Groundwater sampling methodology - contaminated land

The latest thinking on groundwater sampling methodologies for contaminated land from Peter Dumble and Lindsay McMillan

Peter Dumble, Waterra-In-Situ Technical Director, and Lindsay McMillan, NERC Doctoral Researcher at Birmingham University, presented the findings of research (a NERC PhD case studentship study conducted by Lindsay and part funded by Waterra-In-Situ and the Environment Agency) into approaches to groundwater sampling, at the Scottish Contaminated Land Forum (SCLF) on September 18th 2012.

The presentation, entitled "Groundwater sampling methodology - guidance, good practice and the importance of screen length in the assessment of contaminated land" (click to download), highlighted the issues facing hydrogeologists in obtaining reliable results when attempting to measure the distribution of contaminants in aquifers particularly when sampling from long-screened monitoring wells.

It provided some early insights from Lindsay's research into how using measurement of vertical flows within long-screened wells can be used to improve understanding of the concentration of water quality in the adjacent aquifer - which can be very different from the sample taken in the well.

Peter Dumble commented:

"The research at Birmingham University is beginning to provide  a fresh solution to the problem of interpreting water quality samples taken from long-screened wells. 

There is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding data and this research is aimed at providing good science, tools and guidance for the future to benefit everyone responsible for monitoring the groundwater environment."

For more information on this topic visit the groundwater monitoring methodologies section of our website, contact our technical sales team on +44 (0) 121 733 7743 or email sales@waterra-in-situ.com, today.



Waterra In-Situ -  Sampling at up to 60m with the SS Geosub submersible pump