Nitrogen Test Kit Instructions

Place the test kit on the ground in a safe, dry place. Fill two glass test tubes to the 5-ml mark with river water Wear goggles and gloves. Add three drops of Nessler Reagent to one test tube and swirl to mix. This is the prepared sample. Let the solution stand 10 minutes but no longer than 25 minutes. If ammonia nitrogen is present, a yellow colour will develop. Insert the test tube with the prepared sample water into the inside hole on top of the black colour comparator. Insert the test tube with the untreated sample water into the outside hole on top of the black colour comparator. Hold the colour comparator up to the sky or sun and look through the two openings in the front. Rotate the colour wheel until a colour match is obtained. Read the number on the colour wheel scale. Have another person try matching the colours and then read the number scale. Agree on the best value. Record the result on the data sheet. Clean-up by pouring the colored prepared solution into the Amonia Nitrogen Liquid Waste Bottle. Use the clear untreated sample water to rinse the prepared test tube and add this to the waste bottle.

The Canadian Water Quality Guidelines (CWQG) for the Protection of Aquatic Life suggest that total ammonia concentrations for freshwater should be no more than 1.3-2.2 mg/L.