Multiport Sock Samplers: A Low-Cost Technology for Effective Multilevel Ground Water Sampling |
| |
| Authors: | Ian Jones David N Lerner Owen P Baines |
| |
| Institution: | Ian Jones worked as a researcher for Professor David Lerner for the past six years. His research included ground water sampling, aquifer characterization, and natural attenuation of contaminants in aquifers. He was also completing a doctorate on the natural attenuation of contamination from a coking plant in a sandstone aquifer. In 1998 Jones planned to move to Bogota, Colombia, where, after learning Spanish, climbing, and exploring for a while, he hoped to continue his career as hydro geologist.;David Lerner is professor of environmental management and leader of the Groundwater Protection and Restoration Group at the University of Sheffield (GPRG, Dept. of Civil and Structural Engineering, University of Sheffield, Mappin St., Sheffield S1 3JD, England. E-mail: ). Sampling technologies continue to be an area of research because of the Group's field-based research on natural attenuation, which is also supported by a range of laboratory studies on biodegradation.;Owen Baines is a senior technician in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Bradford. He joined the University in 1988 after more than 20 years in industry as a mechanical engineer with ICI and Case Tractors. Baines particularly enjoys playing golf, football, and cricket, and likes to travel. |
| |
| Abstract: | The importance of obtaining depth-specific ground water samples is now well recognized among practitioners and scientists alike. Many methods and technologies are available for level discrete or depth-specific ground water sampling in consolidated aquifers. All methods have their associated advantages and drawbacks, however. One common disadvantage is that they are expensive. A large number of point discrete ground water samples were required for a UK research project aimed at quantifying natural attenuation processes in ground water contaminated by a former coal carbonization plant. Based on experience from a previous project to develop novel level accurate sampling methodologies for use in existing boreholes, the Ground Water Protection and Restoration Research Unit (GWPRRU) produced and tested a low-cost design multiport sock sampler for ground water monitoring. The sock sampler design allowed the recovery of multiple depth-specific ground water samples from depths of 150 feel (45 m) from individual boreholes in the sandstone aquifer at the field site. Because of their use of inexpensive materials, simple design, installation and use that does not require gravel packs, packers, or grouting, sock samplers were found to be the most cost effective, convenient, and reliable method of obtaining multiple depth-specific ground water samples at the project field site. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
