|
Since you changed your lid seals this
month, we thought it would be a good time to review the procedure for
changing the dry-side buckets. This is discussed in detail in the NTN
Site Operation Manual and covered in the “Maintenance Procedures”
section in the back of the CALendar.
Maintaining dry-side bucket and foam
lid seal: On the first Tuesday of every month change the dry-side
bucket when you perform the wet-side bucket change. This is necessary to
ensure a clean surface for the lid seal to rest upon during precipitation
events when the wet bucket is exposed. Each site should have two buckets
dedicated to dry-side use. One bucket will be installed on the collector
while the other should be cleaned, bagged, and ready to use as a
replacement. Both buckets should be CLEARLY labeled “Dry-Side Use Only.”
Cleaning the dry-side bucket: 1)
rinse the bucket inside and out with lots of tap water. Scrub the bucket
with a sponge or paper towel to remove any debris and dirt film (do NOT use
soap or alcohol), 2) rinse the bucket with distilled water and shake out the
excess, and 3) place the bucket in a spare CAL bucket bag and fasten with a
twist tie.
Changing the dry-side bucket: 1)
when its time to change the dry-side bucket, take the replacement bucket, a
squeeze bottle with distilled water, and some lint-free tissues to the site.
If you do not have a replacement dry-side bucket, remove a clean bucket from
your supply and label it plainly as described above (ask CAL to send you a
replacement bucket), 2) stop the collector when it is halfway between the
buckets [follow the procedure in Section 3.2.3 (pages 3-6 to 3-7) of the
NTN Site Operation Manual], then wipe the underside of the lid seal to
remove any debris using a clean, lint-free tissue dampened with distilled
water, 3) wipe the top of the roof, the frame and the sensor to remove bird
droppings or other accumulated debris that could enter the sample bucket
from splash, 4) install the clean dry-side bucket and plug in the collector,
5) install the wet side bucket, and 6) note your work in the “Remarks”
section of the FORF. Do not return dry-side buckets to the CAL. |
