GROUNDWATER

SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS

Authorities on Groundwater Monitoring
• Jabatan Mineral dan Galian
• Jabatan Alam Sekitar
• Jabatan Pengaliran dan Saliran
 THE DIFFERENT ZONES OF
GROUNDWATER
• Vadose zone (aerated zone or the unsaturated
zone) is that column reaching down to the water
table. It may be intermittently saturated.

• Capillary fringe forms a transition zone between

the phreatic zone and the vadose zone, water
rising by capillary pressure from the water table,
the height of which depends on the pore sizes of
the sediments.

• Phreatic zone is the saturated zone. The water

table (the upper layer of the saturated zone)
forms the base of the capillary fringe.
 Groundwater
Monitoring
Well

Groundwater sampling
requires installation of a
sampling well in a manner
that does not change the
integrity of the surrounding
water.
Groundwater Sampling
Using a Bailer
• Groundwater samples are
collected from a well by a bailer
or pumps of various types.
• Bottom-filled bailers, which are
more commonly used, are
suitable provided that care is
taken to preserve VOCs.
Groundwater Sampling Using
Peristaltic Pump
• Peristaltic pump is
suitable for
sampling wells of
small diameter (e.g.,
2 inches) and has a
depth limitation of
25 ft.
Groundwater Sampling
Using Bladder Pump
• Video on how a bladder pump
works
.
• A bladder pump can be used to
sample a depth of
approximately 100 ft.
• Bladder pump is recommended
for VOC sampling because it
causes a minimal alteration of
sample integrity.
Tasks During Groundwater Sampling
The most challenging tasks in routine groundwater sampling, among
many others, are the following work:
1. To characterize groundwater flow
2. To purge and stabilize groundwater prior to sampling
3. To minimize cross-contamination due to well materials and sampling
devices
Well Purging
• Stagnant water needs to be purged so that the stabilized water is
sampled and represents the groundwater.
• A ‘‘stabilized’’ condition can be determined by in situ measurement of
the following parameters:
DO: 0.3 mg/L;
turbidity: 10% (for samples greater than 10 NTUs);
specific conductivity: 3%;
oxidation-reduction potential (ORP): 10 mV;
pH: 0.1 unit;
temperature: 0.1C.
Cross Contamination in Groundwater
Sampling
• Groundwater sampling may be contaminated from materials of well
casings, well purging (pump and tubing), and sampling-related
equipments (sampling tools, water level indicator, monitoring
probes).
• All sampling devices or well casings should be thoroughly cleaned
using steam prior to sampling.
The End