FRTR Field Sampling and Analysis Technologies Reference Guide

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:

User can be exposed to contaminants in sample.
Time consuming if used for purging.
Lines used for bailer can be difficult to decontaminate.
With open bailers, it may be difficult to determine what point sample represents.
High-suspended solids content or freezing temperatures can impact operation of check valves.
Bailer operation can cause aeration of water in well and sample, increase turbidty of sample, and mix water within the well.
Unable to collect samples from depths below water surface.

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..

Sample Access/Collection Matrix

Sample Analysis Matrix

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