Hach AS950 Series Automatic Water Sampler

Overview

The Hach AS950 Series Automatic Water Sampler is an engineered solution for regulatory-compliant, long-term unattended sampling in demanding environmental and wastewater applications. Designed and manufactured by Hach (formerly American Sigma), the AS950 platform operates on programmable time-proportional and flow-proportional sampling logic—enabling precise synchronization with flow meters or level sensors to meet EPA Method 1664, ASTM D5118, and ISO 5667-10 requirements. Its modular architecture supports three distinct configurations: portable, refrigerated, and all-weather—each optimized for specific deployment conditions without compromising analytical integrity. The system employs peristaltic pumping technology with chemically resistant tubing (e.g., Viton® or silicone), ensuring compatibility with aggressive matrices including stormwater runoff, combined sewer overflows (CSOs), industrial pre-treatment effluents, and ambient surface waters. Unlike fixed-point grab samplers, the AS950 integrates real-time event-triggered sampling logic—allowing users to initiate collection based on rainfall intensity thresholds, flow velocity anomalies, or pH/turbidity excursions—thereby supporting adaptive monitoring strategies mandated under NPDES permits and EU WFD Annex V protocols.

Key Features

• Triple-deployment flexibility: Select from portable (28 lb, field-deployable), refrigerated (fixed-site, 4 °C active cooling), or all-weather (H₂S-resistant compressor placement, sealed refrigeration loop) variants
• Dual-base mechanical design: Compact base (fits 18-inch manholes; holds 24 × 575 mL bottles + 8.5 lb ice) and standard base (holds 24 × 350 mL bottles + 32 lb ice), both featuring dual-layer thermal insulation
• Intelligent temperature regulation: Microprocessor-controlled evaporator, ambient air, and sample liquid temperature sensing ensures stable 4 °C storage—validated per US EPA Guidance for Preservation of Environmental Samples (EPA/600/R-93/107)
• IP65-rated human-machine interface: Sealed keypad, corrosion-resistant switches, and moisture-proof display enable reliable operation in high-humidity, saline, or chemically aggressive atmospheres
• Programmable sampling logic: Supports up to 99 discrete events per schedule, including composite, discrete, triggered, and conditional sampling routines compliant with 40 CFR Part 136 and ISO/IEC 17025 documentation requirements
• Non-CFC refrigeration: All-weather models utilize R134a or R290 refrigerants—fully aligned with Montreal Protocol Phase-Out schedules and EU F-Gas Regulation (EU No 517/2014)

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The AS950 Series accommodates aqueous samples across a broad physicochemical spectrum: municipal wastewater (BOD₅, TSS, nutrients), stormwater (heavy metals, hydrocarbons, suspended solids), industrial discharges (pH 2–12, chloride ≤ 20,000 mg/L), and ambient surface waters (temperature range: −5 °C to 45 °C during intake). All wetted materials—including pump tubing, bottle carriers, and fluid pathways—meet USP Class VI biocompatibility standards and FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 for indirect food contact. Data integrity complies with 21 CFR Part 11 via optional audit-trail-enabled firmware (requiring Hach SC1000 or LAN-based network integration). Calibration verification is supported through NIST-traceable flow meter interfacing and documented cold-chain validation per ISO/IEC 17025 Clause 5.8.2.

Software & Data Management

Field configuration is performed via integrated membrane keypad with backlit LCD; advanced scheduling requires Hach’s PC-based AS950 Configuration Utility (Windows 10/11 compatible). The utility enables Gantt-chart-style sampling plan design, password-protected parameter locking, and export of CSV-formatted event logs with timestamps, bottle assignments, and sensor-trigger flags. When integrated with Hach’s DataStream™ cloud platform (via optional cellular or Ethernet module), raw sampling metadata—including ambient temperature, compressor duty cycle, and pump actuation count—is transmitted to secure AWS-hosted infrastructure with TLS 1.2 encryption. Audit trails retain full edit history, user ID attribution, and electronic signature capture—satisfying GLP/GMP and ISO 14001 environmental management system documentation mandates.

Applications

• Regulatory compliance monitoring at CSO outfalls and stormwater discharge points per EPA NPDES Permit Conditions
• Long-term biological monitoring campaigns requiring temperature-stabilized preservation of microbiological specimens (e.g., E. coli, enterococci)
• Industrial pretreatment verification under local sewer use ordinances (e.g., metal finishing, pharmaceutical manufacturing)
• Watershed-scale research studies involving nutrient flux quantification, sediment transport modeling, and contaminant fate analysis
• Emergency response sampling following chemical spills or flood-related contamination events—enabled by rapid portable deployment and ice-based cold chain

FAQ

What sampling protocols does the AS950 support under US EPA regulations?
It fully supports time-based composite sampling (40 CFR 136.4), flow-proportional sampling (EPA Method 1664), and event-triggered sampling per NPDES permit annexes.
Can the AS950 integrate with third-party flow meters?
Yes—via 4–20 mA, pulse output, or Modbus RTU interfaces; compatible with major OEMs including Badger Meter, McCrometer, and Siemens Desigo.
Is remote diagnostics available?
With optional Hach Connect™ telemetry module, users receive SMS/email alerts for low battery, door open, refrigeration fault, or bottle full conditions.
How is calibration traceability maintained?
Each unit ships with NIST-traceable pump calibration certificate; field verification kits (including certified volumetric flasks and stopwatch) are available as P/N AS950-CAL-KIT.
What maintenance intervals are recommended?
Peristaltic tubing replacement every 6 months (or 2,000 hours runtime); refrigerant pressure check annually; full system validation per ISO/IEC 17025 every 12 months.