The Nielsen Environmental Field School training

It is a common practice to use a variety of field equipment that travels from well to well during a ground-water sampling event. Portable equipment such as water-level gauges, flow cells, analytical instruments and multi-parameter sondes are examples of some equipment that is used in each monitoring well, even in situations where dedicated pumps are used. And, of course, where portable pumps are used, the pump (and, in many cases, the discharge tubing) will also travel from well to well. To avoid the potentially very serious and costly problem of monitoring well cross-contamination, it is critical to implement thorough and effective field equipment cleaning protocols.

Have you ever wondered if there is a better method than you are currently using for collecting more representative water-level data and ground-water samples from your wells?  Ever thought about all of the various sources of bias and error in water-level measurement and sample collection procedures and wondered how each could affect the data in your sampling program?  This series of 2 modules provides an in-depth discussion of how water-level measurement and ground-water sampling protocols have evolved over the years and how, through decades of research, modern sampling methods (when implemented properly) can yield vastly improved field data and more representative ground-water samples.

There are a lot more useful and appropriate purging and sampling device options available than the bailer! Learn what types of sampling devices are appropriate for a variety of analytical parameters, and which devices should never be used for some parameters. This series of 2 modules provides a detailed discussion of a wide range of devices available for purging and sampling ground-water monitoring wells, including their principles of operation, operational characteristics, materials of construction, and limitations.