ISO 5667-4-2016 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 5667-4:2016 — Water quality — Sampling — Part 4: Guidance on sampling from lakes, natural and man-made. This part of ISO 5667 provides practical guidance for planning and carrying out the collection, handling and preservation of water samples taken from natural and artificial lakes (open-water and ice-covered conditions), and is applicable to lakes with or without aquatic vegetation.

Abstract

Gives guidelines for the design of sampling programmes, selection of sampling techniques and the handling and preservation of water samples from lakes (natural and man-made) under both open-water and ice-covered conditions. The standard excludes specific guidance for microbiological examination.

General information

• Status: Withdrawn (replaced by a new edition published in 2026).
• Publication date: July 2016 (Edition 2).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.060.10 (Water of natural resources); 13.060.45 (Examination of water in general).
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2016).
• Number of pages: 34 pages (2016 edition).

Scope

Provides guidance on the design of sampling programmes, recommended sampling techniques for lakes (including sampling depths, representative sampling across stratified water columns, and sampling under ice), and methods for handling, preservation and transport of samples prior to analysis. The document is focused on physicochemical and related determinations; it does not provide microbiological sampling procedures.

Key topics and requirements

• Designing a sampling programme for lakes to ensure representative and reproducible data (site selection, sampling frequency, and statistical considerations).
• Recommended sampling techniques for surface, depth-profile and near-bottom samples, including approaches for stratified lakes and thermal layers.
• Procedures for sampling under ice-covered conditions and for lakes with aquatic vegetation.
• Sample handling, preservation and transport to minimise changes between collection and laboratory analysis (containers, preservatives, temperature control, holding times).
• Exclusions and cross-references: microbiological sampling is excluded; users are directed to other parts of the ISO 5667 series for complementary guidance (see Related standards).

Typical use and users

Used by environmental and water-quality laboratories, field sampling teams, consultants, researchers, regulatory agencies and organisations conducting monitoring or research in lakes. Typical applications include ambient water monitoring, impact assessments, research on limnology and routine compliance monitoring programs.

Related standards

Part of the ISO 5667 series (Water quality — Sampling). Relevant related parts include ISO 5667-1 (design of sampling programmes and sampling techniques), ISO 5667-3 (preservation and handling of samples), ISO 5667-6 (sampling of rivers and streams) and newer parts addressing specific matrices or analytes such as ISO 5667-27 (sampling for microplastics). The 2016 edition of Part 4 has been superseded by ISO 5667-4:2026.

Keywords

lake sampling, water sampling, ambient water quality, sample preservation, ice-covered sampling, stratification, sampling programme, ISO 5667, limnology, field sampling

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 5667-4:2016 is the second-edition international standard providing guidance on sampling of water from natural and man-made lakes (design of programmes, sampling techniques, handling and preservation).

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers planning and performing representative sampling of lakes (surface, depth-profiles and under-ice sampling), and the handling, preservation and transport of those samples prior to analysis. It does not include microbiological sampling procedures.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Environmental laboratories, field technicians, consultants, researchers and regulatory bodies involved in lake monitoring, research and compliance testing commonly use this guidance.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 5667-4:2016 has been withdrawn and superseded by a later edition published in 2026 (ISO 5667-4:2026). Users should consult the 2026 edition for the most up-to-date guidance.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is one part of the ISO 5667 series (Water quality — Sampling). Other parts cover programme design, sample preservation, rivers and streams, and topic-specific guidance (e.g., microplastics).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: lake sampling, water quality, sampling programme, sample preservation, ice sampling, stratification, ambient monitoring, ISO 5667.