ABSTRACT
CONTENTS Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 Field Preparation for a Ground-Water Sampling Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Site Orientation and Sampling Event Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 Conducting the Sampling Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Sampling Point Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 Well Headspace Screening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156 Water-Level Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 Well Purging and Field Parameter Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 Sample Collection Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Order of Container Filling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 Sample Collection Protocols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160 Protocols for Collecting Field QC Samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Trip Blanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 Temperature Blanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 Field Blanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 Equipment Blanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 Blind Duplicate Samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 Field Spiked Samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 Field Split Samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Ground-Water Sample Pretreatment Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 Sample Filtration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
In-Line Filtration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 Positive-Pressure Filtration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 Negative-Pressure Filtration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Sample Preservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 Preparation of Sample Containers for Shipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 Cleanup of the Work Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 Delivery or Shipment of Samples to the Laboratory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
After the SAP has been prepared, and has received regulatory and client approval for implementation, the sampling team will travel to the field site to collect ground-water samples using the protocols and procedures contained in the SAP. Each sampling team member should have a personally assigned copy of the SAP on hand in the field to refer to if there is ever a need for clarification of a field procedure. Table 6.1 summarizes the field activities that will be implemented by a sampling team during a typical groundwater sampling event for a long-term ground-water monitoring program. A similar schedule of activities will be followed for most other ground-water sampling events. These activities are presented in the chronological order in which they would occur in the field. To be effective, sampling team members need to work together and develop a system to ensure efficient use of time and resources. This will come with time and experience as sampling team members work together at each field site. Sampling teams should create a system of checks and balances to ensure that errors are not made as a result of omission, use of improper protocols, unfamiliarity with equipment, or failure to read and understand the SAP. ASTM International has published a guide (ASTM Standard D 5903 [ASTM, 2006a]) on planning and preparing for a ground-water sampling event that provides an excellent ‘‘to do’’ list for sampling team members to follow to
Essential Handbook of Ground-Water
ensure that the sampling event is well organized and that delays associated with poor preparation are avoided. The guide also provides good check lists of typical sampling equipment and supplies needed in the field.
