Orthophosphate sorption studies on borosilicate glass, polyethylene, and coated and uncoated galvanized metal are reported. The concentration range of orthophosphate in the solutions studied was 0.0075–1.00 ppm P, and the pH range was 5.8–8.8. The exposure of solution to surface ranged up to 14 days, ratios of surface area to milliliters of solution being in the range 0.04–1.14 cm2/ml. The percent of the original orthophosphate sorbed was determined by the use of radioactive 32P and by orthophosphate analysis using the ascorbic acid method. Studies indicate that aqueous solutions containing 0.03–0.112 ppm orthophosphate may be stored in either borosilicate or polyethylene bottles with less than 0.5% adsorption during the initial 24-hour storage period. The amount of sorption for a given sample was observed to increase as the contact time and/or the ratio of surface area to solution volume increased. Measurable quantities of orthophosphate were sorbed on galvanized sheet metal in all the studies made, indicating that sample-collecting equipment made of this material should be coated to minimize orthophosphate sorption. Various coatings were tested, and their effectiveness in minimizing sorption is reported.