Apparatus and method of collecting a sample for determination of 1, 4 dioxane in drinking water

1. A reagent dispenser comprising:

a housing;

a container of microbial inhibitor disposed within the housing;

a dispensing system disposed within the housing and operable to dispense the microbial inhibitor from the container, the dispensing system being calibrated to dispense a calibrated weight per water sample of the microbial inhibitor, such that a ratio of the calibrated weight per water sample to inner volume of a sample bottle substantially equals a predetermined concentration of microbial inhibitor per liter of water determined to acidify water to a pH of 4 or less.

2. The reagent dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing system comprises:

a triggering mechanism comprising:

a lever member pivotally connected to a housing of the dispenser,

a trigger disposed on a first end portion of the lever member, and

a connecting rod disposed on a second end portion; and

a metering piston pivotally connected to the connecting rod, the metering piston comprising a metering through-hole having a metering through-hole volume sized to receive a calibrated weight per application that is an integer multiple of the calibrated weight per water sample.

3. The reagent dispenser of claim 2 , wherein the dispensing system further comprises:

a metering receptacle comprising:

a body having a hollow core sized to receive the metering piston therein;

an engagement port disposed on the body and operable to engage with the container of microbial inhibitor, the engagement port including a first metering passageway extending from a bottom of the engagement port to the core; and

a dispensing shaft disposed on the body, the dispensing shaft including a second metering passageway extending through the dispensing shaft to the core, the second metering passageway being offset from the first metering passageway;

wherein, when the dispensing system is in a first position, the metering through-hole of the metering piston is aligned with the first passageway enabling the metering through-hole to receive the calibrated weight per application of microbial inhibitor from the container; and

wherein, when the dispensing system is in a second position, the metering through-hole of the metering piston is aligned with the second passageway enabling the calibrated weight per application to be dispensed from the metering through-hole and through the dispensing shaft.

4. The reagent dispenser of claim 2 comprising:

the metering piston including a connecting tab disposed thereon;

the connecting rod including a pair of bifurcated branches, each branch with a first pin through-hole extending entirely through, the bifurcated branches being sized to receive and straddle the connecting tab of the metering piston therebetween;

a second pin through-hole extending entirely through the connecting tab, the second pin through-hole substantially aligning with the first pin through-holes when the connecting tab is straddled by the bifurcated branches; and

a connecting pin sized to securely fit entirely through the first pin through-holes of each branch and entirely through the second pin through-hole of the tab to pivotally connect the metering piston to the connecting rod.

5. A kit for collecting a sample for determination of 1,4-dioxane in drinking water, the kit comprising:

a supply of microbial inhibitor; and

a reagent dispenser operable to dispense the microbial inhibitor, the dispenser being calibrated to dispense a calibrated weight per water sample of the microbial inhibitor, such that a ratio of the calibrated weight per water sample to inner volume of a sample bottle substantially equals a predetermined concentration of microbial inhibitor per liter of water determined to acidify water to a pH of 4 or less.

6. The kit of claim 5 , comprising:

the microbial inhibitor being a sodium bisulfate; and

the concentration of microbial inhibitor per liter of water is substantially 1 gram per liter.

7. The kit of claim 6 , comprising:

the sample bottle having the inner volume; and

a predetermined weight of a dechlorination reagent disposed in the sample bottle such that a ratio of the predetermined weight to the inner volume of the sample bottle substantially equals a predetermined concentration of dechlorination reagent per liter of water determined to reduce chlorine and chloramine residuals.

8. The kit of claim 7 , comprising:

the dechlorination reagent being a sodium sulfite; and

the concentration of dechlorination reagent per liter of water is substantially 50 milligrams per liter.

9. The kit of claim 5 wherein the calibrated dispenser comprises:

a triggering mechanism comprising:

a lever member pivotally connected to a housing of the dispenser,

a trigger disposed on a first end portion of the lever member, and

a connecting rod disposed on a second end portion; and

a metering piston pivotally connected to the connecting rod, the metering piston comprising:

a metering through-hole having a metering through-hole volume sized to receive a calibrated weight per application that is an integer multiple of the calibrated weight per water sample.

10. The kit of claim 9 wherein the calibrated dispenser comprises:

the metering piston including a connecting tab disposed thereon;

the connecting rod including a pair of bifurcated branches, each branch with a first pin through-hole extending entirely through, the bifurcated branches being sized to receive and straddle the connecting tab of the metering piston therebetween;

a second pin through-hole extending entirely through the connecting tab, the second pin through-hole substantially aligning with the first pin through-holes when the connecting tab is straddled by the bifurcated branches; and

a connecting pin sized to securely fit entirely through the first pin through-holes of each branch and entirely through the second pin through-hole of the tab to pivotally connect the metering piston to the connecting rod.