What are the steps involved in the chain of custody for water samples?

The chain of custody for water samples is crucial in maintaining the integrity and reliability of the sample analysis process. The correct answer outlines the essential steps that ensure the sample is collected, preserved, and transported properly, as well as documented thoroughly.

Beginning with collection, this step involves taking the sample in a manner that avoids contamination and accurately represents the water source. After collection, preservation is necessary to maintain the sample's quality until analysis; this may involve using specific methods or chemicals to stabilize the sample. Transportation refers to the careful handling and movement of the samples to the laboratory where they will be analyzed, ensuring that they remain uncontaminated and within an appropriate temperature range. Lastly, documentation is vital at each step to provide a clear chain of custody, recording who collected the sample, when it was collected, how it was preserved, and how it was transported. This documentation is critical for legal and regulatory compliance, ensuring that results can be trusted.

The other options either lack key steps or include steps that are not part of the established chain of custody process, which makes them incorrect in this context. For example, analysis and reporting are important parts of the testing process but they do not relate to the physical handling and protection of the sample itself prior to analysis.