Monitoring Iowa's Water

The Limnology Section of the State Hygienic Laboratory samples surface and groundwater, drinking water, and wastewater for a wide variety of field and laboratory analyses.  Though most monitoring activities are for/with federal or state agencies, we do considerable work for citizens, local groups or municipalities with concerns about their streams, lakes and ponds. 

The Limnology Section has expertise in: 

  • Collection and analysis of surface water from rivers, streams, and lakes 

  • Biological and habitat assessment of streams and rivers according to Iowa Department of Natural  Resources and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency protocols 

  • Long-term monitoring of surface water using multiparameter sondes 

  • Collection of water samples from rivers and streams using automatic samplers (typically event sampling) 

  • Benthic macroinvertebrate sample collection, processing, identification and enumeration 

  • Zooplankton sample collection, identification and enumeration 

  • Phytoplankton sample collection, identification and enumeration 

  • Fish collection for identification/enumeration or tissue analysis 

  • Chlorophyll and phycocyanin analysis 

  • Collection of municipal and industrial wastewater 

  • Whole-effluent toxicity testing (NELAP certified)