulated boxes
- Ice or ice packs
- Permanent marker / waterproof labels
- Field notebook or data recording sheet
- Personal protective equipment (PPE): gloves, waterproof boots, life jacket where applicable

Reagents / Consumables
No chemical reagents required at collection stage.
Procedure
Prepare sterile bottles: Ensure 1.5 L sterile wide-mouth bottles are sealed and have not been previously opened. Label each bottle with a unique sample identifier before going to the field.
Prepare transport boxes: Line sterile styrofoam boxes with ice packs. Keep boxes sealed until samples are ready to be placed inside.
Check GPS device: Confirm the GPS device is charged and set to record coordinates in decimal degrees (DD) format.
Identify sampling sites in the field: Select sites to represent the diversity of water sources in each community, including river sections (bank and mid-channel), ponds, wells, boreholes, domestic taps, puddles, canals, and canal drains.
Record GPS coordinates: At each selected site, use the handheld GPS device to record the exact latitude and longitude. Log coordinates in a field notebook alongside the unique site identifier and site description.
Put on PPE: Before collecting samples at each site, put on disposable gloves. Replace gloves between sites to prevent cross-contamination.
Submerge bottle before opening: Hold the sterile bottle by the base and immerse it below the water surface before removing the cap. This minimizes surface contamination and ensures representative subsurface collection.
Fill bottle: With the bottle submerged, remove the cap and allow 1.5 L of water to fill the bottle. Replace the cap firmly while the bottle is still below the surface.
Collect duplicate samples: Collect a duplicate 1.5 L sample from the same site. Label the duplicate with the same site identifier plus a duplicate designation (e.g., Site-01A and Site-01B).
Label each bottle immediately: Using a waterproof marker, confirm or apply the unique identifier on the bottle cap and side. Record: site ID, GPS coordinates, date, time, source type, and any field observations.
Place samples on ice immediately after collection in the pre-iced styrofoam boxes.
Transport samples to the laboratory as soon as possible. Process within 24 hours of collection.
Protocol references
EPA guidelines for water sample collection (Reference 34 in parent manuscript).