DESC Water Chemistry Laboratory
The Water Chemistry Laboratory at DESC provides laboratory support and expertise in soft water, low nutrient analyses for programs both within the Ministry of the Environment and with our partners. Aquatic samples may find their origin in lakes, streams, precipitation and ground water systems.
The data generated by the lab are of the highest quality and must be technically valid. All data produced at Dorset are entered into the Ministry of the Environment's Laboratory Information Management System and must meet MOE Laboratory Services Branch requirements for data quality and approvals. These data are also stored in the Dorset Oracle database.
The User Manual for the Submission of Water Samples to the Dorset Lab should be consulted by partners before collecting or submitting any samples to the laboratory.
Analytical Products
Parameter |
Technique |
Analytical Range |
pH |
pH meter |
4-10 |
Alkalinity |
Titrimetric analysis |
-5 – 200 mg/L as Ca |
Colour |
Automated colourimetry – TCU |
0-1000 TCU |
Conductivity @25 °C |
Automated flow cell |
0.1-1000 µS/cm |
Ammonia |
Colourimetry |
10-1000 µg/L as N |
Nitrate + Nitrite |
Colourimetry |
10-1000 µg/L as N |
Dissolved Organic Carbon |
Colourimetry |
0.25-20 mg/L as C |
Silica |
Colourimetry |
0.1-10 mg/L as Si |
Total Phosphorus |
Colourimetry |
0.2-50 µg/L as P |
Total Inorganic Carbon |
Total Carbon Analyzer |
0.1-50 mg/L as C |
Chloride |
Ion Chromatograph |
0.05-110 mg/L as Cl |
Sulphate |
Ion Chromatograph |
0.05-110 mg/L as SO4 |
Calcium |
Flame Atomic Absorption |
0.1-8 mg/L as Ca |
Magnesium |
Flame Atomic Absorption |
0.025-2 mg/L as Mg |
Sodium |
Flame Atomic Absorption |
0.025-4 mg/L as Na |
Potassium |
Flame Atomic Absorption |
0.025-1 mg/L as K |
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen |
Colourimetry |
50-1000 µg/L as N |
Metals and chlorophyll samples can also be submitted to the lab, but these are analysed by the MOE Laboratory Services Branch in Toronto.