Day 1

Planning and Executing a Successful Ground-Water Sampling Event

• Components of a Ground-Water Sampling Event
• Sampling Event Planning and Preparation
• The Ground-Water Sampling & Analysis Plan (SAP)
• Objectives and Purposes of the SAP
• Components of a SAP
• Making the SAP User-Friendly
• Addressing the Analysis Portion of the SAP
• Understanding PPM vs. PPB vs. PPT
• Field Protocols (SOPs) to Include in the SAP
• Timing of Ground-Water Sampling Events
• Selecting and Working with an Analytical Lab

Field Equipment Decontamination

• Objectives of Field Equipment Decontamination
• Available Decontamination Methods, Including ASTM Method D5088
• Problems Associated with Chemical Decontamination
• Verifying the Effectiveness of Decontamination Methods

Field Quality Assurance(QA)/Field Quality Control(QC)

• The Difference Between Quality Assurance and Quality Control
• The Importance of Field QA/QC
• Typical Components of Field QA/QC Programs
• The Role of QC Samples in Ground-Water Sampling Programs
• Types of QC Samples to Collect, and How and Why to Collect Them Properly

Water-Level and Product Thickness Measurement

• Uses of Water-Level and Product Thickness Data
• Accuracy and Precision in Water-Level Measurement
• Sources of Error in Water Level and Product Thickness Measurement
• Techniques and Equipment Available for Water-Level Measurement
• Options for Determining Product Thickness in Monitoring Wells

The Science Behind Ground-Water Sampling

• Objectives and Purposes of Ground-Water Sampling
  • Definition of "Representative" Sample
• Factors Affecting the Representative Nature of Ground-Water Samples
  • Sampling Point Placement, Design, Installation, Development and Maintenance
  • Formation and Well Hydraulics
• Chemistry of the Water Column Above and Within the Well Screen
• Well Purging and Sampling Methods and Associated Issues

Selection and Operation of Ground-Water Purging and Sampling Devices

• Purging and Sampling Device Selection Criteria
• Impacts of Sampling Devices on Sample Chemistry
• Dedicated vs. Designated vs. Portable Sampling Equipment
• Overview of Available Sampling Devices, Their Operational Characteristics and Limitations

Day 2

Conventional Purging and Sampling Methodologies

• Objectives of Purging
• Comparison of Traditional Strategies for Purging High-Yield Wells
• Problems with Traditional Purging Methods
• Placement of the Purging Device within the Water Column
• Approaches to Purging Low-Yield Wells

Low-Flow Purging and Sampling and No-Purge Sampling

• Low-Flow Purging and Sampling
  • Fundamental Concepts
  • Requirements for Equipment and Flow Rates
  • Well Hydraulics During Low-Flow Purging and Sampling
  • Procedures Used for Low-Flow Purging and Sampling
  • Dedicated vs. Portable Sampling Equipment
  • Advantages and Limitations
• No-Purge Sampling
  • Fundamental Concepts
  • Equipment Used for No-Purge Sampling
  • Procedures Used for No-Purge Sampling
  • Advantages and Limitations of No-Purge Sampling

Field Parameter Measurement During Purging

• Parameters Traditionally Measured and Why They May Not Be Meaningful
• More Meaningful Parameters to Measure During Purging
• Significance and Use of Turbidity as a Field Parameter
• Instrumentation Options for Field Parameter Measurement
• Common Errors in Field Parameter Measurement

Field Session - Ground-Water Sampling Methods

• Station 1: Conventional Sampling Practices and No-Purge Sampling
  • Overview of Health & Safety and Housekeeping Aspects of Ground-Water Sampling
  • Wellhead Screening
  • Water Level Measurement
  • Conventional Well-Volume Purging and Sampling
  • Sample Collection and Handling
  • Field Filtration of Samples
  • Field Preservation of Samples
  • Preparation of Samples for Shipping
  • No-Purge Sampling Using Passive Diffusion Bag Samplers
• Station 2: Low-Flow Purging and Sampling and No-Purge Sampling
  • Equipment Setup for Low-Flow Purging - Description and Operation
  • Determining Drawdown at Various Flow Rates
  • Determining Stabilization of Water Chemistry
  • Collecting Water Samples Following Field Parameter Stabilization
  • No-Purge Sampling Using the HydraSleeve

Day 3

Ground-Water Sample Filtration & Preservation

• Objectives and Purposes of Sample Filtration
• Naturally Occurring vs. Artifactual Particulate in Wells
• Overview of Filtration Methods including ASTM Standard Method D-6564
• Which Parameters Could Be Filtered and Those that Should Not Be Filtered
• Filter Preconditioning - Objectives and Procedures
• Objectives and Purposes of Sample Preservation
• Physical vs. Chemical Preservation Methods
• ASTM Standard Method D-6517

Sample Handling and Shipment

• Preparation of Samples for Shipment to the Lab
• Sample Shipment Options and Considerations
• Compliance with DOT and IATA Shipping Regulations

Sampling Event Documentation

• Written vs Electronic vs Audio-Visual Recording of Field Activities
• Do's and Don'ts When Documenting Field Observations and Measurements
• How to Make Sure Your Field Records are Admissible in Court
• Sample Security and Chain-of-Custody