Acquisition of representative ground-water quality samples for metals

Technical Report · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:7200216

Puls, R W; Powell, R M

R.S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory (RSKERL) personnel have evaluated sampling procedures for the collection of representative, accurate, and reproducible ground water quality samples for metals for the past four years. Intensive sampling research at three different field sites has shown that the method by which samples are collected has a greater impact on sample quality, accuracy, and reproducibility than whether the samples are filtered or not. In particular, sample collection practices that induce artifically high levels of turbidity have been shown to have the greatest negative impacts on sample quality. Results indicated the ineffectiveness of bailer for collection of representative metal samples. Inconsistent operator usage together with excessive purging generally resulted in excessive turbidity and large differences in filtered and unfiltered metal samples. The use of low flow rate purging and sampling consistently produced filtered and unfiltered samples that showed no significant differences in concentrations. Turbidity levels were generally less than 5 NTUs, even in fine-textured glacial till. The authors recommend the use of low flow rates, during both purging and sampling.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Ada, OK (United States). Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 7200216
• Report Number(s): PB-92-227487/XAB; EPA--600/J-92/308
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACCURACY
CONTAMINATION
ELEMENTS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
METALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PUMPING
RECOMMENDATIONS
SAMPLE PREPARATION
SAMPLING
WATER
WATER POLLUTION