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4 COLLECTION TOOLS

4.5 PORTABLE GRAB SAMPLERS

4.5.1 Bailer


Use: Bailers are the most widely used sampling method due to their low cost; however, other devices such as bladder, helical-rotor, and gear pumps generally provide better results when sensitive constituents such as VOCs are present.

Description:

A bailer is a hollow tube with a check valve at the base (open bailer) or a double valve (point-source bailer). The bailer is attached to a line (generally either a polypropylene or nylon rope, or stainless steel or Teflon coated wire) and lowered into the water. The bailer is pulled up when the desired depth is reached, with the weight of the water closing the check valve. Open bailers provide an integrated sample of the water column. Point-source bailers use: (1) balls, or (2) valves (operated by cables from the surface) to prevent additional water from entering the bailer so that a sample can be collected at a specific point.

Analytes:

1. Non-Halogenated VOCs 5. PAHs 9. Inorganics
2. Non-Halogenated SVOCs 6. Pesticides/Herbicides 10. Explosives
3. Halogenated VOCs 7. Metals 11. TPHs
4. Halogenated SVOCs 8. Radionuclides

Media:

Soil: Ground Water: Surface Water: Gas/Air:
Not Applicable MINIMUM MINIMUM Not Applicable

Can cause alterations due to aeration, degassing, volatilization, or turbulence when lowering bailer into water column.

Maximum Depth: 200 feet. Minimum well diameter: open bailer - 0.5 inch; point-source bailer - 0.5 inch.
Production Rate: Sample is available after a short amount of time.
Investigation Derived Waste Volume: Large volume of waste.
Technology Status: Commercially available and routinely used field technology.
Certification/Verification: Technology has not participated in CalEPA certification and/or CSCT verification program.
Relative Cost per Sample: Least expensive.

Limitations:

ASTM Standards:

D 4448 - 85a Sampling Ground Water Monitoring Wells.
D 6232 Standard Guide for Selection of Sampling Equipment for Waste and Contaminated Media Data Collection Activities..

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