20080868 Ver 2_Final - 43629 PCS R-12 GW Monitoring Plan_20160613

R-12 Groundwater Monitoring Plan
PotashCorp - Aurora
Beaufort County, North Carolina
\\ PotashCorp
AURORA
Prepared For:
PCS Phosphate Company, Inc.
1530 NC Highway 306 South
Aurora, North Carolina 27806
Prepared By:
Groundwater Management Associates, Inc.
4300 Sapphire Court
Suite 100
Greenville, North Carolina 27834
GM A
GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
GMA Project #43629
April 20, 2016

Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction.............................................................................................1
2.0 Scope of Work..........................................................................................2
3.0 Local Geologic Setting.............................................................................2
4.0 R-12 Groundwater Monitoring Plan........................................................5
4.1 Upper Castle Hayne Aquifer...........................................................5
4.2 R-12 Monitoring Well Locations.....................................................6
4.3 R-12 Monitoring Well Construction Specifications ........................6
4.4 R-12 Monitoring Well Sampling Methods and Schedule................7
5.0 Report Certification.................................................................................9
6.0 List of References..................................................................................10
Figures
Figure 1. PotashCorp Site Facilities Map
Figure 2. R-12 Location Map
Figure 3. General Geologic Section
Figure 4. Surface of the Castle Hayne Aquifer near the R-12 Area
Figure 5. Water -level of the Castle Hayne Aquifer near the R-12 Area
Figure 6. R-12 Proposed Groundwater Monitoring Well Sties
Figure 7. R-12 Example Monitoring Well Construction Diagram
Appendices
Appendix A. Dept. of the Army Permit No. 200110096 and NC Div. of Water Quality Section
401 WQC No. 3771 (#2008-0868, version 2.0) Monitoring Requirements
Appendix B. USEPA Operating Procedure — Groundwater Sampling
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R-12 Groundwater Monitoring Plan
PotashCorp Aurora
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1.0 Introduction
PCS Phosphate Company, Inc. (PCS Phosphate) operates a phosphate mining operation near
the town of Aurora in Beaufort County, North Carolina (Figure 1). The mining operation has
been active since 1965, and it provides the raw material used for processing in the PCS
Phosphate Aurora chemical facilities. Fertilizers are the primary product produced at the site.
Mining of the phosphate ore is accomplished by open pit mining methods.
At PCS Phosphate, the by-products clay fines (passing a No. 200 Standard US Sieve Size),
from milling the phosphate ore, and gypsum, from the production of phosphoric acid, are
blended together. This resulting blend has been successfully used as backfill in reclamation
areas since 1986.
PCS Phosphate will soon begin construction of its future reclamation area known as R-12.
The R-12 area is to be located in a recently mined area (Figure 2). The R-12 area will
become an impoundment that will contain the gypsum -clay blend. The gypsum -clay blend
will be stored below land surface and above land surface.
The storage area for gypsum -clay blend below land surface was created by the mining
process. The mined out pit below land surface contains primarily Yorktown Formation clays
cast by the draglines during mining.
The storage area above land surface will be contained by a dike constructed out of sand
tailings, another by-product from milling the phosphate ore. The dike will be constructed to
approximately 20 feet above land surface or approximately +30 MSL. The dike structure is
planned to completely enclose the R-12 area.
A groundwater monitoring plan must be developed and implemented prior to the placement
and storage of gypsum -clay blend in the R-12 area.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Resources
(NCDEQ-DWR) requires that a groundwater monitoring plan be developed that will include
sufficient monitoring within and surrounding the reclamation areas to ensure that any
potential heavy metal/toxic pollutants including cadmium and radionuclides are not entering
the groundwater.
In addition, the monitoring plan is to include sampling for nitrate nitrogen, sulfate, chloride,
fluoride, total phosphorus, sodium, total dissolved solids, cadmium and pH. This monitoring
will commence with monthly sampling until such time that the NCDEQ-DWR and the US Army
Corps of Engineers (USACOE), in conjunction with all interested and appropriate agencies,
determine that sufficient baseline information exists. See appendix A.
Prior to introducing gypsum/clay blend in the reclamation of any mined area, PCS Phosphate
shall submit to the USACOE and NCDEQ-DWR a groundwater monitoring plan for areas
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R-12 Groundwater Monitoring Plan
PotashCorp Aurora
April 20, 2016
covered by Department of the Army Permit No. 200110096 for the discharge of fill material
into Section 404 Jurisdictional waters issued to Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan
Phosphate Division, Aurora Mine to be undertaken by PCS Phosphate Company, Inc. in
compliance with North Carolina Division of Water Quality Certification No. 3771 (#2008-0868,
version 2.0). GMA prepared the following scope of work for the R-12 Monitoring Well Plan.
2.0 Scope of work
GMA's scope of work included the following major tasks:
Conduct a site visit and collect data
Review the R-12 location and geologic information near the planned R-12 site
Develop locations for monitoring wells in the confined upper Castle Hayne Aquifer
Develop a groundwater monitoring and sampling plan for the R-12 upper Castle Hayne
monitoring wells
3.0 Local Geologic Setting
The local geologic setting near the PCS Phosphate site is well documented. The phosphate
operations rely on detailed geologic information for developing mine plans, determining
metallurgical characteristics, and estimating phosphate ore reserves. Exploratory core drilling
to gather geologic information for these purposes started in the early 1960s and continues to
this day.
The PCS Phosphate mine lies within the Coastal Plain Physiographic Province of North
Carolina. The Coastal Plain is a broad, relatively flat region comprising the eastern third of
the State. Local topography is very flat, with local relief of only about 20 feet between
upland plateau areas and tributaries. Maximum natural relief is approximately 40 feet.
The natural land surface largely owes its origin to a number of sea -level advances and
retreats that occurred throughout the Pleistocene Epoch. These sea -level fluctuations
created broad and generally flat terraces that slope gently to the east. Streams and rivers
have incised these terraces to create the current topographic character of the area.
The Coastal Plain Province is underlain by marine, estuarine, and terrestrial sediments (up to
10,000 feet thick at Cape Hatteras). The mine property is underlain by approximately 2,500
feet of Cretaceous to Recent -aged sediments and sedimentary rocks that were deposited on
top of pre -Mesozoic aged crystalline basement rocks (Lawrence and Hoffman, 1993).
Overlying the Cretaceous sediments is a sequence of Cenozoic -aged sediments of dominantly
marine origin. These include significant beds of sand, shelly clay and fossiliferous sandy
limestone.
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R-12 Groundwater Monitoring Plan
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The Cenozoic sediments have been hydrostratigraphically subdivided into four aquifers
locally, including (from deep to shallow): the Castle Hayne Aquifer, the Pungo River Aquifer,
the Yorktown Aquifer, and the Surficial Aquifer. These aquifers contain fresh water in inland
areas, and they are sources for local and regional water supplies. Table 1 lists the principal
local aquifers that occur beneath the PCS Phosphate mine and describes the characteristics
of these aquifers.
Table 1: Local Aauifers near the PCS Phosuhate Mine
Aquifer
Formations and Ages
Character and Use
This aquifer occurs as a veneer (up to 70 feet
Surficial Sediments and
thick) of sandy to clayey sediments, locally
=
James City Formation
fossiliferous with shell hash. The aquifer
o(Pleistocene
to Recent)
covers the entire County, except in areas
L
where deeply incised streams and rivers cut
into underlying units. Clays within the unit
tend to serve as confining layers and restrict
�
recharge to underlying aquifers. The aquifer
`t
Yorktown Formation
is not currently used as a significant
(Pliocene)
groundwater source. It may be used
sporadically for irrigation and private
residential water supply.
This fine-grained unit is composed of
interbedded phosphatic clays, diatomaceous
Pungo River Formation
clays, phosphatic limestones, silty claystones,
L
iR
(Miocene)
coquinas, calcareous clays, and phosphatic
o '�
sands. It is not a major water -producing
c Cr
aquifer, but can supply usable quantities of
a'
water to some local wells. Phosphate from
this formation is obtained by open -pit mining
at the PCS Phosphate Mine.
The Castle Hayne Formation is a sandy
E
Castle Hayne Formation
limestone and is characteristically highly
c W
(Eocene)
fossiliferous (molluscan mold to
bryozoan/echinoid skeletal). The aquifer
L
typically has a hard cap rock of well -indurated
limestone. The upper limestone unit has very
U
a
high permeability. Middle to lower sections of
the unit may be less indurated and have
higher sand and clay contents.
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R-12 Groundwater Monitoring Plan
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The upper Castle Hayne Aquifer is the principal potable water aquifer in the region and will
be the subject for developing the groundwater monitoring plan for R-12.
The Castle Hayne Aquifer is the most extensively used aquifer in the area. The largest single
user of the Castle Hayne Aquifer is PCS Phosphate, due to the need for depressurization of
the aquifer to allow for safe, dry mining conditions.
The local stratigraphy from land surface to the top of the Castle Hayne Aquifer is described
on the General Geologic Section (Figure 3) (Gilmore, 2014).
The upper stratigraphic units consist of mottled orange, tan to light gray, muddy fine sands
(Farmers Clay unit) and blue -gray to dark gray, muddy fine sands, occasionally with small
fossil mulinia shells (Post-Croatan Sand unit). The Farmers Clay unit is a Holocene -age
sediment and the Post-Croatan Sand unit is a Pleistocene -age sediment.
Immediately below the Post-Croatan Sand unit is the Gumbo Clay unit (Pleistocene). The
Gumbo Clay unit is blue -gray to dark gray and black, organic -rich mud. This unit is typically
very greasy to plastic in nature and intermittently may contain sand and silt streaks along
with sporadic fossil oyster shells.
Below the Gumbo Clay unit is a layer of clean, fine to coarse, angular, quartz sand, locally
known as the Sugar Sand unit (Pleistocene).
Immediately below the Sugar Sand unit is the James City Formation, also known locally as
the Croatan Formation (Pleistocene). The James City unit is typically a coarse-textured, blue-
green to gray, muddy shell hash and contains a variety of fossil shells and coral fragments.
This shell hash is known locally as the Shell Bed. PCS Phosphate removes the upper
overburden to the top of the Shell Bed in order to establish a stable, well -drained surface for
their mining equipment.
The James City Formation overlies the Yorktown Formation (Pliocene). The Yorktown
Formation is predominately a silty, sandy clay that overlies the Pungo River Formation
(Miocene), and the Yorktown Formation comprises the majority of the overburden removed
in the mine.
The Pungo River Formation contains muddy, sandy phosphate ore that is mined and
processed at PCS Phosphate, and the formation also contains units of limestone and
dolomitic limestone and sandstone. The two basal units of The Pungo River Formation are
not mined and unconformably overlie the principal aquifer, the Castle Hayne Limestone
(Eocene) at the mine. These two basal units locally act as a confining layer and buffer
between the mined out pit bottom area and the surface of the upper Castle Hayne aquifer.
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R-12 Groundwater Monitoring Plan
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4.0 R-12 Groundwater Monitoring Plan
GMA reviewed available aerial mapping data, geologic core drilling information and the
planned R-12 blend storage area boundary provided by PCS Phosphate to develop the
following groundwater monitoring plan.
4.1 Upper Castle Hayne Aquifer
The upper Castle Hayne Aquifer consists of white, gray or tan fossiliferous (shell cast and
molds) sandy limestone near the mine site. Typically, the limestone contains quartz sand
near the upper surface contact. The limestone can be partially indurated to well indurated.
The Castle Hayne Aquifer System near the mine site varies from 250' to 300' in thickness.
The surface of the upper Castle Hayne Aquifer was mapped using existing core drilling
information provided by PCS Phosphate. The upper Castle Hayne aquifer varies from -160
MSL to -180 MSL going from west to east (Figure 4). The surface of the Castle Hayne
Aquifer dips eastward at approximately 20 feet per mile in the vicinity of the mine site.
Mining the phosphate ore requires the depressurization of the Castle Hayne Aquifer in order
to maintain safe, dry mining conditions. This is accomplished by the construction of 20 -inch
diameter wells constructed in the upper Castle Hayne Aquifer, and these wells are placed
around the perimeter of the mine boundary.
High capacity submersible pumps are placed in each well and approximately 16 wells are
continuously pumped to depressurize the Castle Hayne Aquifer to allow mining at depths
below sea -level. Depressurization pumping creates a cone of depression in the
potentiometric surface in the Castle Hayne aquifer around the active mining area.
Active mining is advancing away from the R-12 area, as indicated in Figure 1. As mining and
mine depressurization moves away from the R-12 area, the hydraulic head (i.e., water -levels)
in the Castle Hayne Aquifer beneath R-12 will continue to gradually recover as the mine
moves west and south towards the Bonnerton Tract. Water -levels were measured by PCS
Phosphate personnel in January 2016 (Figure 5). January 2016 water -levels in the upper
Castle Hayne Aquifer averaged 113 feet above the approximate top of the aquifer in the
vicinity of the R-12 area.
The R-12 area was mined out during approximately 2011 through 2014. The mined out pit
within the planned R-12 boundary currently contains the overburden removed during the
mining process and accumulated rainfall. No gypsum -clay blend has been placed within the
R-12 area to date.
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R-12 Groundwater Monitoring Plan
PotashCorp Aurora
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4.2 R-12 Monitoring Well Locations
GMA has reviewed the planned R-12 boundary, local geology, and aerial mapping of the site,
and we propose 6 groundwater monitoring well sites in the upper Castle Hayne Aquifer,
designated R12MW1 through R12MW6 (Figure 6). Well locations are approximate, and final
well locations will be based on logistics and accessibility in the field. Each well will be drilled
outside the footprint of the planned R-12 reclamation area dike.
The direction of groundwater flow in the upper Castle Hayne Aquifer near the mine site is
primarily influenced by the proximity to the cone of depression, but it is generally to the
southwest, towards the cone of depression where active mining is ongoing.
The proposed groundwater monitoring well sites will be located in unmined areas to the
north, east and south of the R-12 reclamation area. Areas to the west of the R-12
reclamation area are already mined out and contain gypsum -clay blend.
The proposed locations of the R-12 reclamation area groundwater monitoring wells will
provide an effective way to sample groundwater in the upper Castle Hayne Aquifer prior to,
during and after the placement of the gypsum -clay blend within R-12.
4.3 R-12 Monitoring Well Construction Specifications
GMA proposes the construction of the 6 groundwater monitoring wells in the upper Castle
Hayne Aquifer. Prior to the construction of these monitoring wells, PCS Phosphate should
select a North Carolina Certified Well Contractor to drill a pilot hole at each site to depths 10'
into the upper Castle Hayne Aquifer in order to determine the exact upper surface contact of
the aquifer, collect cutting samples for geologic evaluation and run geophysical logs for
determining the final monitoring well construction specifications at each site. The
geophysical logs should include SP, Resistivity, and Natural Gamma logs.
Because the size of the area being monitored is large, some geologic variation between the
monitoring well locations is expected. GMA recommends that the monitoring well
construction activities be overseen by a North Carolina Licensed Geologist.
GMA proposes that the groundwater monitoring wells be constructed of 2 -inch diameter,
schedule 40 PVC casing and be cased to a depth of at least 10 feet into the upper Castle
Hayne aquifer, and to complete the well as an open borehole within the aquifer to a depth
extending 20 feet beyond the bottom of the well casing. The well is to be grouted with neat
cement from ground surface to the bottom of the well casing. The open borehole portion of
the well is to be drilled after the neat cement grout has set and completed with reverse air
using a 1.75 -inch tri -cone drill bit. GMA has created an example groundwater monitoring
well construction diagram based on the approximate site conditions (Figure 7).
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R-12 Groundwater Monitoring Plan
PotashCorp Aurora
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The well driller will use mud rotary drilling methods and must ensure the groundwater
monitoring wells are constructed to be free from any potential environmental contaminants.
The driller will use a revert -based drilling fluid and develop the groundwater monitoring wells
for approximately 8 hours.
The R-12 groundwater monitoring wells should have bollards placed around them to protect
them from potential damage and have a protective steel enclosure surrounding the portion of
the casing extending above land surface. The well must be equipped with a secure locking
cap at the wellhead and a lock at the steel enclosure.
4.4 R-12 Monitoring Well Sampling Methods and Schedule
GMA recommends that the R-12 groundwater monitoring wells should be sampled by low -
flow purging (also known as micro -purging) with a pump intake that is placed in the open
hole interval of the well.
If conventional well purging is done, a minimum of three volumes of the well would be
purged prior to sample collection. For conventional sampling methods, the volume to be
purged from the well (in gallons) is determined by subtracting the measured static water -
level of the well from the total depth of the well and multiply the difference by 0.49. This
purge volume would ensure that the groundwater sample being collected from the aquifer is
representative of aquifer conditions and is not affected by stagnated water residing in the
well casing.
However, GMA recommends sampling the groundwater monitoring wells with a dedicated
inertial lift pump (as manufactured by Waterra). These pumps use a foot valve connected to
dedicated tubing that extends to land surface. The foot valve would be placed in the open
borehole portion of the well. Rapid raising and lowering of the tubing allows the inertia of
the water on the up-stroke to rise up the tubing and be discharged to the land surface.
Using this equipment, a micro -purge volume, equivalent to 3 times the tubing volume, would
be withdrawn from the well prior to the sample collections.
Micro -purging is a widely accepted sampling method that provides representative water
samples for analyses without the need for time consuming conventional three -well -volume
purge techniques. Using dedicated pumps also prevents the need for decontamination of
sampling equipment between sampling events. These pumps also do not rely on an
electrical power source to operate them.
GMA recommends that field pH, temperature, conductivity and turbidity be recorded during
purging. A high conductivity or high turbidity reading may result in a sample being taken
that is not representative of the groundwater quality. Sample collection will occur after
stabilization of field water -quality parameters has been achieved.
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R-12 Groundwater Monitoring Plan
PotashCorp Aurora
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Technicians sampling the groundwater monitoring wells should make sure there is no cross
contamination between wells by using disposable latex gloves and thoroughly cleaning and
rinsing water -level meters and all equipment with a laboratory grade soap solution (such as
Liquinox) and distilled water.
GMA recommends that qualified personnel familiar with proper groundwater sampling
techniques for environmental purposes conduct the sampling of the proposed monitoring
wells. GMA recommends that a quality assurance/quality control sampling protocol be
followed in order to keep false positives from happening in the process of groundwater
sampling and laboratory testing. See Appendix B.
The schedule for groundwater sampling is prescribed by the permit conditions. The initial
sampling is to be done on a monthly basis until such time as the NCDEQ-DWR and the
USACOE, in consultation with all interested an appropriate agencies determine that sufficient
baseline information exists.
After such time, groundwater samples will be collected and analyzed every 3 months until
gypsum -clay blend is introduced into the reclamation area.
Following introduction of the gypsum -clay blend into the reclamation area, monthly
groundwater sampling will recommence until such time as the NCDEQ-DWR and the USACOE
in consultation with all interested an appropriate agencies determines another groundwater
sampling timeframe is appropriate.
GMA recommends that construction of the R-12 groundwater monitoring wells be undertaken
well in advance to the placement of the gypsum -clay blend in R-12 to collect accurate
baseline groundwater quality data.
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R-12 Groundwater Monitoring Plan
PotashCorp Aurora
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5.0 Report Certification
This report for the R-12 Groundwater Monitoring Plan was prepared by a Professional
Geologist familiar with the local hydrogeology of the PCS Phosphate mine site and the
reclamation areas. Groundwater Management Associates, Inc., is a professional corporation
licensed to practice geology (C-121) and engineering (C-0854) in North Carolina.
"Tex" Ivan K. Gilmore, P.G., C.P.G.
Project Manager
Senior Mining Geologist
James K. Holley, P.G.
Senior Hydrogeologist
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R-12 Groundwater Monitoring Plan
PotashCorp Aurora
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6.0 List of References
Lawrence, D. P., and C. W. Hoffmann, 1993, "Geology of basement rocks beneath the North
Carolina Coastal Plain", North Carolina Geological Survey, Bulletin 95, 60p, one Plate.
Gilmore, I. K., 2014, reference page 6, General Geologic Section from 1983, "Invertebrates
and Plants", North Carolina Fossil Club, Volume 1, 295p.
Page 10

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Depth (ft.) Lithology
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20
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50
60
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8o
90
100
110
120
130
140
150
160
170
180
190
200
210 2
220
—6.0"
KEY:
Land surface
Well cap / enclosure
2 -inch PVC casing
Cement grout
1.75 -inch, open borehole
Lithology:
Upper Overburden
Yorktown Formation
Pungo River Formation
Upper Castle Hayne Aquifer
GMA -41
SCALE
AS SHOWN Groundwater Management Associates, Inc.
Project Mgr. IKG R-12 EXAMPLE MONITORING WELL CONSTRUCTION DIAGRAM Date: 1/15/16
Project No. 43629 POTASH AURORA, BEAUFORT COUNTY, NC Figure: 7

Appendix A
Department of the Army Permit No. 200110096 for the discharge of fill material into Section
404 Jurisdictional waters issued to Potash Corporation od Saskatchewan Phosphate Division,
Aurora Mine to be undertaken by PCS Phosphate Company, Inc. in compliance with North
Carolina Division of Water Quality Certification No. 3771 (#2008-0868, version 2.0)

r
Le, UQ`101a�Q li I
O) The Permittee shall submit yearly monitoring reports for each mitigation site.
Monitoring reports will be submitted by the dates specified within each site-
specific mitigation plan. Monitoring will continue until such time as the
Corps deems the mitigation site successful and confirms in writing that
monitoring maybe discontinued.
P) Once compensatory mitigation sites have been deemed successful and the
Corps has agreed in writing that monitoring may cease, the Permittee shall,
within one year of the date of that correspondence, cause to be recorded an
acceptable preservation mechanism ensuring the permanent protection of all
mitigation sites.
MONITORING
Q} As required. -4y
Mthe State Wate;Qualiiy--Certification;,the�-Permittee.sh-dlllwork-
with the Corps and the N.C. Division of Water Quality to establish -s,
monitoring plan for groundwater in and around mime and reclamation areas.
At a minimum, this plan shall include sufficient monitoring within and
surrounding the reclamation areas to ensure that heavy metal/toxic pollutants
including cadmium and radionuclides are not entering the groundwater. The
monitoring plan shall also include nitrate nitrogen, sulfate, chloride, total
phoshorus, sodium, TDS, and pH. It is suggested that this monitoring
commence with monthly samples until such time as the NCDWQ and the
Corps in consultation_with all interested and appropriate agencies determines
sufficient baseline infQwaJionexists. After such time, samples will be
collected and analyzed every 3 months until blend material is introduced to
the reclamation area. Following introduction of the blend material to the
reclamation site, monthly sampling will recommence until such time as the
NCDWQ and the Corps in consultation with all interested and appropriate
agencies determines another sampling timeframe is appropriate. Yearly
results of this monitoring shall be reported to the Corps and NCDWQ no later
than January 31 of the year following data collection. The permittee and/or
the Corps will make these reports available in whole or in summary to any
interested party. If increases in the levels of any sampled substance are
observed for more than 1 sampling occurrence in any given year, or for more
than 1 year, the permittee shall include in the yearly report, a plan for
mitigating the effect or satisfactory justification as to why no action is
necessary. If the Corps, in consultation with other agencies, including but not
limited to NCDWQ, NCDLR and EPA, determines that the current
reclamation practices are causing an unacceptable adverse impact to
groundwater, the DE may modify, suspend or revoke the permit.
R) Prior to introducing the gypsum/clay blend in the reclamation of any mined
area covered by this permit, the Permittee shall submit to the Corps and
NCDWQ a remediation strategy in anticipation of the possibility of heavy
4

ariES �tl�8t+
dratn ora1'�ad�'acent«to inih'el<•area����t#'�g��i{I be�m`ade�avatlable for -
„public^r'evigw.""
S) in concert with the monitoring requirements contained in the Water Quality
Certification, the Permittee shall develop a Plan of Study to address the effects
of the reduction in headwater wetlands on the utilization of Porters Creek,
Tooley Creek, Jacobs Creek, Drinkwater Creek, and Jacks Creek as nursery
areas by resident fish and appropriate invertebrate species. This plan shall be
submitted to the Corps and NCDWQ for approval within 1 year of the
issuance of this permit. At a minimum, the plan shall address the following
issues:
1) Has mining altered the amount or timing of water flows within the creeks?
Data collection may include:
i) Continuous water level recorders to measure flow
ii) Rain gauges to measure local water input
iii) Groundwater wells to measure input to the creeks
iv) Semi -continuous salinity monitoring
v) Periodic DO monitoring (continuously monitored for several days at
strategic times of year)
2) Has mining altered the geomorphic or vegetative character of the creeks?
Data collection may include:
i) Annual aerial photography to determine creek position, length, width,
sinuosity
ii) Annual cross sectional surveys of each creek at established locations
iii) Annual sediment characterization
iv) Annual vegetation surveys along creeks
v) Spring and fall sediment surface chlorophylls or organic content in
vegetation zone.
vi) Spring and fall Iocation of flocculation zones with each creek.
3) Has mining altered the forage base of the creeks? Data collection may
include:
i) Spring and fall benthic cores to sample macroinfauna.
ii) Spring and fall benthic grabs focused upon bivalves, such as Rangia
sp.
iii) Periodic sampling for pelagic species such as grass shrimp, blue crabs,
and small forage fish. Sampling gears would be chosen to reflect
ontogenetic shifts in creek usage.
4) Has mining altered the use of the creeks by managed fish? Data collection
may include periodic sampling for species managed under the Magnuson -
Stevens Fishery Conservation Management Act. Sampling would occur
5

X11' L�7/ iJL� LQ�IGT�es,c .
PCS Phosphate Company, Inc.
Page 7 of 8
January 15, 2009
for the area. DWQ shall be copied on a letter once that mining preparation begins on the
mining corridor in order to establish this ten year clock.
10. Additional minimization of appx. 3 acres of wetland impact shall be provided for the NCPC
tract as depicted on the letter from PCS Phosphate dated November 3, 2008 to John
Domey.of the NC Division -of Water Quality.
11. South of 33 tract – The impact boundaries for the South of 33 tract shall 'be as outlined in an
email from Mr. Tom Walker of the US Army Corps of Engineers dated' August 19, 2008
(forwarded to Mr. John Dorney of the Division of Water Quality on December 13, 2008).
Monitoring
12. Groundwater monitoring —Additional written approval is required from DWQ for a final
groundwater monitoring plan that supplements and compliments the existing groundwater
monitoring that is being conducted by PCS for various state and federal agencies. In
addition to other parameters subject to groundwater standards; cadmium and fluoride shall
be monitored in the final groundwater monitoring plan. This plan shall include groundwater
monitoring -of the protected .portion of the Bonnerton Road Non-Riverine Wet Hardwood
Forest as noted in condition 9 above in order to ensure that the existing hydrology of this
site is maintained. This monitoring shall focus on the "58A" area of the Bonnerton Road
Non-Riverine Wet Hardwood Forest to ensure that its groundwater hydrology is maintained.
13. Stream and watershed monitoring – The existing water management and stream monitoring
plan for water quality, water quantity and biology (macrobenthos and fish) shall be continued
for the life of the Permit by the applicant. Additional monitoring shall be proposed by the
applicant and approved by DWQ for tributaries in the Bonnerton and South of 33 tracts
before land clearing or impacts occur to those locations. This additional monitoring plan
shall collect data from a representative number of streams in each tract and be designed to
assure the protection of downstream water quality standards including Primary and
Secondary Nursery Area functions in tributaries to South Creek, Porter Creek, Durham
Creek and the Pamlico River adjacent to the mine site. Monitoring locations shall include
the upper end of Porter Creek in the "58A" portion of the Bonnerton Road Non-Riverine Wet
Hardwood Forest in order to ensure that hydrology of this wet hardwood forest is
maintained.
The plan shall identify any deleterious effects to riparian wetland functions including by not
limited to water storage, pollutant removal, streambank stabilization, as well as resident
wetland -dependent aquatic life and resident wetland -dependent wildlife and aquatic life in
wetlands and streams tributary to -the Pamlico River in the NCPC, Bonnerton and South of
33 tracts. If necessary, management activities to protect or restore these uses will be
required for all the tributaries of these three tracts.
PCS shall notify DWQ in writing at least one month in advance of any biological sampling so
DWQ biologists can accompany PCS biologists as needed. Also a certified lab is required
for the identification of freshwater benthic macroinverlebrate samples. For estuarine
samples, a knowledgeable lab shall be used until such time as DWQ certifies laboratories
for estuarine analysis and after that time, only suitably certified labs shall be used. Finally a
fish monitoring plan shall be included in the final monitoring plan submitted to DWQ for
written approval.

Appendix B
USEPA Operating Procedure — Groundwater Sampling, updated 3-4-13
NCDEQ Solid Waste Section — Guidelines for Groundwater, Soil and Surface Water Sampling,
updated 04-2008

COPY
SESD Operating Procedure Page 1 of 31 SESDPROC-301-R3
Groundwater Sampling Groundwater Sampling(301)_AF.R3
Effective Date: March 6, 2013
Region 4
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Science and Ecosystem Support Division
Athens, Georgia
OPERATING PROCEDURE
Title:
Groundwater Sampling
Effective Date: March 6, 2013
Number: SESDPROC-301-R3
Authors
Name:
Jonathan Vail
Title:
Environ nta ienti Regional Expert
r
Si ature:
Date: r
Approvals
Name:
D France
Title:
Ch' f, Worcerne and Investigations Branch
Signature: Date:
Name:
Bobby t wis
Title:
Field Qua ity Man ger, Science and Ecosystem Support Division
`�/ 3
Signature:
Date: /
SESD Operating Procedure Page 1 of 31 SESDPROC-301-R3
Groundwater Sampling Groundwater Sampling(301)_AF.R3
Effective Date: March 6, 2013

COPY
Revision Histo
The top row of this table shows the most recent changes to this controlled document. For
previous revision history information, archived versions of this document are maintained by the
SESD Document Control Coordinator on the SESD local area network (LAN).
History
Effective Date
SESDPROC-301-R3, Groundwater Sampling, replaces SESDPROC-
March 6, 2013
301-R2.
General: Corrected any typographical, grammatical and/or editorial errors.
Title Page: Changed author from Donald Hunter to Jonathan Vail. Changed
Enforcement and Investigations Branch Chief from Archie Lee to Danny
France.
Revision History: Changes were made to reflect the current practice of only
including the most recent changes in the revision history.
Section 2.3: Item 4 was revised to reflect practice of using individual single -use
preservative vials instead of preservatives prepared by ASB.
SESDPROC-301-R2, Groundwater Sampling, replaces SESDPROC-
October 28, 2011
301-R1.
SESDPROC-301-R1, Groundwater Sampling, replaces SESDPROC-
November 1, 2007
301-R0.
SESDPROC-301-R0, Groundwater Sampling, Original Issue
February 05, 2007
SESD Operating Procedure
Groundwater Sampling
Effective Date: March 6, 2013
Page 2 of 31
SESDPROC-301-R3
Groundwater Sampling(301)_AF.R3

COPY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 General Information..............................................................................................................6
1.1 Purpose..........................................................................................................................6
1.2 Scope/Application........................................................................................................6
1.3 Documentation/Verification........................................................................................6
1.4 References.....................................................................................................................6
1.5 General Precautions.....................................................................................................8
1.5.1 Safety..................................................................................................................8
1.5.2 Procedural Precautions.....................................................................................8
2 Special Sampling Considerations.......................................................................................10
2.1 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Analysis........................................................10
2.2 Special Precautions for Trace Contaminant Groundwater Sampling..................10
2.3 Sample Handling and Preservation Requirements.................................................11
2.4 Quality Control..........................................................................................................12
2.5 Records........................................................................................................................12
3 Groundwater Sampling Methods — Purging.....................................................................13
3.1 General........................................................................................................................13
3.2 Purging Methods and Strategies...............................................................................13
3.2.1 Traditional Multiple Volume Purge...............................................................13
3.2.1.1 Purging and Purge Adequacy...............................................................13
3.2.1.1.1 Purge Volume Determination..............................................13
3.2.1.1.2 Chemical Parameter Stabilization Criteria .........................15
3.2.1.1.3 Purge Adequacy Considerations.........................................16
3.2.2 "Tubing -in -Screened -Interval" Method.........................................................16
3.2.2.1 Purge Criteria.......................................................................................17
3.2.2.1.1 Placement of Pump Tubing or Intake................................17
3.2.2.1.2 Conditions of Pumping........................................................17
3.2.2.1.3 Stability of Chemical Parameters.......................................17
SESD Operating Procedure Page 3 of 31 SESDPROC-301-R3
Groundwater Sampling Groundwater Sampling(301)_AF.R3
Effective Date: March 6, 2013

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3.3 Equipment Considerations for Purging...................................................................17
3.3.1 Wells without Plumbing or In -Place Pumps.................................................18
3.3. LI Purging with Pumps.............................................................................18
3.3.1.1.1 Peristaltic Pumps..................................................................18
3.3.1.1.2 Submersible Pumps..............................................................19
3.3.1.2 Purging with Bailers............................................................................20
3.3.2 Wells with In -Place Plumbing........................................................................20
3.3.2.1 Continuously Running Pumps............................................................20
3.3.2.2 Intermittently or Infrequently Running Pumps..................................21
3.3.3 Temporary Monitoring Wells.........................................................................21
3.3.3.1 General Considerations.......................................................................21
3.3.3.2 Purging When Water Level Is Within Limit of Suction .....................21
3.3.3.3 Purging When Water Level Is Greater Than Limit of Suction ..................22
3.3.3.4 Considerations for Direct Push Groundwater Sampling ...................22
3.4 Field Care of Purging Equipment............................................................................22
3.5 Investigation Derived Waste.....................................................................................23
4 Groundwater Sampling Methods — Sampling...................................................................24
4.1 General........................................................................................................................24
4.2 Sampling Wells with In -Place Plumbing................................................................24
4.3 Sampling Wells without Plumbing, Within the Limit of Suction ..........................24
4.3.1 Equipment Available.......................................................................................24
4.3.1.1 Peristaltic Pump, Direct from Pump Head Tubing ............................24
4.3.1.2 Peristaltic Pump/Vacuum Jug.............................................................25
4.3.1.3 RediFlo2® Electric Submersible Pump (with Teflon® Tubing) ................26
4.3.1.4 Bailers..................................................................................................26
4.4 Sampling Wells without Plumbing, Exceeding the Limit of Suction ....................26
4.5 Micro -Purge or No -Purge Sampling Procedures....................................................27
4.5.1 Sampling with Pumps....................................................................................27
4.5.2 HydraSleevesTM..............................................................................................27
4.5.3 Passive Diffusion Bags...................................................................................28
4.5.4 General Considerations for Micro -Purge or No -Purge Sampling ....................... 28
SESD Operating Procedure
Groundwater Sampling
Effective Date: March 6, 2013
Page 4 of 31
SESDPROC-301-R3
Groundwater Sampling(301)_AF.R3

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4.6 Sample Preservation..................................................................................................28
4.7 Special Sample Collection Procedures.....................................................................29
4.7.1 Trace Organic Compounds and Metals........................................................29
4.7.2 Order of Sampling with Respect to Analytes...............................................29
4.7.3 Filtering............................................................................................................29
4.8 Specific Sampling Equipment Quality Assurance Techniques..............................31
4.9 Auxiliary Data Collection..........................................................................................31
4.9.1 Well Pumping Rate — Bucket/Stop Watch Method.....................................31
SESD Operating Procedure Page 5 of 31 SESDPROC-301-R3
Groundwater Sampling Groundwater Sampling(301)_AF.R3
Effective Date: March 6, 2013

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1 General Information
1.1 Purpose
This document describes general and specific procedures, methods and considerations to
be used and observed when collecting groundwater samples for field screening or
laboratory analysis.
1.2 Scope/Application
The procedures contained in this document are to be used by field personnel when
collecting and handling groundwater samples in the field. On the occasion that SESD
field personnel determine that any of the procedures described are either inappropriate,
inadequate or impractical and that another procedure must be used to obtain a
groundwater sample, the variant procedure will be documented in the field logbook,
along with a description of the circumstances requiring its use. Mention of trade names or
commercial products in this operating procedure does not constitute endorsement or
recommendation for use.
1.3 Documentation/Verification
This procedure was prepared by persons deemed technically competent by SESD
management, based on their knowledge, skills and abilities and has been tested in
practice and reviewed in print by a subject matter expert. The official copy of this
procedure resides on the SESD Local Area Network (LAN). The Document Control
Coordinator (DCC) is responsible for ensuring the most recent version of the procedure is
placed on the LAN and for maintaining records of review conducted prior to its issuance.
1.4 References
Columbia Analytical Services, Lab Science News, Passive Diffusion Devices &
Polyethylene Diffusion Ba (g_PDB.) Samplers.
International Air Transport Authority (IATA). Dangerous Goods Regulations, Most
Recent Version
Puls, Robert W., and Michael J. Barcelona. 1989. Filtration of Ground Water Samples for
Metals Analysis. Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Materials 6(4), pp.385-393.
Puls, Robert W., Don A. Clark, and Bert Bledsoe. 1992. Metals in Ground Water:
Sampling Artifacts and Reproducibility. Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Materials 9(2),
pp. 149-162.
SESD Guidance Document, Design and Installation of Monitoring Wells, SESDGUID-
001, Most Recent Version
SESD Operating Procedure
Groundwater Sampling
Effective Date: March 6, 2013
Page 6 of 31
SESDPROC-301-R3
Groundwater Sampling(301)_AF.R3

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SESD Operating Procedure for Control of Records, SESDPROC-002, Most Recent
Version
SESD Operating Procedure for Sample and Evidence Management, SESDPROC-005,
Most Recent Version
SESD Operating Procedure for Logbooks, SESDPROC-010, Most Recent Version
SESD Operating Procedure for Field Sampling Quality Control, SESDPROC-011, Most
Recent Version
SESD Operating Procedure for Field pH Measurement, SESDPROC-100, Most Recent
Version
SESD Operating Procedure for Field Specific Conductance Measurement, SESDPROC-
101, Most Recent Version
SESD Operating Procedure for Field Temperature Measurement, SESDPROC-102, Most
Recent Version
SESD Operating Procedure for Field Turbidity Measurement, SESDPROC-103, Most
Recent Version
SESD Operating Procedure for Groundwater Level and Well Depth Measurement,
SESDPROC-105, Most Recent Version
SESD Operating Procedure for Management of Investigation Derived Waste, SESDROC-
202, Most Recent Version
SESD Operating Procedure for Pump Operation, SESDPROC-203, Most Recent Version
SESD Operating Procedure for Field Equipment Cleaning and Decontamination,
SESDPROC-205, Most Recent Version
SESD Operating Procedure for Field Equipment Cleaning and Decontamination at the
FEC, SESDPROC-206, Most Recent Version
SESD Operating Procedure for Potable Water Supply Sampling, SESDPROC-305, Most
Recent Version
The Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council, Technology Overview of Passive
Sampler Technologies, Prepared by The Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council
Diffusion Sampler Team, March 2006.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). 1975. Handbook for
Evaluating Water Bacteriological Laboratories. Office of Research and Development
(ORD), Municipal Environmental Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, Ohio.
SESD Operating Procedure
Groundwater Sampling
Effective Date: March 6, 2013
Page 7 of 31
SESDPROC-301-R3
Groundwater Sampling(301)_AF.R3

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US EPA. 1977. Samplin for or Organic Chemicals and Microorganisms in the Subsurface.
EPA -600/2-77/176.
US EPA. 1978. Microbiological Methods for Monitoring the Environment, Water and
Wastes. ORD, Municipal Environmental Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, Ohio.
US EPA. 1981. "Final Regulation Package for Compliance with DOT Regulations in the
Shipment of Environmental Laboratory Samples," Memo from David Weitzman, Work
Group Chairman, Office of Occupational Health and Safety (PM -273), April 13, 1981.
US EPA. 1995. Ground Water Sampling - A Workshop Summary. Proceedings from the
Dallas, Texas November 30 — December 2, 1993 Workshop. ORD, Robert S. Kerr
Environmental Research Laboratory. EPA/600/R-94/205, January 1995.
US EPA. Analytical Support Branch Laboratory Operations and Quality Assurance
Manual. Region 4 SESD, Athens, GA, Most Recent Version
US EPA. Safety, Health and Environmental Management Program Procedures and Policy
Manual. Region 4 SESD, Athens, GA, Most Recent Version
1.5 General Precautions
1.5.1 Safety
Proper safety precautions must be observed when collecting groundwater samples. Refer
to the SESD Safety, Health and Environmental Management Program (SHEMP)
Procedures and Policy Manual and any pertinent site-specific Health and Safety Plans
(HASP) for guidelines on safety precautions. These guidelines should be used to
complement the judgment of an experienced professional. Address chemicals that pose
specific toxicity or safety concerns and follow any other relevant requirements, as
appropriate.
1.5.2 Procedural Precautions
The following precautions should be considered when collecting groundwater
samples.
• Special care must be taken not to contaminate samples. This includes storing samples
in a secure location to preclude conditions which could alter the properties of the
sample. Samples shall be custody sealed during long-term storage or shipment.
• Always sample from the anticipated cleanest, i.e., least contaminated location, to the
most contaminated location. This minimizes the opportunity for cross -contamination
to occur during sampling.
• Collected samples must remain in the custody of the sampler or sample custodian
until the samples are relinquished to another party.
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• If samples are transported by the sampler, they will remain under his/her custody or
be secured until they are relinquished.
• Shipped samples shall conform to all U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) rules
of shipment found in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR parts 171
to 179), and/or International Air Transportation Association (IATA) hazardous
materials shipping requirements found in the current edition of IATA's Dangerous
Goods Regulations.
• Documentation of field sampling is done in a bound logbook.
• Chain -of -custody documents shall be filled out and remain with the samples until
custody is relinquished.
• All shipping documents, such as air bills, bills of lading, etc., shall be retained by the
project leader and placed in the project files.
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2 Special Sampling Considerations
2.1 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Analysis
Groundwater samples for VOC analysis must be collected in 40 ml glass vials with
Teflon® septa. The vial may be either preserved with concentrated hydrochloric acid or
they may be unpreserved. Preserved samples have a two-week holding time, whereas
unpreserved samples have only a seven-day holding time. In the great majority of cases,
the preserved vials are used to take advantage of the extended holding time. In some
situations, however, it may be necessary to use the unpreserved vials. For example, if the
groundwater has a high amount of dissolved limestone, i.e., is highly calcareous, there
will most likely be an effervescent reaction between the hydrochloric acid and the water,
producing large numbers of fine bubbles. This will render the sample unacceptable. In
this case, unpreserved vials should be used and arrangements must be confirmed with the
laboratory to ensure that they can accept the unpreserved vials and meet the shorter
sample holding times.
The samples should be collected with as little agitation or disturbance as possible. The
vial should be filled so that there is a meniscus at the top of the vial and absolutely no
bubbles or headspace should be present in the vial after it is capped. After the cap is
securely tightened, the vial should be inverted and tapped on the palm of one hand to see
if any undetected bubbles are dislodged. If a bubble or bubbles are present, the vial
should be topped off using a minimal amount of sample to re-establish the meniscus.
Care should be taken not to flush any preservative out of the vial during topping off. If,
after topping off and capping the vial, bubbles are still present, a new vial should be
obtained and the sample re -collected.
Samples for VOC analysis must be collected using either stainless steel or Teflon®
equipment, such as:
• Bailers must be constructed of stainless steel or Teflon®
• RediFlo28 submersible pumps used for sampling should be equipped with Teflon®
sample delivery tubing
• Peristaltic pump/vacuum jug assemblies should be outfitted with Teflon® tubing
from the water column to the transfer cap, which should also be constructed of
Teflon®
2.2 Special Precautions for Trace Contaminant Groundwater Sampling
• A clean pair of new, non -powdered, disposable gloves will be worn each time a
different location is sampled and the gloves should be donned immediately prior to
sampling. The gloves should not come in contact with the media being sampled and
should be changed any time during sample collection when their cleanliness is
compromised.
• Sample containers for samples suspected of containing high concentrations of
contaminants shall be stored separately.
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• Sample collection activities shall proceed progressively from the least suspected
contaminated area to the most suspected contaminated area if sampling devices are to
be reused. Samples of waste or highly contaminated media must not be placed in the
same ice chest as environmental (i.e., containing low contaminant levels) or
background samples.
• If possible, one member of the field sampling team should take all the notes and
photographs, fill out tags, etc., while the other members collect the samples.
• Clean plastic sheeting will be placed on the ground at each sample location to prevent
or minimize contaminating sampling equipment by accidental contact with the ground
surface.
• Samplers must use new, verified certified -clean disposable or non -disposable
equipment cleaned according to procedures contained in SESD Operating Procedure
for Field Equipment Cleaning and Decontamination (SESDPROC-205) or SESD
Operating Procedure for Field Equipment Cleaning and Decontamination at the FEC
(SESDPROC-206) for collection of samples for trace metals or organic compound
analyses.
2.3 Sample Handling and Preservation Requirements
1. Groundwater samples will typically be collected from the discharge line of a pump or
from a bailer, either from the pour stream of an up -turned bailer or from the stream
from a bottom -emptying device. Efforts should be made to reduce the flow from
either the pump discharge line or the bailer during sample collection to minimize
sample agitation.
2. During sample collection, make sure that the pump discharge line or the bailer does
not contact the sample container.
3. Place the sample into appropriate, labeled containers. Samples collected for VOC,
acidity and alkalinity analysis must not have any headspace. All other sample
containers must be filled with an allowance for ullage.
4. All samples requiring preservation must be preserved as soon as practically possible,
ideally immediately at the time of sample collection. If preserved VOC vials are
used, these will be preserved with concentrated hydrochloric acid by ASB personnel
prior to departure for the field investigation. For all other chemical preservatives,
SESD will use the appropriate chemical preservative generally stored in an individual
single -use vial as described in the SESD Operating Procedure for Field Sampling
Quality Control (SESDPROC-011). The adequacy of sample preservation will be
checked after the addition of the preservative for all samples except for the samples
collected for VOC analysis. If additional preservative is needed, it should be added to
achieve adequate preservation. Preservation requirements for groundwater samples
are found in the USEPA Region 4 Analytical Support Branch Laboratory Operations
and Quality Assurance Manual (ASBLOQAM).
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2.4 Quality Control
If possible, a control sample should be collected from a location not affected by the
possible contaminants of concern and submitted with the other samples. This control
sample should be collected as close to the sampled area as possible and from the same
water -bearing formation. Equipment blanks should be collected if equipment is field
cleaned and re -used on-site or if necessary to document that low-level contaminants were
not introduced by pumps, bailers or other sampling equipment.
2.5 Records
Information generated or obtained by SESD personnel will be organized and accounted
for in accordance with SESD records management procedures found in SESD Operating
Procedure for Control of Records, SESDPROC-002. Field notes, recorded in a bound
field logbook, will be generated, as well as chain -of -custody documentation in
accordance with SESD Operating Procedure for Logbooks, SESDPROC-010 and SESD
Procedure for Sample and Evidence Management, SESDPROC-005.
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3 Groundwater Sampling Methods — Purging
3.1 General
Purging is the process of removing stagnant water from a well, immediately prior to
sampling, causing its replacement by groundwater from the adjacent formation that is
representative of actual aquifer conditions. In order to determine when a well has been
adequately purged, field investigators should monitor, at a minimum, the pH, specific
conductance and turbidity of the groundwater removed during purging and, in the case of
permanent monitoring wells, observe and record the volume of water removed.
There are several purging strategies that may be used, depending on specific conditions
encountered for given well sampling situations. When a specific well is characterized,
based on the field investigators experience and knowledge, as having fairly typical water
levels, depths and purge volumes, as determined according to the procedures in Section
3.2.1, below, SESD will normally use the multiple volume purging procedures and
equipment described in Sections 3.2.1 and 3.3 of this procedure for purging the well.
When the traditional multiple volume purge method is considered and it is determined
that excessive quantities of IDW would be generated using this method, it may be
appropriate, under very limited and specific circumstances, to use an alternate method
that reduces the time and amount of purge water to be removed prior to sampling the
well. The field project leader will select the alternate method only after careful
consideration of the conditions presented by the well and the impact these conditions
have on all aspects of the sampling event (time required to sample, quantities of IDW
requiring management, etc.).
The alternate purge procedures or sampling strategies available are the "Tubing -in -
Screened Interval" method and the MicroPurge or No -Purge methods. These are
described and discussed in Sections 3.2.2 and 4.5 of this operating procedure,
respectively.
3.2 Purging Methods and Strategies
3.2.1 Traditional Multiple Volume Purge
3.2.1.1 Purging and Purge Adequacy
3.2.1.1.1 Purge Volume Determination
Prior to initiating the purge, the amount of water standing in the water
column (water inside the well riser and screen) should be determined, if
possible. To do this, the diameter of the well should be determined and
the water level and total depth of the well should be measured and
recorded. Specific methodology for obtaining these measurements is
found in SESD Operating Procedure for Groundwater Level and Well
Depth Measurement (SESDPROC-105).
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Once this information is obtained, the volume of water to be purged can be
determined using one of several methods. One is the equation:
V = 0.041 A
Where: h = depth of water in feet
d = diameter of well in inches
V = volume of water in gallons
Alternatively, the volume of standing water in the well and the volume of
three water columns may be determined using a casing volume per foot
factor for the appropriate diameter well, similar to that in Table 3.2.1. The
water level is subtracted from the total depth, providing the length of the
water column. This length is multiplied by the appropriate factor in the
Table 3.2.1, corresponding to either the single well volume or the triple
well volume, to determine both the single well volume and triple well
volumes, in gallons, for the well in question. Other acceptable methods
include the use of nomographs or other equations or formulae.
TABLE 3.2.1: WELL CASING DIAMETER VOLUME FACTORS
Casing
Diameter (inches)
Gallons/ft,
One Water Column
Gallons/ft,
Three Water Columns
1
0.04
0.12
2
0.16
0.48
3
0.37
1.11
4
0.65
1.98
5
1.02
3.06
6
1.47
4.41
7
1.99
5.97
8
2.61
7.83
9
3.30
9.90
10
4.08
12.24
11
4.93
14.79
12
5.87
17.61
With respect to volume, an adequate purge is normally achieved when
three to five well volumes have been removed. The field notes should
reflect the single well volume calculations or determinations, according to
one of the above methods, and a reference to the appropriate
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multiplication of that volume, i.e., a minimum three well volumes, clearly
identified as a purge volume goal.
3.2.1.1.2 Chemical Parameter Stabilization Criteria
With respect to the ground water chemistry, an adequate purge is achieved
when the pH and specific conductance of the ground water have stabilized
and the turbidity has either stabilized or is below 10 Nephelometric
Turbidity Units (NTUs) (twice the Primary Drinking Water Standard of 5
NTUs). Although 10 NTUs is normally considered the minimum goal for
most ground water sampling objectives, lower turbidity has been shown to
be easily achievable in most situations and reasonable attempts should be
made to achieve these lower levels. (Note: Because groundwater
temperature is subject to rapid changes when collected for parameter
measurement, its usefulness is subject to question for the purpose of
determining parameter stability. As such, it has been removed from the
list of parameters used for stability determination. Even though
temperature is not used to determine stability during well purging, it is still
advisable to record the sample temperature, along with the other
groundwater chemistry parameters during well purging, as it may be
needed to interpret other chemical parameter results in some situations.)
Stabilization occurs when, for at least three consecutive measurements, the
pH remains constant within 0.1 Standard Unit (SU) and specific
conductance varies no more than approximately 5 percent. Other
parameters, such as dissolved oxygen (DO), may also be used as a purge
adequacy parameter. Normal goals for DO are 0.2 mg/L or 10%
saturation, whichever is greater. DO measurements must be conducted
using either a flow-through cell or an over -topping cell to minimize or
reduce any oxygenation of the sample during measurement. Oxidation
Reduction Potential (ORP) should not be used as a purge stabilization
parameter but may be measured during purging to obtain the measurement
of record for ORP for the sampling event.
There are no set criteria for establishing how many total sets of
measurements are adequate to document stability of parameters. If the
calculated purge volume is small, the measurements should be taken
frequently enough to provide a sufficient number of measurements to
evaluate stability. If the purge volume is large, measurements taken every
15 minutes, for example, may be sufficient. See the SESD Operating
Procedures for Field pH Measurement (SESDPROC-100), Field Specific
Conductance Measurement (SESDPROC-101), Field Temperature
Measurement (SESDPROC-102), Field Turbidity Measurement
(SESDPROC-103), Field Measurement of Dissolved Oxygen
(SESDPROC-106) and Field Measurement of Oxidation -Reduction
Potential (SESDPROC-113) for procedures for conducting these
measurements.
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If, after three well volumes have been removed, the chemical parameters
have not stabilized according to the above criteria, additional well
volumes (up to five well volumes), should be removed. If the parameters
have not stabilized within five volumes, it is at the discretion of the project
leader whether or not to collect a sample or to continue purging. If, after
five well volumes, pH and conductivity have stabilized and the turbidity is
still decreasing and approaching an acceptable level, additional purging
should be considered to obtain the best sample possible, with respect to
turbidity. The conditions of sampling should be noted in the field log.
3.2.1.1.3 Purge Adequacy Considerations
In some situations, even with slow purge rates, a well may be pumped or
bailed dry (evacuated). In these situations, this generally constitutes an
adequate purge and the well can be sampled following sufficient recovery
(enough volume to allow filling of all sample containers). It is not
necessary that the well be evacuated three times before it is sampled.
The pH, specific conductance, temperature, and turbidity should be
measured and recorded, during collection of the sample from the
recovered volume, as the measurements of record for the sampling event.
For wells with slow recovery, attempts should be made to avoid purging
them to dryness. This can be accomplished, for example, by slowing the
purge rate. As water enters a well that has been purged to dryness, it may
cascade down the sand pack and/or the well screen, stripping volatile
organic constituents that may be present and/or introducing soil fines into
the water column.
It is particularly important that wells be sampled as soon as possible
after purging. If adequate volume is available immediately upon
completion of purging, the well must be sampled immediately. If not,
sampling should occur as soon as adequate volume has recovered. If
possible, sampling of wells which have a slow recovery should be
scheduled so that they can be purged and sampled in the same day, after
adequate volume has recovered. Wells of this type should, unless it is
unavoidable, not be purged at the end of one day and sampled the
following day.
3.2.2 "Tubing -in -Screened -Interval" Method
The "Tubing -in -Screen" method, sometimes referred to as the "Low Flow"
method, is used primarily when calculated purge volumes for the traditional
purging method are excessive and present issues related to timely completion of
the project and/or management of investigation derived waste.
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3.2.2.1 Purge Criteria
3.2.2.1.1 Placement of Pump Tubing or Intake
The peristaltic pump tubing or intake point of the submersible pump is
placed in the approximate mid-portion of the screened interval of the well.
By definition, this method cannot be applied for purging with a bailer.
3.2.2.1.2 Conditions of Pumping
Prior to initiation of pumping, a properly decontaminated well sounder
should be lowered into the well being sampled to monitor the static water
level prior to and during the purging process. Ideally, there should be only
a slight and stable drawdown of the water column after pumping begins.
If this condition cannot be met, then one of the other methods should be
employed.
3.2.2.1.3 Stability of Chemical Parameters
As with the traditional purging method described in Section 3.2.1, it is
important that all chemical parameters be stable as defined in Section
3.2.1.1 prior to sampling.
3.3 Equipment Considerations for Purging
Monitoring well purging is accomplished by using in-place plumbing and dedicated
pumps or by using portable pumps/equipment when dedicated systems are not present.
The equipment utilized by Branch personnel will usually consist of peristaltic pumps and
variable speed electric submersible pumps, but may also include bladder pumps or
inertial pumps. The pump of choice is usually a function of the well diameter, the depth
to water, the depth of the well and the amount of water that is to be removed during
purging. Whenever the head difference between the sampling location and the water
level is less than the limit of suction and the volume to be removed is reasonably small, a
peristaltic pump should be used for purging. For wells where the water level is below the
limit of suction (approximately 25' to 30', and/or where there is a large volume of water
to be purged), the variable speed electric submersible pump would be the pump of choice.
SESD Operating Procedure for Pump Operation (SESDPROC-203) contains the use and
operating instructions for all pumps commonly used during SESD ground water
investigations.
Bailers may also be used for purging in appropriate situations, however, their use is
discouraged. Bailers tend to disturb any sediment that may be present in the well,
creating or increasing sample turbidity. Bailers, if improperly used, may also strip
volatile organic compounds from the water column being sampled. If a bailer is used, it
should be a closed -top Teflon® bailer.
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3.3.1 Wells Without Plumbing or In -Place Pumps
For permanent monitoring wells, the depth to water (water level) and depth of the well
(total depth) should be determined before purging. Caution should be exercised during
this procedure to prevent cross -contamination between wells. This is a critical concern
when samples for trace organic compounds or metals analyses are collected. See SESD
Operating Procedure for Field Equipment Cleaning and Decontamination (SESDPROC-
205) for cleaning procedures for well sounders. After cleaning, the well sounding device
should be protected to keep it clean until its next use.
3.3.1.1 Purging with Pumps
3.3.1.1.1 Peristaltic Pumps
The following step-by-step procedures describe the process of purging
with a peristaltic pump:
1. Cut a length of standard -cleaned (SESD Operating Procedure for Field
Equipment Cleaning and Decontamination at the FEC (SESDPROC-
206)) Teflon® tubing, equal to the well depth plus an additional five to
ten feet. Enough tubing is needed to run from the ground surface up to
the top of the well casing and back down to the bottom of the well.
This will allow for operation of the pump at all possible water level
conditions in the well.
2. Place one end of the tubing into the vacuum side of the peristaltic
pump head. Proper sizing of the Teflon® and Silastic® or Tygon®
tubing should allow for a snug fit of the Teflon® tubing inside the
flexible tubing mounted in the pump head.
3. Run a short section of tubing (does not have to be Teflon®) from the
discharge side of the pump head to a graduated bucket.
4. Place the free end of the Teflon® tubing into the well until the end of
the tubing is just below the surface of the water column.
5. Secure the Teflon® tubing to the well casing or other secure object
using electrician's tape or other suitable means. This will prevent the
tubing from being lost in the well should the tubing detach from the
pump head.
6. Turn on the pump to produce a vacuum on the well side of the pump
head and begin the purge. Observe pump direction to ensure that a
vacuum is being applied to the purge line. If the purge line is being
pressurized, either switch the tubing at the pump head or reverse the
polarity of the cables on the pump or on the battery.
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7. If the pumping rate exceeds the recovery rate of the well, continue to
lower the tubing into the well, as needed, until the drawdown stabilizes
or the well is evacuated to dryness. If the pump is a variable speed
peristaltic pump, and the water level in the well is being drawn down,
reduce the speed of the pump in an attempt to stabilize the drawdown.
If the well can be purged without evacuating the well to dryness, a
sample with greater integrity can be obtained.
8. For wells which are not evacuated to dryness, particularly those with
recovery rates equal to or very nearly equal to the purge rate, there
may not be a complete exchange and removal of stagnant water in that
portion of the water column above the tubing intake. For this reason,
it is important that the tubing intake be placed in the very uppermost
portion of the water column while purging. Standard field
measurements should frequently be taken during this process to verify
adequacy of the purge and readiness for sampling, as described in
Section 3.
3.3.1.1.2 Submersible Pumps
When a submersible pump is used for well purging, the pump itself is
lowered into the water column. The pump must be cleaned as specified in
SESD Operating Procedure for Field Equipment Cleaning and
Decontamination (SESDPROC-205).
The pump/hose assembly used in purging should be lowered into the top
of the standing water column and not deep into the column. This is done
so that the purging will "pull" water from the formation into the screened
area of the well and up through the casing so that the entire static volume
can be removed. If the pump is placed deep into the water column, the
water above the pump may not be removed, and the subsequent samples,
particularly if collected with a bailer, may not be representative of the
aquifer conditions. It is recommended that the pump not be lowered more
than three to five feet into the water column. If the recovery rate of the
well is faster than the pump rate and no observable draw down occurs, the
pump should be raised until the intake is within one foot of the top of the
water column for the duration of purging. If the pump rate exceeds the
recovery rate of the well, the pump will have to be lowered, as needed, to
accommodate the drawdown. After the pump is removed from the well,
the hose and the pump should be cleaned as outlined in SESD Operating
Procedure for Field Equipment Cleaning and Decontamination
(SESDPROC-205).
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3.3.1.2 Purging with Bailers
Standard -cleaned (SESD Operating Procedure for Field Equipment Cleaning and
Decontamination (SESDPROC-205) or SESD Operating Procedure for Field
Equipment Cleaning and Decontamination at the FEC (SESDPROC-206)), closed
top Teflon® bailers with Teflon® coated stainless steel leaders and new nylon
rope are lowered into the top of the water column, allowed to fill, and removed.
It is critical that bailers be slowly and gently immersed into the top of the water
column, particularly during final stages of purging, to minimize turbidity and
disturbance of volatile organic constituents. The use of bailers for purging and
sampling is discouraged because the correct technique is highly operator
dependent and improper use may result in an unrepresentative sample.
3.3.2 Wells With In -Place Plumbing
Wells with in-place plumbing are commonly found at municipal water treatment
plants, industrial water supplies, private residences, etc. Many permanent
monitoring wells at active facilities are also equipped with dedicated, in-place
pumps. The objective of purging wells with in-place pumps is the same as with
monitoring wells without in-place pumps, i.e., to ultimately collect a ground water
sample representative of aquifer conditions. Among the types of wells identified
in this section, two different approaches are necessary.
A permanent monitoring well with an in-place pump should, in all respects, be
treated like a monitoring well without a pump. One limitation is that in most
cases the in-place pump is "hard" mounted, that is, the pump is suspended in the
well at a pre -selected depth and cannot be moved up or down during purging and
sampling. In these cases, well volumes are calculated, parameters are measured
and the well is sampled from the pump discharge, after volume removal and
parameter conditions have been met.
In the case of the other types of wells, i.e., municipal, industrial and residential
supply wells, however, not enough is generally known about the construction
aspects of the wells to apply the same criteria as used for monitoring wells, i.e., 3
to 5 well volumes. The volume to be purged in these situations, therefore,
depends on several factors: whether the pumps are running continuously or
intermittently and whether or not any storage/pressure tanks are located between
the sampling point and the pump. The following considerations and procedures
should be followed when purging wells with in-place plumbing under the
conditions described.
3.3.2.1 Continuously Running Pumps
If the pump runs more or less continuously, no purge (other than opening a valve
and allowing it to flush for a few minutes) is necessary. If a storage tank is
present, a spigot, valve or other sampling point should be located between the
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pump and the storage tank. If not, locate the valve closest to the tank.
Measurements of pH, specific conductance, temperature, and turbidity are
recorded at the time of sampling.
3.3.2.2 Intermittently or Infrequently Running Pumps
If the pump runs intermittently or infrequently, best judgment should be utilized
to remove enough water from the plumbing to flush standing water from the
piping and any storage tanks that might be present. Generally, under these
conditions, 15 to 30 minutes will be adequate. Measurements of pH, specific
conductance, temperature and turbidity should be made and recorded at intervals
during the purge and the final measurements made at the time of sampling should
be considered the measurements of record for the event.
3.3.3 Temporary Monitoring Wells
3.3.3.1 General Considerations
Procedures used to purge temporary ground water monitoring wells differ from
permanent wells because temporary wells are installed for immediate sample
acquisition. Wells of this type may include standard well screen and riser placed
in boreholes created by hand augering, power augering, or by drilling. They may
also consist of a rigid rod and screen that is pushed, driven, or hammered into
place to the desired sampling interval, such as a direct push Wellpoint®, a
Geoprobe® Screen Point 15/16 sampler or a Hydropunch® sampler. As such, the
efforts to remove several volumes of water to replace stagnant water do not
necessarily apply because stagnant water is not present. It is important to note,
however, that the longer a temporary well is in place and not sampled, the more
stagnant the water column becomes and the more appropriate it becomes to apply,
to the extent possible, standard permanent monitoring well purging criteria to it to
re -achieve aquifer conditions.
In cases where the temporary well is to be sampled immediately after installation,
purging is conducted primarily to mitigate the impacts of installation. In most
cases, temporary well installation procedures disturb the existing aquifer
conditions, resulting primarily in increased turbidity. Therefore, the goal of
purging is to reduce the turbidity and remove the volume of water in the area
directly impacted by the installation procedure. Low turbidity conditions in these
types of wells that are completed within the limit of suction are typically and
routinely achieved by the use of low-flow/low stress purging techniques using
variable speed peristaltic pumps.
3.3.3.2 Purging When Water Level Is Within Limit of Suction
In situations where the elevation of the top of the water column is within the limit
of suction (no greater than about 25 feet head difference between the pump and
the water level), a variable speed peristaltic pump may be used to purge
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temporary wells. Enough tubing is deployed to reach the bottom of the temporary
well screen. At the onset of purging, the tubing is slowly lowered to the bottom
of the screen and is used to remove any formation material which may have
entered the well screen during installation. This is critical to ensuring rapid
achievement of low turbidity conditions. After the formation material is removed
from the bottom of the screen, the tubing is slowly raised through the water
column to near the top of the column. The tubing can be held at this level to
determine if the pump rate is drawing down the water level in the well. If the
water level remains the same, secure the tubing at the surface to maintain this
pumping level.
If drawdown is observed on initiation of pumping, reduce the pump speed and
attempt to match the drawdown of the well. Sustained pumping at these slow
rates will usually result in a relatively clear, low turbidity sample. If the
drawdown stabilizes, maintain that level, however, if it continues to lower,
"chase" the water column until the well is evacuated. In this case, the recovered
water column may be relatively free of turbidity and can be sampled. It may take
several episodes of recovery to provide enough volume for a complete sample.
3.3.3.3 Purging When Water Level Is Greater Than Limit of Suction
In situations where the elevation of the water table is greater than the limit of
suction, peristaltic pumps cannot be used to purge temporary wells. If the
temporary well is a ScreenPointl5® sampler with small diameter probe rod riser,
the only practical choices for water removal are a small diameter bailer, a small
diameter bladder pump or an inertial pump. If the well is to be used strictly for
VOC screening, it may be acceptable to use the bailer to bail as much sediment
from the well as possible prior to sampling. If metals are the analytes of concern,
the bladder pump is the best choice for lowering the turbidity of the water column
prior to sampling, followed next by the inertial pump. For larger diameter
temporary wells, two-inch diameter or greater, bailers and the Grundfos®
RediFlo2 may be used although excessive silt or other "fines" may present
problems with the operation of the pump.
3.3.3.4 Considerations for Direct Push Groundwater Sampling
With many of the direct push sampling techniques, purging is either not practical
or possible, therefore, no purging is conducted. The sampling device is simply
pushed or driven to the desired depth and opened and the sample is collected and
retrieved. As a result, some samples collected in this way may not be satisfactory
or acceptable for certain analyses, i.e., the subject procedure may yield a turbid
sample that is not appropriate for metals analyses.
3.4 Field Care of Purging Equipment
New plastic sheeting should be placed on the ground surface around the well casing to
prevent contamination of the pumps, hoses, ropes, etc., in the event they accidentally
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come into contact with the ground surface or, for some reason, they need to be placed on
the ground during the purging event. It is preferable that hoses used in purging that come
into contact with the ground water be kept on a spool or contained in a large wash tub
lined with plastic sheeting, both during transportation and during field use, to further
minimize contamination by the transporting vehicle or the ground surface.
Careful consideration shall be given to using submersible pumps to purge wells which are
excessively contaminated with oily compounds, because it may be difficult to adequately
decontaminate severely contaminated pumps under field conditions. When wells of this
type are encountered, alternative purging methods, such as bailers, should be considered.
3.5 Investigation Derived Waste
Purging generates quantities of purge water or investigation derived waste (IDW), the
disposition of which must be considered. See SESD Operating Procedure for
Management of Investigation Derived Waste (SESDPROC-202) for guidance on
management or disposal of this waste.
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4 Groundwater Sampling Methods — Sampling
4.1 General
Sampling is the process of obtaining, containerizing, and preserving (if required) a
ground water sample after the purging process is complete. Non -dedicated pumps for
sample collection generally should not be used. Many pumps are made of materials such
as brass, plastic, rubber, or other elastomeric products which may cause chemical
interferences with the sample. Their principle of operation may also render them
unacceptable as a sample collection device. It is recognized that there are situations, such
as industrial or municipal supply wells or private residential wells, where a well may be
equipped with a dedicated pump from which a sample would not normally be collected.
Discretion should always be used in obtaining a sample.
4.2 Sampling Wells With In -Place Plumbing
Samples should be collected following purging from a valve or cold water tap as near to
the well as possible, preferably prior to any storage/pressure tanks or physical/chemical
treatment system that might be present. Remove any hose that may be present before
sample collection and reduce the flow to a low level to minimize sample disturbance,
particularly with respect to volatile organic constituents. Samples should be collected
directly into the appropriate containers as specified in the ASBLOQAM. It may be
necessary to use a secondary container, such as a clean 8 oz. or similar size sample jar or
a stainless steel scoop, to obtain and transfer samples from spigots with low ground
clearance. Also, refer to the discussion in the SESD Operating Procedure for Potable
Water Supply Sampling (SESDPROC-305), Sec. 4.2, Potable Water Samples Collected
from Wells with In -Place Plumbing. Potable well measurements for pH, specific
conductance and turbidity and possibly temperature, if warranted, should be recorded at
the time of sample collection.
4.3 Sampling Wells Without Plumbing, Within the Limit of Suction
4.3.1 Equipment Available
The pump of choice for sampling ground water within the limit of suction is the variable -
speed peristaltic pump. Its use is described in the following sections. Other acceptable
alternatives that may be used under these conditions are the RediFlo28 electric
submersible pump (with Teflon® tubing) and a closed -top Teflon® bailer.
4.3.1.1 Peristaltic Pump, Direct from Pump Head Tubing
Samples for some constituents, primarily inorganic analytes such as metals and
cyanide, may be collected directly from the pump head tubing. This method is
acceptable under the following conditions:
• The pump head tubing must be changed between sampling locations;
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• The pump head tubing must be either be certified clean according to
SESD's internal quality control program described in Section 3.2 of the
SESD Operating Procedure for Field Sampling Quality Control
(SESDPROC-011) or
• An equipment rinsate blank is collected by pumping de -ionized water
through a piece of the tubing.
4.3.1.2 Peristaltic Pump/Vacuum jug
It is not acceptable to collect samples for organic compound analyses through the
flexible tubing used in the pump head. When collecting samples for organic
compound analyses it is necessary to use a vacuum container, placed between the
pump and the well for sample collection. The following step-by-step procedures
describe the process of sampling with a peristaltic pump and vacuum jug (see note
following these procedures for collection of VOC samples):
1. Disconnect the purge tubing from the pump. Make sure the tubing is securely
attached to the protective casing or other secure object.
2. Insert the tubing into one of the ferrule nut fittings of a Teflon® vacuum
container transfer cap assembly.
3. Place a suitable length of Teflon® tubing between the remaining transfer cap
assembly ferrule nut fitting and the vacuum side of the flexible tubing in the
peristaltic pump head. Securely hand -tighten both fittings.
4. Turn the pump on. Water should begin to collect in the transfer container
(typically a 1 -liter sample container) within a few minutes. If water does not
begin to flow into the container within several minutes, check the transfer cap
fittings and make sure the assembly is tightly attached to the container. It may
be necessary to tighten the ferrule nuts with a wrench or pliers to achieve a
vacuum in the system, particularly when approaching the maximum head
difference between the pump and water table (limit of suction).
5. When the transfer container is nearly full, turn off the pump, remove the
transfer cap assembly, and pour the sample into the appropriate containers.
Because the 1 -liter containers used by the Branch are rinsed with nitric acid
during cleaning, they cannot be used for collecting samples to be analyzed for
nitrogen sensitive parameters.
6. If additional sample volume is needed, replace the transfer cap assembly, turn
the pump on, and collect additional volume. The use of Teflon® valves or
ball check devices to retain the water column in the sample delivery tubing
during the transfer phase, when large volumes of sample are required, is
acceptable. These devices, however, must be constructed so that they may be
completely disassembled and cleaned according to the procedures in SESD
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Operating Procedure for Field Equipment Cleaning and Decontamination
(SESDPROC-205).
7. When sampling is completed, all Teflon® tubing should be discarded.
NOTE: Samples for volatile organic compound analyses cannot be collected
using this method. If samples for VOC analyses are required, they must be
collected with a Teflon® or stainless steel bailer or by other approved
methods, such as the "soda straw" method. The "soda straw" method involves
allowing the tubing to fill, by either lowering it into the water column (A) or
by filling it via suction applied by the pump head (B). If method (A) is used,
the tubing is removed from the well after filling and the captured sample is
allowed to drain into the sample vial. If method (B) is used, after running the
pump and filling the tubing with sample, the pump speed is reduced and the
direction reversed to push the sample out of the tubing into the vials. Avoid
completely emptying the tubing when filling the sample vials when using
method (B) to prevent introducing water that was in contact with the flexible
pump head tubing. Either method is repeated, as necessary, until all vials are
filled.
4.3.1.3 RediFlo2® Electric Submersible Pump (with Teflon® Tubing)
After purging has been accomplished with RediFlo29 electric submersible pump,
the sample may be obtained directly from the pump discharge, provided that
Teflon® tubing was used for the sample delivery line. The discharge rate of the
pump should be reduced during volatile organic compound sample collection to
minimize sample disturbance. Note, if the RediFlo29 electric submersible pump
is used for sampling, the pump must undergo a full external and internal cleaning.
In addition, pump rinsate blanks must be collected, at the appropriate frequency,
to demonstrate that the pump has been adequately cleaned between wells.
4.3.1.4 Bailers
New bailer rope should be attached to the bailer via a Teflon® coated stainless
steel wire. (If a bailer was used to purge the well, it may also be used to sample
the well and new bailer rope is not required between purging and sampling). The
bailer should be gently immersed in the top of the water column until just filled.
At this point, the bailer should be slowly removed and the contents emptied into
the appropriate sample containers.
4.4 Sampling Wells without Plumbing, Exceeding the Limit of Suction
All methods described previously in Section 4.3.2.1.3, RediFlo29 Electric Submersible
Pumps, and Section 4.3.2.1.4, Bailers, are suitable sample methods where the water table
is too deep to consider the use of a peristaltic pump for sampling.
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4.5 Micro -Purge or No Purge Sampling Procedures
The Micro -Purge or No Purge sampling procedures are usually employed when it
necessary to keep purge volumes to an absolute minimum. Among the Micro -Purge or
No Purge procedures that might be employed are:
• Low pump rate sampling with peristaltic or submersible pumps (typical Micro -Purge
sampling),
• HydraSleeveTM or
• Passive diffusion bag (PDB) sampling
The use of these procedures is acceptable only when the site hydrogeology is well
understood, with respect to the hydraulic conductivity of geologic materials within the
well screen interval. The underlying assumption, when employing these procedures, is
that the formation in which the well is screened has a high hydraulic conductivity (K>10-5
cm/sec, for example), resulting in a state of equilibrium existing between the water
standing in the screened interval and the formation water in which the well is screened.
In this situation, the well is considered to be in a perpetually "purged" state and purging
is not required.
These procedures are generally impractical for SESD to implement because of the
general lack of hydrogeologic information for the sampled wells and the real necessity, in
some cases, that the pumps be pre -deployed to overcome issues related to turbidity
resulting from pump placement prior to sampling.
4.5.1 Sampling with Pumps
The peristaltic pump tubing or intake point of the submersible pump is placed in the
approximate mid-portion of the screened interval of the well or other interval selected by
the field team leader. If turbidity and its impact on metals analyses are a concern, a
period of time sufficient should be allowed to mitigate effects of pump or tubing
placement. After it has been determined that sampling may proceed, the pump is turned
on and operated at a rate that does not cause significant drawdown of the water column,
as measured using a water level sounder. During sampling, sufficient water to supply
enough volume for the analytes of concern and the purge parameters is pumped. Purging
should continue until purge parameters stabilize, generally three consecutive stable sets
of readings, before samples are collected.
4.5.2 HydraSleevesTM
HydraSleeevesTM are grab sampling devices that are deployed in a closed configuration
then opened in the desired interval for sample collection. The following is a summary of
its operation:
1. Sampler placement - Reusable weight is attached and the HydraSleeveTM is lowered
and placed at the desired position in the well screen. In-situ water pressure keeps the
reed valve closed, preventing water from entering the sampler. Well is allowed to
return to equilibrium.
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2. Sample collection - The reed valve opens to allow filling when the sampler is moved
upward faster than 1 foot per second, either in one continuous upward pull or by
cycling the sampler up and down to sample a shorter interval. There is no change in
water level, and only minimal agitation during collection.
3. Sample retrieval - When the flexible sleeve is full, the reed valve closes and the
sampler can be recovered without entry of extraneous overlying fluids. Samples are
removed by puncturing the sleeve with the pointed discharge tube and draining the
contents into containers for sampling or field measurement.
4.5.3 Passive Diffusion Bags
Passive diffusion bag (PDB) samplers are bags comprised of low-density polyethylene
(LDPE) plastic and containing analyte -free water, preferably with no headspace. The
bags are deployed, with stainless steel weights, to the desired sample interval and are
allowed to equilibrate with the water at the point of deployment in the well. A
deployment period of a minimum of 14 days is recommended to ensure equilibration
prior to removal.
After 14 days, the bags and opened with a puncture device or other cutting implement
and the contents transferred to containers for sampling or field measurement.
4.5.4 General Considerations for Micro -Purge or No -Purge Sampling
When using the Micro -Purge method, it may be advisable to deploy the tubing or pump
in advance of sample collection. Introducing the tubing or pump into the screened
interval is likely to dislodge sediment and other fines that have settled or bridged on the
well screen material and the gravel pack media behind the screen. If sampling is
conducted immediately, turbidity issues may render this method impractical from a
parameter stability standpoint.
HydraSleevesTM and PDBs must be evaluated for appropriateness for analytes of
concern.
4.6 Sample Preservation
After sample collection, all samples requiring preservation must be preserved as soon as
practical. Consult the ASBLOQAM for the correct preservative for the particular
analytes of interest. All samples preserved using a pH adjustment (except VOCs) must
be checked, using pH strips, to ensure that they were adequately preserved. This is done
by pouring a small volume of sample over the strip. Do not place the strip in the sample.
Samples requiring reduced temperature storage should be placed on ice immediately.
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4.7 Special Sample Collection Procedures
4.7.1 Trace Organic Compounds and Metals
Special sample handling procedures should be instituted when trace contaminant samples
are being collected. All sampling equipment, including pumps, bailers, water level
measurement equipment, etc., which comes into contact with the water in the well must
be cleaned in accordance with the cleaning procedures described in the SESD Operating
Procedure for Field Equipment Cleaning and Decontamination (SESDPROC-205) or
SESD Operating Procedure for Field Equipment Cleaning and Decontamination at the
FEC (SESDPROC-206). Pumps should not be used for sampling unless the interior and
exterior portions of the pump and the discharge hoses are thoroughly cleaned. Blank
samples should be collected to determine the adequacy of cleaning prior to collection of
any sample using a pump other than a peristaltic pump.
4.7.2 Order of Sampling with Respect to Analytes
In many situations when sampling permanent or temporary monitoring wells, an adequate
purge, with respect to turbidity, is often difficult to achieve. Removal and insertion of
equipment after the purge and prior to actual sampling may negate the low turbidities
achieved during purging and elevate turbidity back to unacceptable levels. For this
reason, it is important that special efforts be used to minimize any disturbance of the
water column after purging and to collect the aliquot for metals first. Therefore, the
preferred order of sampling is metals first, followed by other inorganic analytes,
extractable organic compounds and volatile organic compounds.
4.7.3 Filtering
As a standard practice, ground water samples will not be filtered for routine analysis.
Filtering will usually only be performed to determine the fraction of major ions and trace
metals passing the filter and used for flow system analysis and for the purpose of
geochemical speciation modeling. Filtration is not allowed to correct for improperly
designed or constructed monitoring wells, inappropriate sampling methods, or poor
sampling technique.
When samples are collected for routine analyses and are filtered, both filtered and non -
filtered samples will be submitted for analyses. Samples for organic compounds analysis
should not be filtered. Prior to filtration of the ground water sample for any reason other
than geochemical speciation modeling, the following criteria must be demonstrated to
justify the use of filtered samples for inorganic analysis:
1. The monitoring wells, whether temporary or permanent, have been constructed and
developed in accordance with the SESD Guidance Document, Design and
Installation of Monitoring Wells (SESDGUID-001).
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2. The ground water samples were collected using sampling techniques in accordance
with this section, and the ground water samples were analyzed in accordance with
USEPA approved methods.
3. Efforts have been undertaken to minimize any persistent sample turbidity problems.
These efforts may consist of the following:
• Redevelopment or re -installation of permanent ground water
monitoring wells.
• Implementation of low flow/low stress purging and sampling
techniques.
4. Turbidity measurements should be taken during purging and sampling to
demonstrate stabilization or lack thereof. These measurements should be
documented in the field notes. If the ground water sample appears to have either a
chemically -induced elevated turbidity, such as would occur with precipitate
formation, or a naturally elevated colloid or fine, particulate -related turbidity,
filtration will not be allowed.
If filtration is necessary for purposes of geochemical modeling or other pre -approved
cases, the following procedures are suggested:
1. Accomplish in-line filtration through the use of disposable, high capacity filter
cartridges (barrel -type) or membrane filters in an in-line filter apparatus. The high
capacity, barrel -type filter is preferred due to the higher surface area associated with
this configuration. If a membrane filter is utilized, a minimum diameter of 142 mm
is suggested.
2. Use a 5 µm pore -size filter for the purpose of determining the colloidal constituent
concentrations. A 0.1 µm pore -size filter should be used to remove most non -
dissolved particles.
3. Rinse the cartridge or barrel -type filter with 500 milliliters of the solute
(groundwater to be sampled) prior to collection of sample. If a membrane filter is
used, rinse with 100 milliliters of solute prior to sample collection.
Potential differences could result from variations in filtration procedures used to process
water samples for the determination of trace element concentrations. A number of factors
associated with filtration can substantially alter "dissolved" trace element concentrations;
these include filter pore size, filter type, filter diameter, filtration method, volume of
sample processed, suspended sediment concentration, suspended sediment grain -size
distribution, concentration of colloids and colloidally-associated trace elements, and
concentration of organic matter. Therefore, consistency is critical in the comparison of
short-term and long-term results. Further guidance on filtration may be obtained from the
following: 1) Metals in Ground Water: Sampling Artifacts and Reproducibility; 2)
Filtration of Ground Water Samples for Metals Anal; and 3) Ground Water Sampling
- A Workshop Summary. See Section 1.4, References, for complete citation for these
documents.
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Bacterial Sampling
Whenever wells (normally potable wells) are sampled for bacteriological parameters,
care must be taken to ensure the sterility of all sampling equipment and all other
equipment entering the well. Further information regarding bacteriological sampling is
available in the following: 1) Sampling for Organic Chemicals and Microorganisms in
the Subsurface; 2) Handbook for Evaluating Water Bacteriological Laboratories; and 3)
Microbiological Methods for Monitoring the Environment, Water and Wastes. See
Section 1.4, References, for complete citation for these documents.
4.8 Specific Sampling Equipment Quality Assurance Techniques
All equipment used to collect ground water samples shall be cleaned as outlined in the
SESD Operating Procedure for Field Equipment Cleaning and Decontamination
(SESDPROC-205) or SESD Operating Procedure for Field Equipment Cleaning and
Decontamination at the FEC (SESDPROC-206) and repaired, if necessary, before being
stored at the conclusion of field studies. Cleaning procedures utilized in the field or field
repairs shall be thoroughly documented in field records.
4.9 Auxiliary Data Collection
During ground water sample collection, it is important to record a variety of ground water
related data. Included in the category of auxiliary data are water levels measured
according to the SESD Operating Procedure for Groundwater Level and Well Depth
Measurement (SESDPROC-105), well volume determinations (Section 3.1.1, Purging
and Purge Adequacy), pumping rates during purging (see below), and occasionally,
drillers or boring logs. This information should be documented in the field records.
4.9.1 Well Pumping Rate — Bucket/Stop Watch Method
The pumping rate for a pump can be determined by collecting the discharge from the
pump in a bucket of known volume and timing how long it takes to fill the bucket. The
pumping rate should be in gallons per minute. This method shall be used primarily with
pumps with a constant pump rate, such as gasoline -powered or electric submersible
pumps. Care should be taken when using this method with some battery -powered pumps.
As the batteries' charge decreases, the pump rate also decreases so that pumping rate
calculations using initial, high pump rates may be erroneously high. If this method is
used with battery -powered pumps, the rate should be re -checked frequently to ensure
accuracy of the pumping rate calculations.
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Solid Waste Section
Guidelines for Groundwater, Soil, and Surface
Water Sampling
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT
SOLID WASTE SECTION
General Sampling Procedures
The following guidance is provided to insure a consistent sampling approach so that sample
collection activities at solid waste management facilities provide reliable data. Sampling must
begin with an evaluation of facility information, historical environmental data and site geologic
and hydrogeologic conditions. General sampling procedures are described in this document.
Planning
Begin sampling activities with planning and coordination. The party contracting with the
laboratory is responsible for effectively communicating reporting requirements and evaluating
data reliability as it relates to specific monitoring activities.
Sample Collection
Contamination Prevention
a.) Take special effort to prevent cross contamination or environmental contamination
when collecting samples.
1. If possible, collect samples from the least contaminated sampling location
(or background sampling location, if applicable) to the most contaminated
sampling location.
2. Collect the ambient or background samples first, and store them in
separate ice chests or separate shipping containers within the same ice
chest (e.g. untreated plastic bags).
3. Collect samples in flowing water at designated locations from upstream to
downstream.
b.) Do not store or ship highly contaminated samples (concentrated wastes, free product,
etc.) or samples suspect of containing high concentrations of contaminants in the
same ice chest or shipping containers with other environmental samples.
1. Isolate these sample containers by sealing them in separate, untreated
plastic bags immediately after collecting, preserving, labeling, etc.
2. Use a clean, untreated plastic bag to line the ice chest or shipping
container.
c.) All sampling equipment should be thoroughly decontaminated and transported in a
manner that does not allow it to become contaminated. Arrangements should be
made ahead of time to decontaminate any sampling or measuring equipment that will
be reused when taking samples from more than one well. Field decontamination of
Rev 4-08

sampling equipment will be necessary before sampling each well to minimize the risk
of cross contamination. Decontamination procedures should be included in reports as
necessary. Certified pre -cleaned sampling equipment and containers may be used.
When collecting aqueous samples, rinse the sample collection equipment with a
portion of the sample water before taking the actual sample. Sample containers do not
need to be rinsed. In the case of petroleum hydrocarbons, oil and grease, or
containers with pre -measured preservatives, the sample containers cannot be rinsed.
d.) Place all fuel -powered equipment away from, and downwind of, any site activities
(e.g., purging, sampling, decontamination).
1. If field conditions preclude such placement (i.e., the wind is from the
upstream direction in a boat), place the fuel source(s) as far away as
possible from the sampling activities and describe the conditions in the
field notes.
2. Handle fuel (i.e., filling vehicles and equipment) prior to the sampling
day. If such activities must be performed during sampling, the personnel
must wear disposable gloves.
3. Dispense all fuels downwind. Dispose of gloves well away from the
sampling activities.
Filling Out Sample Labels
Fill out label, adhere to vial and collect sample. Print legibly with indelible ink. At a
minimum, the label or tag should identify the sample with the following information:
1. Sample location and/or well number
2. Sample identification number
3. Date and time of collection
4. Analysis required/requested
5. Sampler's initials
6. Preservative(s) used, if any [i.e., HCl, Na2S203, NO3, ice, etc.]
7. Any other pertinent information for sample identification
Sample Collection Order
Unless field conditions justify other sampling regimens, collect samples in the following
order:
1. Volatile Organics and Volatile Inorganics
2. Extractable Organics, Petroleum Hydrocarbons, Aggregate Organics and
Oil and Grease
3. Total Metals
4. Inorganic Nonmetallics, Physical and Aggregate Properties, and
Biologicals
5. Microbiological
NOTE: If the pump used to collect groundwater samples cannot be used to collect volatile or
extractable organics then collect all other parameters and withdraw the pump and tubing. Then
collect the volatile and extractable organics.
Rev 4-08

Health and Safety
Implement all local, state, and federal requirements relating to health and safety. Follow all
local, state and federal requirements pertaining to the storage and disposal of any hazardous or
investigation derived wastes.
a.) The Solid Waste Section recommends wearing protective gloves when conducting all
sampling activities.
1. Gloves serve to protect the sample collector from potential exposure to sample
constituents, minimize accidental contamination of samples by the collector,
and preserve accurate tare weights on preweighed sample containers.
2. Do not let gloves come into contact with the sample or with the interior or lip
of the sample container. Use clean, new, unpowdered and disposable gloves.
Various types of gloves may be used as long as the construction materials do
not contaminate the sample or if internal safety protocols require greater
protection.
3. Note that certain materials that may potentially be present in concentrated
effluent can pass through certain glove types and be absorbed in the skin.
Many vendor catalogs provide information about the permeability of different
gloves and the circumstances under which the glove material might be
applicable. The powder in powdered gloves can contribute significant
contamination. Powdered gloves are not recommended unless it can be
demonstrated that the powder does not interfere with the sample analysis.
4. Change gloves after preliminary activities, after collecting all the samples at a
single sampling point, if torn or used to handle extremely dirty or highly
contaminated surfaces. Properly dispose of all used gloves as investigation
derived wastes.
b.) Properly manage all investigation derived waste (IDW).
5. To prevent contamination into previously uncontaminated areas, properly
manage all IDW. This includes all water, soil, drilling mud, decontamination
wastes, discarded personal protective equipment (PPE), etc. from site
investigations, exploratory borings, piezometer and monitoring well
installation, refurbishment, abandonment, and other investigative activities.
Manage all IDW that is determined to be RCRA-regulated hazardous waste
according to the local, state and federal requirements.
6. Properly dispose of IDW that is not a RCRA-regulated hazardous waste but is
contaminated above the Department's Soil Cleanup Target Levels or the state
standards and/or minimum criteria for ground water quality. If the drill
cuttings/mud orpurged well water is contaminated with hazardous waste,
contact the DWM Hazardous Waste Section (919-508-8400) for disposal
options. Maintain all containers holding IDW in good condition. Periodically
inspect the containers for damage and ensure that all required labeling (DOT,
RCRA, etc.) are clearly visible.
Rev 4-08

Sample Storage and Transport
Store samples for transport carefully. Pack samples to prevent from breaking and to maintain a
temperature of approximately 4 degrees Celsius (°C), adding ice if necessary. Transport samples
to a North Carolina -certified laboratory as soon as possible. Avoid unnecessary handling of
sample containers. Avoid heating (room temperature or above, including exposure to sunlight)
or freezing of the sample containers. Reduce the time between sample collection and delivery to
a laboratory whenever possible and be sure that the analytical holding times of your samples can
be met by the laboratory.
a.) A complete chain -of -custody (COC) form must be maintained to document all
transfers and receipts of the samples. Be sure that the sample containers are labeled
with the sample location and/or well number, sample identification, the date and time
of collection, the analysis to be performed, the preservative added (if any), the
sampler's initials, and any other pertinent information for sample identification. The
labels should contain a unique identifier (i.e., unique well numbers) that can be traced
to the COC form. The details of sample collection must be documented on the COC.
The COC must include the following:
1. Description of each sample (including QA/QC samples) and the number of
containers (sample location and identification)
2. Signature of the sampler
3. Date and time of sample collection
4. Analytical method to be performed
5. Sample type (i.e., water or soil)
6. Regulatory agency (i.e., NCDENR/DWM — SW Section)
7. Signatures of all persons relinquishing and receiving custody of the
samples
8. Dates and times of custody transfers
b.) Pack samples so that they are segregated by site, sampling location or by sample
analysis type. When COC samples are involved, segregate samples in coolers by site.
If samples from multiple sites will fit in one cooler, they may be packed in the same
cooler with the associated field sheets and a single COC form for all. Coolers should
not exceed a maximum weight of 50 lbs. Use additional coolers as necessary. All
sample containers should be placed in plastic bags (segregated by analysis and
location) and completely surrounded by ice.
1. Prepare and place trip blanks in an ice filled cooler before leaving for the
field.
2. Segregate samples by analysis and place in sealable plastic bags.
3. Pack samples carefully in the cooler placing ice around the samples.
4. Review the COC. The COC form must accompany the samples to the
laboratory. The trip blank(s) must also be recorded on the COC form.
5. Place completed COC form in a waterproof bag, sealed and taped under
the lid of the cooler.
6. Secure shipping containers with strapping tape to avoid accidental
opening.
7. For COC samples, a tamper -proof seal may also be placed over the cooler
lid or over a bag or container containing the samples inside the shipping
cooler.
Rev 4-08 4

8. "COC" or "EMERG" should be written in indelible ink on the cooler seal
to alert sample receipt technicians to priority or special handling samples.
9. The date and sample handler's signature must also be written on the COC
seal.
10. Deliver the samples to the laboratory or ship by commercial courier.
NOTE: If transport time to the laboratory is not long enough to allow
samples to be cooled to 4° C, a temperature reading of the sample source
must be documented as the field temperature on the CDC form. A
downward trend in temperature will be adequate even if cooling to 4° C is
not achieved. The field temperature should always be documented if there
is any question as to whether samples will have time to cool to 4° C during
shipment. Thermometers must be calibrated annually against an NIST
traceable thermometer and documentation must be retained.
Rev 4-08 5

Appendix A - Decontamination of Field Equipment
Decontamination of personnel, sampling equipment, and containers - before and after
sampling - must be used to ensure collection of representative samples and to prevent the
potential spread of contamination. Decontamination of personnel prevents ingestion and
absorption of contaminants. It must be done with a soap and water wash and deionized or
distilled water rinse. Certified pre -cleaned sampling equipment and containers may also be used.
All previously used sampling equipment must be properly decontaminated before sampling and
between sampling locations. This prevents the introduction of contamination into
uncontaminated samples and avoids cross -contamination of samples. Cross -contamination can
be a significant problem when attempting to characterize extremely low concentrations of
organic compounds or when working with soils that are highly contaminated.
Clean, solvent -resistant gloves and appropriate protective equipment must be worn by
persons decontaminating tools and equipment.
Cleaning Reagents
Recommendations for the types and grades of various cleaning supplies are outlined below.
The recommended reagent types or grades were selected to ensure that the cleaned equipment is
free from any detectable contamination.
a.) Detergents: Use Liqui-Nox (or a non -phosphate equivalent) or Alconox (or
equivalent). Liqui-Nox (or equivalent) is recommended by EPA, although Alconox
(or equivalent) may be substituted if the sampling equipment will not be used to
collect phosphorus or phosphorus containing compounds.
b.) Solvents: Use pesticide grade isopropanol as the rinse solvent in routine equipment
cleaning procedures. This grade of alcohol must be purchased from a laboratory
supply vendor. Rubbing alcohol or other commonly available sources of isopropanol
are not acceptable. Other solvents, such as acetone or methanol, may be used as the
final rinse solvent if they are pesticide grade. However, methanol is more toxic to the
environment and acetone may be an analyte of interest for volatile organics.
1. Do not use acetone if volatile organics are of interest
2. Containerize all methanol wastes (including rinses) and dispose as a
hazardous waste.
Pre -clean equipment that is heavily contaminated with organic analytes. Use reagent
grade acetone and hexane or other suitable solvents. Use pesticide grade methylene
chloride when cleaning sample containers. Store all solvents away from potential
sources of contamination.
c.) Analyte -Free Water Sources: Analyte -free water is water in which all analytes of
interest and all interferences are below method detection limits. Maintain
documentation (such as results from equipment blanks) to demonstrate the reliability
and purity of analyte -free water source(s). The source of the water must meet the
requirements of the analytical method and must be free from the analytes of interest.
In general, the following water types are associated with specific analyte groups:
1. Milli -Q (or equivalent polished water): suitable for all analyses.
Rev 4-08

2. Organic free: suitable for volatile and extractable organics.
3. Deionized water: may not be suitable for volatile and extractable
organics.
4. Distilled water: not suitable for volatile and extractable organics, metals
or ultratrace metals.
Use analyte -free water for blank preparation and the final decontamination water
rinse. In order to minimize long-term storage and potential leaching problems, obtain
or purchase analyte -free water just prior to the sampling event. If obtained from a
source (such as a laboratory), fill the transport containers and use the contents for a
single sampling event. Empty the transport container(s) at the end of the sampling
event. Discard any analyte -free water that is transferred to a dispensing container
(such as a wash bottle or pump sprayer) at the end of each sampling day.
d.) Acids:
1. Reagent Grade Nitric Acid: 10 - 15% (one volume concentrated nitric acid
and five volumes deionized water). Use for the acid rinse unless nitrogen
components (e.g., nitrate, nitrite, etc.) are to be sampled. If sampling for
ultra -trace levels of metals, use an ultra -pure grade acid.
2. Reagent Grade Hydrochloric Acid: 10% hydrochloric acid (one volume
concentrated hydrochloric and three volumes deionized water). Use when
nitrogen components are to be sampled.
3. If samples for both metals and the nitrogen -containing components are
collected with the equipment, use the hydrochloric acid rinse, or
thoroughly rinse with hydrochloric acid after a nitric acid rinse. If
sampling for ultra trace levels of metals, use an ultra -pure grade acid.
4. Freshly prepared acid solutions may be recycled during the sampling event
or cleaning process. Dispose of any unused acids according to local
ordinances.
Reagent Storage Containers
The contents of all containers must be clearly marked.
a.) Detergents:
1. Store in the original container or in a HDPE or PP container.
b.) Solvents:
1. Store solvents to be used for cleaning or decontamination in the original
container until use in the field. If transferred to another container for field
use, use either a glass or Teflon container.
2. Use dispensing containers constructed of glass, Teflon or stainless steel.
Note: If stainless steel sprayers are used, any gaskets that contact the
solvents must be constructed of inert materials.
c.) Analyte -Free Water:
1. Transport in containers appropriate for the type of water stored. If the
water is commercially purchased (e.g., grocery store), use the original
containers when transporting the water to the field. Containers made of
glass, Teflon, polypropylene or HDPE are acceptable.
2. Use glass or Teflon to transport organic -free sources of water on-site.
Polypropylene or HDPE may be used, but are not recommended.
Rev 4-08

3. Dispense water from containers made of glass, Teflon, HDPE or
polypropylene.
4. Do not store water in transport containers for more than three days before
beginning a sampling event.
5. If working on a project that has oversight from EPA Region 4, use glass
containers for the transport and storage of all water.
6. Store and dispense acids using containers made of glass, Teflon or plastic.
General Requirements
a.) Prior to use, clean/decontaminate all sampling equipment (pumps, tubing, lanyards,
split spoons, etc.) that will be exposed to the sample.
b.) Before installing, clean (or obtain as certified pre -cleaned) all equipment that is
dedicated to a single sampling point and remains in contact with the sample medium
(e.g., permanently installed groundwater pump). If you use certified pre -cleaned
equipment no cleaning is necessary.
1. Clean this equipment any time it is removed for maintenance or repair.
2. Replace dedicated tubing if discolored or damaged.
c.) Clean all equipment in a designated area having a controlled environment (house,
laboratory, or base of field operations) and transport it to the field, pre -cleaned and
ready to use, unless otherwise justified.
d.) Rinse all equipment with water after use, even if it is to be field -cleaned for other
sites. Rinse equipment used at contaminated sites or used to collect in -process (e.g.,
untreated or partially treated wastewater) samples immediately with water.
e.) Whenever possible, transport sufficient clean equipment to the field so that an entire
sampling event can be conducted without the need for cleaning equipment in the
field.
f.) Segregate equipment that is only used once (i.e., not cleaned in the field) from clean
equipment and return to the in-house cleaning facility to be cleaned in a controlled
environment.
g.) Protect decontaminated field equipment from environmental contamination by
securely wrapping and sealing with one of the following:
1. Aluminum foil (commercial grade is acceptable)
2. Untreated butcher paper
3. Clean, untreated, disposable plastic bags. Plastic bags may be used for all
analyte groups except volatile and extractable organics. Plastic bags may
be used for volatile and extractable organics, if the equipment is first
wrapped in foil or butcher paper, or if the equipment is completely dry.
Cleaning Sample Collection Equipment
a.) On-Site/In-Field Cleaning — Cleaning equipment on-site is not recommended because
environmental conditions cannot be controlled and wastes (solvents and acids) must
be containerized for proper disposal.
1. Ambient temperature water may be substituted in the hot, sudsy water bath
and hot water rinses.
NOTE: Properly dispose of all solvents and acids.
Rev 4-08

2. Rinse all equipment with water after use, even if it is to be field -cleaned
for other sites.
3. Immediately rinse equipment used at contaminated sites or used to collect
in -process (e.g., untreated or partially treated wastewater) samples with
water.
b.) Heavily Contaminated Equipment - In order to avoid contaminating other samples,
isolate heavily contaminated equipment from other equipment and thoroughly
decontaminate the equipment before further use. Equipment is considered heavily
contaminated if it:
1. Has been used to collect samples from a source known to contain
significantly higher levels than background.
2. Has been used to collect free product.
3. Has been used to collect industrial products (e.g., pesticides or solvents) or
their byproducts.
NOTE: Cleaning heavily contaminated equipment in the field is not recommended.
c.) On -Site Procedures:
1. Protect all other equipment, personnel and samples from exposure by
isolating the equipment immediately after use.
2. At a minimum, place the equipment in a tightly sealed, untreated, plastic
bag.
3. Do not store or ship the contaminated equipment next to clean,
decontaminated equipment, unused sample containers, or filled sample
containers.
4. Transport the equipment back to the base of operations for thorough
decontamination.
5. If cleaning must occur in the field, document the effectiveness of the
procedure, collect and analyze blanks on the cleaned equipment.
d.) Cleaning Procedures:
1. If organic contamination cannot be readily removed with scrubbing and a
detergent solution, pre -rinse equipment by thoroughly rinsing or soaking
the equipment in acetone.
2. Use hexane only if preceded and followed by acetone.
3. In extreme cases, it may be necessary to steam clean the field equipment
before proceeding with routine cleaning procedures.
4. After the solvent rinses (and/or steam cleaning), use the appropriate
cleaning procedure. Scrub, rather than soak, all equipment with sudsy
water. If high levels of metals are suspected and the equipment cannot be
cleaned without acid rinsing, soak the equipment in the appropriate acid.
Since stainless steel equipment should not be exposed to acid rinses, do
not use stainless steel equipment when heavy metal contamination is
suspected or present.
5. If the field equipment cannot be cleaned utilizing these procedures,
discard unless further cleaning with stronger solvents and/or oxidizing
solutions is effective as evidenced by visual observation and blanks.
6. Clearly mark or disable all discarded equipment to discourage use.
Rev 4-08

e.) General Cleaning - Follow these procedures when cleaning equipment under
controlled conditions. Check manufacturer's instructions for cleaning restrictions
and/or recommendations.
1. Procedure for Teflon, stainless steel and glass sampling equipment: This
procedure must be used when sampling for ALL analyte groups.
(Extractable organics, metals, nutrients, etc. or if a single decontamination
protocol is desired to clean all Teflon, stainless steel and glass equipment.)
Rinse equipment with hot tap water. Soak equipment in a hot, sudsy water
solution (Liqui-Nox or equivalent). If necessary, use a brush to remove
particulate matter or surface film. Rinse thoroughly with hot tap water. If
samples for trace metals or inorganic analytes will be collected with the
equipment that is not stainless steel, thoroughly rinse (wet all surfaces)
with the appropriate acid solution. Rinse thoroughly with analyte -free
water. Make sure that all equipment surfaces are thoroughly flushed with
water. If samples for volatile or extractable organics will be collected,
rinse with isopropanol. Wet equipment surfaces thoroughly with free-
flowing solvent. Rinse thoroughly with analyte -free water. Allow to air
dry. Wrap and seal as soon as the equipment has air-dried. If isopropanol
is used, the equipment may be air-dried without the final analyte -free
water rinse; however, the equipment must be completely dry before
wrapping or use. Wrap clean sampling equipment according to the
procedure described above.
2. General Cleaning Procedure for Plastic Sampling Equipment: Rinse
equipment with hot tap water. Soak equipment in a hot, sudsy water
solution (Liqui-Nox or equivalent). If necessary, use a brush to remove
particulate matter or surface film. Rinse thoroughly with hot tap water.
Thoroughly rinse (wet all surfaces) with the appropriate acid solution.
Check manufacturer's instructions for cleaning restrictions and/or
recommendations. Rinse thoroughly with analyte -free water. Be sure that
all equipment surfaces are thoroughly flushed. Allow to air dry as long as
possible. Wrap clean sampling equipment according to the procedure
described above.
Rev 4-08 10

Appendix B - Collecting Soil Samples
Soil samples are collected for a variety of purposes. A methodical sampling approach must be
used to assure that sample collection activities provide reliable data. Sampling must begin with
an evaluation of background information, historical data and site conditions.
Soil Field Screening Procedures
Field screening is the use of portable devices capable of detecting petroleum contaminants on
a real-time basis or by a rapid field analytical technique. Field screening should be used to help
assess locations where contamination is most likely to be present.
When possible, field -screening samples should be collected directly from the excavation or
from the excavation equipment's bucket. If field screening is conducted only from the
equipment's bucket, then a minimum of one field screening sample should be collected from
each 10 cubic yards of excavated soil. If instruments or other observations indicate
contamination, soil should be separated into stockpiles based on apparent degrees of
contamination. At a minimum, soil suspected of contamination must be segregated from soil
observed to be free of contamination.
a.) Field screening devices — Many field screen instruments are available for detecting
contaminants in the field on a rapid or real-time basis. Acceptable field screening
instruments must be suitable for the contaminant being screened. The procdedure for
field screening using photoionization detectors (PIDs) and flame ionization detectors
(FIDS) is described below. If other instruments are used, a description of the
instrument or method and its intended use must be provided to the Solid Waste
Section. Whichever field screening method is chosen, its accuracy must be verified
throughout the sampling process. Use appropriate standards that match the use
intended for the data. Unless the Solid Waste Section indicates otherwise, wherever
field screening is recommended in this document, instrumental or analytical methods
of detection must be used, not olfactory or visual screening methods.
b.) Headspace analytical screening procedure for filed screening (semi -quantitative field
screening) - The most commonly used field instruments for Solid Waste Section site
assessments are FIDS and PIDs. When using FIDs and PIDs, use the following
headspace screening procedure to obtain and analyze field -screening samples:
1. Partially fill (one-third to one-half) a clean jar or clean ziplock bag with
the sample to be analyzed. The total capacity of the jar or bag may not be
less than eight ounces (app. 250 ml), but the container should not be so
large as to allow vapor diffusion and stratification effects to significantly
affect the sample.
2. If the sample is collected from a spilt -spoon, it must be transferred to the
jar or bag for headspace analysis immediately after opening the split -
spoon. If the sample is collected from an excavation or soil pile, it must
be collected from freshly uncovered soil.
Rev 4-08 11

3. If a jar is used, it must be quickly covered with clean aluminum foil or a
jar lid; screw tops or thick rubber bands must be used to tightly seal the
jar. If a zip lock bag is used, it must be quickly sealed shut.
4. Headspace vapors must be allowed to develop in the container for at least
10 minutes but no longer than one hour. Containers must be shaken or
agitated for 15 seconds at the beginning and the end of the headspace
development period to assist volatilization. Temperatures of the
headspace must be warmed to at least 5° C (approximately 40° F) with
instruments calibrated for the temperature used.
5. After headspace development, the instrument sampling probe must be
inserted to a point about one-half the headspace depth. The container
opening must be minimized and care must be taken to avoid the uptake of
water droplets and soil particulates.
6. After probe insertion, the highest meter reading must be taken and
recorded. This will normally occur between two and five seconds after
probe insertion. If erratic meter response occurs at high organic vapor
concentrations or conditions of elevated headspace moisture, a note to that
effect must accompany the headspace data.
7. All field screening results must be documented in the field record or log
book.
Soil Sample Collection Procedures for Laboratory Samples
The number and type of laboratory samples collected depends on the purpose of the sampling
activity. Samples analyzed with field screening devices may not be substituted for required
laboratory samples.
a.) General Sample Collection - When collecting samples from potentially contaminated
soil, care should be taken to reduce contact with skin or other parts of the body.
Disposable gloves should be worn by the sample collector and should be changed
between samples to avoid cross -contamination. Soil samples should be collected in a
manner that causes the least disturbance to the internal structure of the sample and
reduces its exposure to heat, sunlight and open air. Likewise, care should be taken to
keep the samples from being contaminated by other materials or other samples
collected at the site. When sampling is to occur over an extended period of time, it is
necessary to insure that the samples are collected in a comparable manner. All
samples must be collected with disposable or clean tools that have been
decontaminated. Disposable gloves must be worn and changed between sample
collections. Sample containers must be filled quickly. Soil samples must be placed
in containers in the order of volatility, for example, volatile organic aromatic samples
must be taken first, organics next, then heavier range organics, and finally soil
classification samples. Containers must be quickly and adequately sealed, and rims
must be cleaned before tightening lids. Tape may be used only if known not to affect
sample analysis. Sample containers must be clearly labeled. Containers must
immediately be preserved according to procedures in this Section. Unless specified
Rev 4-08 12

otherwise, at a minimum, the samples must be immediately cooled to 4 ± 2°C and this
temperature must be maintained throughout delivery to the laboratory.
b.) Surface Soil Sampling - Surface soil is generally classified as soil between the ground
surface and 6-12 inches below ground surface. Remove leaves, grass and surface
debris from the area to be sampled. Select an appropriate, pre -cleaned sampling
device and collect the sample. Transfer the sample to the appropriate sample
container. Clean the outside of the sample container to remove excess soil. Label the
sample container, place on wet ice to preserve at 4°C, and complete the field notes.
c.) Subsurface Soil Sampling — The interval begins at approximately 12 inches below
ground surface. Collect samples for volatile organic analyses. For other analyses,
select an appropriate, pre -cleaned sampling device and collect the sample. Transfer
the sample to the appropriate sample container. Clean the outside of the sample
container to remove excess soil. Label the sample container, place on wet ice to
preserve at 4°C, and complete field notes.
d.) Equipment for Reachingthe Appropriate Soil Sampling Depth - Samples may be
collected using a hollow stem soil auger, direct push, Shelby tube, split -spoon
sampler, or core barrel. These sampling devices may be used as long as an effort is
made to reduce the loss of contaminants through volatilization. In these situations,
obtain a sufficient volume of so the samples can be collected without volatilization
and disturbance to the internal structure of the samples. Samples should be collected
from cores of the soil. Non -disposable sampling equipment must be decontaminated
between each sample location. NOTE: If a confining layer has been breached during
sampling, grout the hole to land.
e.) Equipment to Collect Soil Samples - Equipment and materials that may be used to
collect soil samples include disposable plastic syringes and other "industry -standard"
equipment and materials that are contaminant -free. Non -disposable sampling
equipment must be decontaminated between each sample location.
Rev 4-08 13

Appendix C - Collecting Groundwater Samples
Groundwater samples are collected to identify, investigate, assess and monitor the concentration
of dissolved contaminant constituents. To properly assess groundwater contamination, first
install sampling points (monitoring wells, etc.) to collect groundwater samples and then perform
specific laboratory analyses. All monitoring wells should be constructed in accordance with 15A
NCAC 2C.0100 and sampled as outlined in this section. Groundwater monitoring is conducted
using one of two methods:
1. Portable Monitoring: Monitoring that is conducted using sampling equipment that is
discarded between sampling locations. Equipment used to collect a groundwater sample
from a well such as bailers, tubing, gloves, and etc. are disposed of after sample
collection. A new set of sampling equipment is used to collect a groundwater sample at
the next monitor well.
2. Dedicated Monitoring: Monitoring that utilizes permanently affixed down -well and well
head components that are capped after initial set-up. Most dedicated monitoring systems
are comprised of an in -well submersible bladder pump, with air supply and sample
discharge tubing, and an above -ground driver/controller for regulation of flow rates and
volumes. The pump and all tubing housed within the well should be composed of Teflon
or stainless steel components. This includes seals inside the pump, the pump body, and
fittings used to connect tubing to the pump. Because ground water will not be in contact
with incompatible constituents and because the well is sealed from the surface, virtually
no contamination is possible from intrinsic sources during sampling and between
sampling intervals. All dedicated monitoring systems must be approved by the Solid
Waste Section before installation.
Groundwater samples may be collected from a number of different configurations. Each
configuration is associated with a unique set of sampling equipment requirements and
techniques:
1. Wells without Plumbing: These wells require equipment to be brought to the well to
purge and sample unless dedicated equipment is placed in the well.
2. Wells with In -Place Plumbing: Wells with in-place plumbing do not require equipment
to be brought to the well to purge and sample. In-place plumbing is generally considered
permanent equipment routinely used for purposes other than purging and sampling, such
as for water supply.
3. Air Strippers or Remedial Systems: These types of systems are installed as remediation
devices.
Rev 4-08 14

Groundwater Sample Preparation
The type of sample containers used depends on the type of analysis performed. First,
determine the type(s) of contaminants expected and the proper analytical method(s). Be sure to
consult your selected laboratory for its specific needs and requirements prior to sampling.
Next, prepare the storage and transport containers (ice chest, etc.) before taking any samples so
that each sample can be placed in a chilled environment immediately after collection.
Use groundwater purging and sampling equipment constructed of only non-reactive, non -
leachable materials that are compatible with the environment and the selected analytes. In
selecting groundwater purging and sampling equipment, give consideration to the depth of the
well, the depth to groundwater, the volume of water to be evacuated, the sampling and purging
technique, and the analytes of interest. Additional supplies, such as reagents and preservatives,
may be necessary.
All sampling equipment (bailers, tubing, containers, etc.) must be selected based on its
chemical compatibility with the source being sampled (e.g., water supply well, monitoring well)
and the contaminants potentially present.
a.) Pumps - All pumps or pump tubing must be lowered and retrieved from the well
slowly and carefully to minimize disturbance to the formation water. This is
especially critical at the air/water interface.
1. Above -Ground Pumps
• Variable Speed Peristaltic Pump: Use a variable speed peristaltic
pump to purge groundwater from wells when the static water level
in the well is no greater than 20- 25 feet below land surface (BLS).
If the water levels are deeper than 18-20 feet BLS, the pumping
velocity will decrease. A variable speed peristaltic pump can be
used for normal purging and sampling, and sampling low
permeability aquifers or formations. Most analyte groups can be
sampled with a peristaltic pump if the tubing and pump
configurations are appropriate.
• Variable Speed Centrifugal Pump: A variable speed centrifugal
pump can be used to purge groundwater from 2 -inch and larger
internal diameter wells. Do not use this type of pump to collect
groundwater samples. When purging is complete, do not allow the
water that remains in the tubing to fall back into the well. Install a
check valve at the end of the purge tubing.
2. Submersible Pumps
• Variable Speed Electric Submersible Pump: A variable speed
submersible pump can be used to purge and sample groundwater
from 2 -inch and larger internal diameter wells. A variable speed
submersible pump can be used for normal purging and sampling,
and sampling low permeability aquifers or formations. The pump
housing, fittings, check valves and associated hardware must be
constructed of stainless steel. All other materials must be
Rev 4-08 15

b.) Bailers
compatible with the analytes of interest. Install a check valve at
the output side of the pump to prevent backflow. If purging and
sampling for organics, the entire length of the delivery tube must
be Teflon, polyethylene or polypropylene (PP) tubing; the
electrical cord must be sealed in Teflon, polyethylene or PP and
any cabling must be sealed in Teflon, polyethylene or PP, or be
constructed of stainless steel; and all interior components that
contact the sample water (impeller, seals, gaskets, etc.) must be
constructed of stainless steel or Teflon.
3. Variable Speed Bladder Pump: A variable speed, positive displacement,
bladder pump can be used to purge and sample groundwater from 3/4 -inch
and larger internal diameter wells.
• A variable speed bladder pump can be used for normal purging and
sampling, and sampling low permeability aquifers or formations.
• The bladder pump system is composed of the pump, the
compressed air tubing, the water discharge tubing, the controller
and a compressor, or a compressed gas supply.
• The pump consists of a bladder and an exterior casing or pump
body that surrounds the bladder and two (2) check valves. These
parts can be composed of various materials, usually combinations
of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Teflon, polyethylene, PP and
stainless steel. Other materials must be compatible with the
analytes of interest.
• If purging and sampling for organics, the pump body must be
constructed of stainless steel. The valves and bladder must be
Teflon, polyethylene or PP; the entire length of the delivery tube
must be Teflon, polyethylene or PP; and any cabling must be
sealed in Teflon, polyethylene or PP, or be constructed of stainless
steel.
• Permanently installed pumps may have a PVC pump body as long
as the pump remains in contact with the water in the well.
1. Purging: Bailers must be used with caution because improper bailing can
cause changes in the chemistry of the water due to aeration and loosening
particulate matter in the space around the well screen. Use a bailer if there
is non -aqueous phase liquid (free product) in the well or if non -aqueous
phase liquid is suspected to be in the well.
2. Sampling: Bailers must be used with caution.
3. Construction and Type: Bailers must be constructed of materials
compatible with the analytes of interest. Stainless steel, Teflon, rigid
medical grade PVC, polyethylene and PP bailers may be used to sample
all analytes. Use disposable bailers when sampling grossly contaminated
sample sources. NCDENR recommends using dual check valve bailers
when collecting samples. Use bailers with a controlled flow bottom to
collect volatile organic samples.
Rev 4-08 16

4. Contamination Prevention: Keep the bailer wrapped (foil, butcher paper,
etc.) until just before use. Use protective gloves to handle the bailer once
it is removed from its wrapping. Handle the bailer by the lanyard to
minimize contact with the bailer surface.
c.) Lanyards
1. Lanyards must be made of non-reactive, non -leachable material. They
may be cotton twine, nylon, stainless steel, or may be coated with Teflon,
polyethylene or PP.
2. Discard cotton twine, nylon, and non -stainless steel braided lanyards after
sampling each monitoring well.
3. Decontaminate stainless steel, coated Teflon, polyethylene and PP
lanyards between monitoring wells. They do not need to be
decontaminated between purging and sampling operations.
Water Level and Purge Volume Determination
The amount of water that must be purged from a well is determined by the volume of water
and/or field parameter stabilization.
a.) General Equipment Considerations - Selection of appropriate purging equipment
depends on the analytes of interest, the well diameter, transmissivity of the aquifer,
the depth to groundwater, and other site conditions.
1. Use of a pump to purge the well is recommended unless no other
equipment can be used or there is non -aqueous phase liquid in the well, or
non -aqueous phase liquid is suspected to be in the well.
2. Bailers must be used with caution because improper bailing:
• Introduces atmospheric oxygen, which may precipitate metals
(i.e., iron) or cause other changes in the chemistry of the water
in the sample (i.e., pH).
• Agitates groundwater, which may bias volatile and semi -
volatile organic analyses due to volatilization.
• Agitates the water in the aquifer and resuspends fine particulate
matter.
• Surges the well, loosening particulate matter in the annular
space around the well screen.
• May introduce dirt into the water column if the sides of the
casing wall are scraped.
NOTE: It is critical for bailers to be slowly and gently immersed into the top of the water
column, particularly during the final stages of purging. This minimizes turbidity and
disturbance of volatile organic constituents.
b.) Initial Inspection
1. Remove the well cover and remove all standing water around the top of
the well casing (manhole) before opening the well.
2. Inspect the exterior protective casing of the monitoring well for damage.
Document the results of the inspection if there is a problem.
3. It is recommended that you place a protective covering around the well
head. Replace the covering if it becomes soiled or ripped.
Rev 4-08 17

4. Inspect the well lock and determine whether the cap fits tightly. Replace
the cap if necessary.
c.) Water Level Measurements - Use an electronic probe or chalked tape to determine the
water level. Decontaminate all equipment before use. Measure the depth to
groundwater from the top of the well casing to the nearest 0.01 foot. Always measure
from the same reference point or survey mark on the well casing. Record the
measurement.
1. Electronic Probe: Decontaminate all equipment before use. Follow the
manufacturer's instructions for use. Record the measurement.
2. Chalked Line Method: Decontaminate all equipment before use. Lower
chalked tape into the well until the lower end is in the water. This is
usually determined by the sound of the weight hitting the water. Record
the length of the tape relative to the reference point. Remove the tape and
note the length of the wetted portion. Record the length. Determine the
depth to water by subtracting the length of the wetted portion from the
total length. Record the result.
d.) Water Column Determination - To determine the length of the water column, subtract
the depth to the top of the water column from the total well depth (or gauged well
depth if silting has occurred). The total well depth depends on the well construction.
If gauged well depth is used due to silting, report total well depth also. Some wells
may be drilled in areas of sinkhole, karst formations or rock leaving an open
borehole. Attempt to find the total borehole depth in cases where there is an open
borehole below the cased portion.
e.) Well Water Volume - Calculate the total volume of water, in gallons, in the well
using the following equation:
V = (0.041)d x d x h
Where:
V = volume in gallons
d = well diameter in inches
h = height of the water column in feet
The total volume of water in the well may also be determined with the following
equation by using a casing volume per foot factor (Gallons per Foot of Water) for the
appropriate diameter well:
V = [Gallons per Foot of Water] x h
Where:
V = volume in gallons
h = height of the water column in feet
Record all measurements and calculations in the field records.
£) Purging Equipment Volume - Calculate the total volume of the pump, associated
tubing and flow cell (if used), using the following equation:
V = p + ((0.041)d x d x 1) + fc
Where:
V = volume in gallons
p = volume of pump in gallons
d = tubing diameter in inches
1= length of tubing in feet
Rev 4-08 18

fc = volume of flow cell in gallons
g.) If the groundwater elevation data are to be used to construct groundwater elevation
contour maps, all water level measurements must be taken within the same 24 hour
time interval when collecting samples from multiple wells on a site, unless a shorter
time period is required. If the site is tidally influenced, complete the water level
measurements within the time frame of an incoming or outgoing tide.
Well Purging Techniques
The selection of the purging technique and equipment is dependent on the hydrogeologic
properties of the aquifer, especially depth to groundwater and hydraulic conductivity.
a.) Measuring- the Purge Volume - The volume of water that is removed during purging
must be recorded. Therefore, you must measure the volume during the purging
operation.
1. Collect the water in a graduated container and multiply the number of
times the container was emptied by the volume of the container, OR
2. Estimate the volume based on pumping rate. This technique may be used
only if the pumping rate is constant. Determine the pumping rate by
measuring the amount of water that is pumped for a fixed period of time,
or use a flow meter.
• Calculate the amount of water that is discharged per
minute: D = Measured Amount/Total Time In Minutes
• Calculate the time needed to purge one (1) well volume or
one (1) purging equipment volume: Time = V/D
Where: V = well volume or purging equipment volume
D = discharge rate
• Make new measurements each time the pumping rate is
changed.
3. Use a totalizing flow meter.
• Record the reading on the totalizer prior to purging.
• Record the reading on the totalizer at the end of purging.
• To obtain the volume purged, subtract the reading on the
totalizer prior to purging from the reading on the totalizer at
the end of purging.
• Record the times that purging begins and ends in the field
records.
b.) Purging Measurement Frequency - When purging a well that has the well screen fully
submerged and the pump or intake tubing is placed within the well casing above the
well screen or open hole, purge a minimum of one (1) well volume prior to collecting
measurements of the field parameters. Allow at least one quarter (1/4) well volume
to purge between subsequent measurements. When purging a well that has the pump
or intake tubing placed within a fully submerged well screen or open hole, purge until
the water level has stabilized (well recovery rate equals the purge rate), then purge a
minimum of one (1) volume of the pump, associated tubing and flow cell (if used)
prior to collecting measurements of the field parameters. Take measurements of the
field parameters no sooner than two (2) to three (3) minutes apart. Purge at least
Rev 4-08 19

three (3) volumes of the pump, associated tubing and flow cell, if used, prior to
collecting a sample. When purging a well that has a partially submerged well screen,
purge a minimum of one (1) well volume prior to collecting measurements of the
field parameters. Take measurements of the field parameters no sooner than two (2)
to three (3) minutes apart.
c.) PurgingCompletion - Wells must be adequately purged prior to sample collection to
ensure representation of the aquifer formation water, rather than stagnant well water.
This may be achieved by purging three volumes from the well or by satisfying any
one of the following three purge completion criteria:
l.) Three (3) consecutive measurements in which the three (3) parameters listed
below are within the stated limits, dissolved oxygen is no greater than 20
percent of saturation at the field measured temperature, and turbidity is no
greater than 20 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTUs).
• Temperature: + 0.2° C
• pH: + 0.2 Standard Units
• Specific Conductance: + 5.0% of reading
Document and report the following, as applicable. The last four items only
need to be submitted once:
• Purging rate.
• Drawdown in the well, if any.
• A description of the process and the data used to design the
well.
• The equipment and procedure used to install the well.
• The well development procedure.
• Pertinent lithologic or hydrogeologic information.
2.) If it is impossible to get dissolved oxygen at or below 20 percent of saturation
at the field measured temperature or turbidity at or below 20 NTUs, then three
(3) consecutive measurements of temperature, pH, specific conductance and
the parameter(s) dissolved oxygen and/or turbidity that do not meet the
requirements above must be within the limits below. The measurements are:
• Temperature: + 0.2° C
• pH: + 0.2 Standard Units
• Specific Conductance: + 5.0% of reading
• Dissolved Oxygen: + 0.2 mg/L or 10%, whichever is
greater
• Turbidity: + 5 NTUs or 10%, whichever is greater
Additionally, document and report the following, as applicable, except that
the last four(4) items only need to be submitted once:
• Purging rate.
• Drawdown in the well, if any.
• A description of conditions at the site that may cause the
dissolved oxygen to be high and/or dissolved oxygen
measurements made within the screened or open hole
portion of the well with a downhole dissolved oxygen
probe.
Rev 4-08 20

• A description of conditions at the site that may cause the
turbidity to be high and any procedures that will be used to
minimize turbidity in the future.
• A description of the process and the data used to design the
well.
• The equipment and procedure used to install the well.
• The well development procedure.
• Pertinent lithologic or hydrogeologic information.
3.) If after five (5) well volumes, three (3) consecutive measurements of the field
parameters temperature, pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, and
turbidity are not within the limits stated above, check the instrument condition
and calibration, purging flow rate and all tubing connections to determine if
they might be affecting the ability to achieve stable measurements. It is at the
discretion of the consultant/contractor whether or not to collect a sample or to
continue purging. Further, the report in which the data are submitted must
include the following, as applicable. The last four (4) items only need to be
submitted once.
• Purging rate.
• Drawdown in the well, if any.
• A description of conditions at the site that may cause the
Dissolved Oxygen to be high and/or Dissolved Oxygen
measurements made within the screened or open hole
portion of the well with a downhole dissolved oxygen
probe.
• A description of conditions at the site that may cause the
turbidity to be high and any procedures that will be used to
minimize turbidity in the future.
• A description of the process and the data used to design the
well.
• The equipment and procedure used to install the well.
• The well development procedure.
• Pertinent lithologic or hydrogeologic information.
If wells have previously and consistently purged dry, and the current depth to
groundwater indicates that the well will purge dry during the current sampling
event, minimize the amount of water removed from the well by using the same
pump to purge and collect the sample:
• Place the pump or tubing intake within the well screened
interval.
• Use very small diameter Teflon, polyethylene or PP tubing
and the smallest possible pump chamber volume. This will
minimize the total volume of water pumped from the well
and reduce drawdown.
• Select tubing that is thick enough to minimize oxygen
transfer through the tubing walls while pumping.
Rev 4-08 21

• Pump at the lowest possible rate (100 mL/minute or less) to
reduce drawdown to a minimum.
• Purge at least two (2) volumes of the pumping system
(pump, tubing and flow cell, if used).
• Measure pH, specific conductance, temperature, dissolved
oxygen and turbidity, then begin to collect the samples.
Collect samples immediately after purging is complete. The time period between
completing the purge and sampling cannot exceed six hours. If sample collection
does not occur within one hour of purging completion, re -measure the five field
parameters: temperature, pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen and turbidity,
just prior to collecting the sample. If the measured values are not within 10 percent
of the previous measurements, re -purge the well. The exception is "dry" wells.
d.) Lanyards
1. Securely fasten lanyards, if used, to any downhole equipment (bailers,
pumps, etc.).
2. Use bailer lanyards in such a way that they do not touch the ground
surface.
Wells Without Plumbing
a.) Tubin /Pump Placement
1. If attempting to minimize the volume of purge water, position the intake
hose or pump at the midpoint of the screened or open hole interval.
2. If monitoring well conditions do not allow minimizing of the purge water
volume, position the pump or intake hose near the top of the water
column. This will ensure that all stagnant water in the casing is removed.
3. If the well screen or borehole is partially submerged, and the pump will be
used for both purging and sampling, position the pump midway between
the measured water level and the bottom of the screen. Otherwise,
position the pump or intake hose near the top of the water column.
b.) Non -dedicated (portable) pumps
1. Variable Speed Peristaltic Pump
• Wear sampling gloves to position the decontaminated
pump and tubing.
• Attach a short section of tubing to the discharge side of the
pump and into a graduated container.
• Attach one end of a length of new or precleaned tubing to
the pump head flexible hose.
• Place the tubing as described in one of the options listed
above.
• Change gloves before beginning to purge.
• Measure the depth to groundwater at frequent intervals.
• Record these measurements.
• Adjust the purging rate so that it is equivalent to the well
recovery rate to minimize drawdown.
Rev 4-08 22

• If the purging rate exceeds the well recovery rate, reduce
the pumping rate to balance the withdrawal rate with the
recharge rate.
• If the water table continues to drop during pumping, lower
the tubing at the approximate rate of drawdown so that
water is removed from the top of the water column.
• Record the purging rate each time the rate changes.
• Measure the purge volume.
• Record this measurement.
• Decontaminate the pump and tubing between wells (see
Appendix C) or if precleaned tubing is used for each well,
only the pump.
2. Variable Speed Centrifugal Pump
• Position fuel powered equipment downwind and at least 10
feet from the well head. Make sure that the exhaust faces
downwind.
• Wear sampling gloves to position the decontaminated
pump and tubing.
• Place the decontaminated suction hose so that water is
always pumped from the top of the water column.
• Change gloves before beginning to purge.
• Equip the suction hose with a foot valve to prevent purge
water from re-entering the well.
• Measure the depth to groundwater at frequent intervals.
• Record these measurements.
• To minimize drawdown, adjust the purging rate so that it is
equivalent to the well recovery rate.
• If the purging rate exceeds the well recovery rate, reduce
the pumping rate to balance the withdrawal rate with the
recharge rate.
• If the water table continues to drop during pumping, lower
the tubing at the approximate rate of drawdown so that the
water is removed from the top of the water column.
• Record the purging rate each time the rate changes.
• Measure the purge volume.
• Record this measurement.
• Decontaminate the pump and tubing between wells or if
precleaned tubing is used for each well, only the pump.
3. Variable Speed Electric Submersible Pump
• Position fuel powered equipment downwind and at least 10
feet from the well head. Make sure that the exhaust faces
downwind.
• Wear sampling gloves to position the decontaminated
pump and tubing.
• Carefully position the decontaminated pump.
Rev 4-08 23

•
Change gloves before beginning to purge.
•
Measure the depth to groundwater at frequent intervals.
•
Record these measurements.
•
To minimize drawdown, adjust the purging rate so that it is
equivalent to the well recovery rate.
•
If the purging rate exceeds the well recovery rate, reduce
the pumping rate to balance the withdrawal rate with the
recharge rate.
•
If the water table continues to drop during pumping, lower
the tubing or pump at the approximate rate of drawdown so
that water is removed from the top of the water column.
•
Record the purging rate each time the rate changes.
•
Measure the purge volume.
•
Record this measurement.
•
Decontaminate the pump and tubing between wells or only
the pump if precleaned tubing is used for each well.
4. Variable Speed Bladder Pump
•
Position fuel powered equipment downwind and at least 10
feet from the well head. Make sure that the exhaust faces
downwind.
•
Wear sampling gloves to position the decontaminated
pump and tubing.
•
Attach the tubing and carefully position the pump.
•
Change gloves before beginning purging.
•
Measure the depth to groundwater at frequent intervals.
•
Record these measurements.
•
To minimize drawdown, adjust the purging rate so that it is
equivalent to the well recovery rate.
•
If the purging rate exceeds the well recovery rate, reduce
the pumping rate to balance the withdrawal rate with the
recharge rate.
•
If the water table continues to drop during pumping, lower
the tubing or pump at the approximate rate of drawdown so
that water is removed from the top of the water column.
•
Record the purging rate each time the rate changes.
•
Measure the purge volume.
•
Record this measurement.
•
Decontaminate the pump and tubing between wells or if
precleaned tubing is used for each well, only the pump.
c.) Dedicated Portable Pumps
1. Variable Speed Electric Submersible Pump
•
Position fuel powered equipment downwind and at least 10
feet from the well head. Make sure that the exhaust faces
downwind.
•
Wear sampling gloves.
Rev 4-08 24

• Measure the depth to groundwater at frequent intervals.
• Record these measurements.
• Adjust the purging rate so that it is equivalent to the well
recovery rate to minimize drawdown.
• If the purging rate exceeds the well recovery rate, reduce
the pumping rate to balance the withdraw with the recharge
rate.
• Record the purging rate each time the rate changes.
• Measure the purge volume.
• Record this measurement.
2. Variable Speed Bladder Pump
• Position fuel powered equipment downwind and at least 10
feet from the well head. Make sure that the exhaust faces
downwind.
• Wear sampling gloves.
• Measure the depth to groundwater at frequent intervals.
• Record these measurements.
• Adjust the purging rate so that it is equivalent to the well
recovery rate to minimize drawdown.
• If the purging rate exceeds the well recovery rate, reduce
the pumping rate to balance the withdraw with the recharge
rate.
• Record the purging rate each time the rate changes.
• Measure the purge volume.
• Record this measurement.
3. Bailers - Using bailers for purging is not recommended unless care is
taken to use proper bailing technique, or if free product is present in the
well or suspected to be in the well.
• Minimize handling the bailer as much as possible.
• Wear sampling gloves.
• Remove the bailer from its protective wrapping just before
use.
• Attach a lanyard of appropriate material.
• Use the lanyard to move and position the bailer.
• Lower and retrieve the bailer slowly and smoothly.
• Lower the bailer carefully into the well to a depth
approximately a foot above the water column.
• When the bailer is in position, lower the bailer into the
water column at a rate of 2 cm/sec until the desired depth is
reached.
• Do not lower the top of the bailer more than one (1) foot
below the top of the water table so that water is removed
from the top of the water column.
• Allow time for the bailer to fill with aquifer water as it
descends into the water column.
Rev 4-08 25

• Carefully raise the bailer. Retrieve the bailer at the same
rate of 2 cm/sec until the bottom of the bailer has cleared to
top of the water column.
• Measure the purge volume.
• Record the volume of the bailer.
• Continue to carefully lower and retrieve the bailer as
described above until the purging is considered complete,
based on either the removal of 3 well volumes.
• Remove at least one (1) well volume before collecting
measurements of the field parameters. Take each
subsequent set of measurements after removing at least one
quarter (1/4) well volume between measurements.
Groundwater Sampling Techniques
a.) Purge wells.
b.) Replace protective covering around the well if it is soiled or torn after completing
purging operations.
c.) Equipment Considerations
1. The following pumps are approved to collect volatile organic samples:
• Stainless steel and Teflon variable speed submersible
PUMPS
• Stainless steel and Teflon or polyethylene variable speed
bladder pumps
• Permanently installed PVC bodied pumps (As long as the
pump remains in contact with the water in the well at all
times)
2. Collect sample from the sampling device and store in sample container.
Do not use intermediate containers.
3. To avoid contamination or loss of analytes from the sample, handle
sampling equipment as little as possible and minimize equipment exposure
to the sample.
4. To reduce chances of cross -contamination, use dedicated equipment
whenever possible. "Dedicated" is defined as equipment that is to be used
solely for one location for the life of that equipment (e.g., permanently
mounted pump). Purchase dedicated equipment with the most sensitive
analyte of interest in mind.
• Clean or make sure dedicated pumps are clean before
installation. They do not need to be cleaned prior to each
use, but must be cleaned if they are withdrawn for repair or
servicing.
• Clean or make sure any permanently mounted tubing is
clean before installation.
• Change or clean tubing when the pump is withdrawn for
servicing.
• Clean any replaceable or temporary parts.
Rev 4-08 26

• Collect equipment blanks on dedicated pumping systems
when the tubing is cleaned or replaced.
• Clean or make sure dedicated bailers are clean before
placing them into the well.
• Collect an equipment blank on dedicated bailers before
introducing them into the water column.
• Suspend dedicated bailers above the water column if they
are stored in the well.
Sampling Wells Without Plumbing
a.) Sampling with Pumps — The following pumps may be used to sample for organics:
• Peristaltic pumps
• Stainless steel, Teflon or polyethylene bladder pumps
• Variable speed stainless steel and Teflon submersible
pumps
Peristaltic Pump
• Volatile Organics: One of three methods may be used.
■ Remove the drop tubing from the inlet side
of the pump; submerge the drop tubing into
the water column; prevent the water in the
tubing from flowing back into the well;
remove the drop tubing from the well;
carefully allow the groundwater to drain into
the sample vials; avoid turbulence; do not
aerate the sample; repeat steps until enough
vials are filled. OR
• Use the pump to fill the drop tubing; quickly
remove the tubing from the pump; prevent
the water in the tubing from flowing back
into the well; remove the drop tubing from
the well; carefully allow the groundwater to
drain into the sample vials; avoid
turbulence; do not aerate the sample; repeat
steps until enough vials are filled. OR
■ Use the pump to fill the drop tubing;
withdraw the tubing from the well; reverse
the flow on the peristaltic pumps to deliver
the sample into the vials at a slow, steady
rate; repeat steps until enough vials are
filled.
• Extractable Organics: If delivery tubing is not
polyethylene or PP, or is not Teflon lined, use pump and
vacuum trap method. Connect the outflow tubing from the
container to the influent side of the peristaltic pump. Turn
pump on and reduce flow until smooth and even. Discard a
Rev 4-08 27

small portion of the sample to allow for air space. Preserve
(if required), label, and complete field notes.
• Inorganic samples: These samples may be collected from
the effluent tubing. If samples are collected from the
pump, decontaminate all tubing (including the tubing in the
head) or change it between wells. Preserve (if required),
label, and complete field notes.
2. Variable Speed Bladder Pump
• If sampling for organics, the pump body must be
constructed of stainless steel and the valves and bladder
must be Teflon. All tubing must be Teflon, polyethylene,
or PP and any cabling must be sealed in Teflon,
polyethylene or PP, or made of stainless steel.
• After purging to a smooth even flow, reduce the flow rate.
• When sampling for volatile organic compounds, reduce the
flow rate to 100-200mL/minute, if possible.
3. Variable Speed Submersible Pump
• The housing must be stainless steel.
• If sampling for organics, the internal impellers, seals and
gaskets must be constructed of stainless steel, Teflon,
polyethylene or PP. The delivery tubing must be Teflon,
polyethylene or PP; the electrical cord must be sealed in
Teflon; any cabling must be sealed in Teflon or constructed
of stainless steel.
• After purging to a smooth even flow, reduce the flow rate.
• When sampling for volatile organic compounds, reduce the
flow rate to 100-200mL/minute, if possible.
b.) Sampling with Bailers - A high degree of skill and coordination are necessary to
collect representative samples with a bailer.
1. General Considerations
• Minimize handling of bailer as much as possible.
• Wear sampling gloves.
• Remove bailer from protective wrapping just before use.
• Attach a lanyard of appropriate material.
• Use the lanyard to move and position the bailers.
• Do not allow bailer or lanyard to touch the ground.
• If bailer is certified precleaned, no rinsing is necessary.
• If both a pump and a bailer are to be used to collect
samples, rinse the exterior and interior of the bailer with
sample water from the pump before removing the pump.
• If the purge pump is not appropriate for collecting samples
(e.g., non -inert components), rinse the bailer by collecting a
single bailer of the groundwater to be sampled.
• Discard the water appropriately.
Rev 4-08 28

Do not rinse the bailer if Oil and Grease samples are to be
collected.
2. Bailing Technique
• Collect all samples that are required to be collected with a
pump before collecting samples with the bailer.
• Raise and lower the bailer gently to minimize stirring up
particulate matter in the well and the water column, which
can increase sample turbidity.
• Lower the bailer carefully into the well to a depth
approximately a foot above the water column. When the
bailer is in position, lower the bailer into the water column
at a rate of 2 cm/sec until the desired depth is reached.
• Do not lower the top of the bailer more than one foot below
the top of the water table, so that water is removed from the
top of the water column.
• Allow time for the bailer to fill with aquifer water as it
descends into the water column.
• Do not allow the bailer to touch the bottom of the well or
particulate matter will be incorporated into the sample.
Carefully raise the bailer. Retrieve the bailer at the
same rate of 2 cm/sec until the bottom of the bailer has
cleared to top of the water column.
• Lower the bailer to approximately the same depth each
time.
• Collect the sample. Install a device to control the flow
from the bottom of the bailer and discard the first few
inches of water. Fill the appropriate sample containers by
allowing the sample to slowly flow down the side of the
container. Discard the last few inches of water in the
bailer.
• Repeat steps for additional samples.
• As a final step measure the DO, pH, temperature, turbidity
and specific conductance after the final sample has been
collected. Record all measurements and note the time
that sampling was completed.
c.) Sampling Low Permeability Aquifers or Wells that have Purged Dry
1. Collect the sample(s) after the well has been purged. Minimize the amount
of water removed from the well by using the same pump to purge and
collect the sample. If the well has purged dry, collect samples as soon as
sufficient sample water is available.
2. Measure the five field parameters temperature, pH, specific conductance,
dissolved oxygen and turbidity at the time of sample collection.
3. Advise the analytical laboratory and the client that the usual amount of
sample for analysis may not be available.
Rev 4-08 29

Appendix D - Collecting Samples from Wells with
Plumbing in Place
In-place plumbing is generally considered permanent equipment routinely used for purposes
other than purging and sampling, such as for water supply.
a.) Air Strippers or Remedial Systems - These types of systems are installed as
remediation devices. Collect influent and effluent samples from air stripping units as
described below.
1. Remove any tubing from the sampling port and flush for one to two
minutes.
2. Remove all hoses, aerators and filters (if possible).
3. Open the spigot and purge sufficient volume to flush the spigot and lines
and until the purging completion criteria have been met.
4. Reduce the flow rate to approximately 500 mL/minute (a 1/8" stream) or
approximately 0.1 gal/minute before collecting samples.
5. Follow procedures for collecting samples from water supply wells as
outlined below.
b.) Water Supply Wells — Water supply wells with in-place plumbing do not require
equipment to be brought to the well to purge and sample. Water supply wells at UST
facilities must be sampled for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semivolatile
compounds (SVOCs).
1. Procedures for Sampling Water Supply Wells
• Label sample containers prior to sample collection.
• Prepare the storage and transport containers (ice chest, etc.;
before taking any samples so each collected sample can be
placed in a chilled environment immediately after
collection.
• You must choose the tap closest to the well, preferably at
the wellhead. The tap must be before any holding or
pressurization tank, water softener, ion exchange,
disinfection process or before the water line enters the
residence, office or building. If no tap fits the above
conditions, a new tap that does must be installed.
• The well pump must not be lubricated with oil, as that may
contaminate the samples.
• The sampling tap must be protected from exterior
contamination associated with being too close to a sink
bottom or to the ground. If the tap is too close to the
ground for direct collection into the appropriate container,
it is acceptable to use a smaller (clean) container to transfer
the sample to a larger container.
• Leaking taps that allow water to discharge from around the
valve stem handle and down the outside of the faucet, or
taps in which water tends to run up on the outside of the lip,
are to be avoided as sampling locations.
Rev 4-08 30

• Disconnect any hoses, filters, or aerators attached to the tap
before sampling.
• Do not sample from a tap close to a gas pump. The gas
fumes could contaminate the sample.
2. Collecting Volatile Organic Samples
• Equipment Needed: VOC sample vials [40 milliliters,
glass, may contain 3 to 4 drops of hydrochloric acid (HCl)
as preservative]; Disposable gloves and protective goggles;
Ice chest/cooler; Ice; Packing materials (sealable plastic
bags, bubble wrap, etc.); and Lab forms.
• Sampling Procedure: Run water from the well for at least
15 minutes. If the well is deep, run water longer (purging
three well volumes is best). If tap or spigot is located
directly before a holding tank, open a tap after the holding
tank to prevent any backflow into the tap where you will
take your sample. This will ensure that the water you
collect is "fresh" from the well and not from the holding
tank. After running the water for at least 15 minutes,
reduce the flow of water. The flow should be reduced to a
trickle but not so slow that it begins to drip. A smooth flow
of water will make collection easier and more accurate.
Remove the cap of a VOC vial and hold the vial under the
stream of water to fill it. Be careful not to spill any acid
that is in the vial. For best results use a low flow of water
and angle the vial slightly so that the water runs down the
inside of the vial. This will help keep the sample from
being agitated, aerated or splashed out of the vial. It will
also increase the accuracy of the sample. As the vial fills
and is almost full, turn the vial until it is straight up and
down so the water won't spill out. Fill the vial until the
water is just about to spill over the lip of the vial. The
surface of the water sample should become mounded. It is
a good idea not to overfill the vial, especially if an acid
preservative is present in the vial. Carefully replace and
screw the cap onto the vial. Some water may overflow as
the cap is put on. After the cap is secure, turn the vial
upside down and gently tap the vial to see if any bubbles
are present. If bubbles are present in the vial, remove the
cap, add more water and check again to see if bubbles are
present. Repeat as necessary. After two samples without
bubbles have been collected, the samples should be labeled
and prepared for shipment. Store samples at 4° C.
Rev 4-08 31

3. Collecting Extractable Organic and/or Metals Samples
• Equipment Needed: SVOC sample bottle [1 liter, amber
glass] and/or Metals sample bottle [0.5 liter, polyethylene
or glass, 5 milliliters of nitric acid (HNO3) preservative];
Disposable gloves and protective goggles; Ice
Chest/Cooler; Ice; Packing materials (sealable plastic bags,
bubble wrap, etc.); and Lab forms.
• Sampling Procedure: Run water from the well for at least
15 minutes. If the well is deep, run the water longer
(purging three well volumes is best). If tap or spigot is
located directly before a holding tank, open a tap after the
holding tank to prevent any backflow into the tap where
you will take your sample. This will ensure that the water
you collect is "fresh" from the well and not from the
holding tank. After running the water for at least 15
minutes, reduce the flow. Low water flow makes
collection easier and more accurate. Remove the cap of a
SVOC or metals bottle and hold it under the stream of
water to fill it. The bottle does not have to be completely
filled (i.e., you can leave an inch or so of headspace in the
bottle). After filling, screw on the cap, label the bottle and
prepare for shipment. Store samples at 4° C.
Rev 4-08 32

Appendix E - Collecting Surface Water Samples
The following topics include 1.) acceptable equipment selection and equipment construction
materials and 2.) standard grab, depth -specific and depth-composited surface water sampling
techniques.
Facilities which contain or border small rivers, streams or branches should include surface water
sampling as part of the monitoring program for each sampling event. A simple procedure for
selecting surface water monitoring sites is to locate a point on a stream where drainage leaves the
site. This provides detection of contamination through, and possibly downstream of, site via
discharge of surface waters. The sampling points selected should be downstream from any waste
areas. An upstream sample should be obtained in order to determine water quality upstream of
the influence of the site.
a.) General Cautions
1. When using watercraft take samples near the bow away and upwind from
any gasoline outboard engine. Orient watercraft so that bow is positioned
in the upstream direction.
2. When wading, collect samples upstream from the body. Avoid disturbing
sediments in the immediate area of sample collection.
3. Collect water samples prior to taking sediment samples when obtaining
both from the same area (site).
4. Unless dictated by permit, program or order, sampling at or near man-
made structures (e.g., dams, weirs or bridges) may not provide
representative data because of unnatural flow patterns.
5. Collect surface water samples from downstream towards upstream.
b.) Equipment and Supplies - Select equipment based on the analytes of interest, specific
use, and availability.
c.) Surface Water Sampling Techniques - Adhere to all general protocols applicable to
aqueous sampling when following the surface water sampling procedures addressed
below.
1. Manual Sampling: Use manual sampling for collecting grab samples for
immediate in-situ field analyses. Use manual sampling in lieu of
automatic equipment over extended periods of time for composite
sampling, especially when it is necessary to observe and/or note unusual
conditions.
• Surface Grab Samples - Do not use sample containers containing
premeasured amounts of preservatives to collect grab samples. If
the sample matrix is homogeneous, then the grab method is a
simple and effective technique for collection purposes. If
homogeneity is not apparent, based on flow or vertical variations
(and should never be assumed), then use other collection protocols.
Where practical, use the actual sample container submitted to the
laboratory for collecting samples to be analyzed for oil and grease,
volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and microbiological samples.
This procedure eliminates the possibility of contaminating the
sample with an intermediate collection container. The use of
Rev 4-08 33

unpreserved sample containers as direct grab samplers is
encouraged since the same container can be submitted for
laboratory analysis after appropriate preservation. This procedure
reduces sample handling and eliminates potential contamination
from other sources (e.g., additional sampling equipment,
environment, etc.).
1. Grab directly into sample container.
2. Slowly submerge the container, opening neck first, into the
water.
3. Invert the bottle so the neck is upright and pointing towards
the direction of water flow (if applicable). Allow water to
run slowly into the container until filled.
4. Return the filled container quickly to the surface.
5. Pour out a few mL of sample away from and downstream
of the sampling location. This procedure allows for the
addition of preservatives and sample expansion. Do not
use this step for volatile organics or other analytes where
headspace is not allowed in the sample container.
6. Add preservatives, securely cap container, label, and
complete field notes. If sample containers are attached to a
pole via a clamp, submerge the container and follow steps 3
— 5 but omit steps 1 and 2.
• Sampling with an Intermediate Vessel or Container: If the sample
cannot be collected directly into the sample container to be
submitted to the laboratory, or if the laboratory provides
prepreserved sample containers, use an unpreserved sample
container or an intermediate vessel (e.g., beakers, buckets or
dippers) to obtain the sample. These vessels must be constructed
appropriately, including any poles or extension arms used to access
the sample location.
1. Rinse the intermediate vessel with ample amounts of site
water prior to collecting the first sample.
2. Collect the sample as outlined above using the intermediate
vessel.
3. Use pole mounted containers of appropriate construction to
sample at distances away from shore, boat, etc. Follow the
protocols above to collect samples.
• Peristaltic Pump and Tubing: The most portable pump for this
technique is a 12 volt peristaltic pump. Use appropriately
precleaned, silastic tubing in the pump head and attach
polyethylene, Tygon, etc. tubing to the pump. This technique is
not acceptable for Oil and Grease, EPH, VPH or VOCs.
Extractable organics can be collected through the pump if flexible
interior -wall Teflon, polyethylene or PP tubing is used in the pump
head or if used with the organic trap setup.
Rev 4-08 34

1. Lower appropriately precleaned tubing to a depth of 6 — 12
inches below water surface, where possible.
2. Pump 3 — 5 tube volumes through the system to acclimate
the tubing before collecting the first sample.
3. Fill individual sample bottles via the discharge tubing. Be
careful not to remove the inlet tubing from the water.
4. Add preservatives, securely cap container, label, and
complete field notes.
Mid -Depth Grab Samples: Mid -depth samples or samples taken at
a specific depth can approximate the conditions throughout the
entire water column. The equipment that may be used for this type
of sampling consists of the following depth -specific sampling
devices: Kemmerer, Niskin, Van Dorn type, etc. You may also
use pumps with tubing or double check -valve bailers. Certain
construction material details may preclude its use for certain
analytes. Many Kemmerer samplers are constructed of plastic and
rubber that preclude their use for all volatile and extractable
organic sampling. Some newer devices are constructed of stainless
steel or are all Teflon or Teflon -coated. These are acceptable for
all analyte groups without restriction.
1. Measure the water column to determine maximum depth
and sampling depth prior to lowering the sampling device.
2. Mark the line attached to the sampler with depth
increments so that the sampling depth can be accurately
recorded.
3. Lower the sampler slowly to the appropriate sampling
depth, taking care not to disturb the sediments.
4. At the desired depth, send the messenger weight down to
trip the closure mechanism.
5. Retrieve the sampler slowly.
6. Rinse the sampling device with ample amounts of site
water prior to collecting the first sample. Discard rinsate
away from and downstream of the sampling location.
7. Fill the individual sample bottles via the discharge tube.
Double Check -Valve Bailers: Collect samples using double check -
valve bailers if the data requirements do not necessitate a sample
from a strictly discrete interval of the water column. Bailers with
an upper and lower check -valve can be lowered through the water
column. Water will continually be displaced through the bailer
until the desired depth is reached, at which point the bailer is
retrieved. Sampling with this type of bailer must follow the same
protocols outlined above, except that a messenger weight is not
applicable. Although not designed specifically for this kind of
sampling, a bailer is acceptable when a mid -depth sample is
required
Rev 4-08 35

1. As the bailer is dropped through the water column, water is
displaced through the body of the bailer. The degree of
displacement depends upon the check -valve ball movement
to allow water to flow freely through the bailer body.
2. Slowly lower the bailer to the appropriate depth. Upon
retrieval, the two check valves seat, preventing water from
escaping or entering the bailer.
3. Rinse the sampling device with ample amounts of site
water prior to collecting the first sample.
4. Fill the individual sample bottles via the discharge tube.
Sample bottles must be handled as described above.
Peristaltic Pump and Tubing: The most portable pump for this
technique is a 12 volt peristaltic pump. Use appropriately
precleaned, silastic tubing in the pump head and attach HDPE,
Tygon, etc. tubing to the pump. This technique is not acceptable
for Oil and Grease, EPH, VPH or VOCs. Extractable organics can
be collected through the pump if flexible interior -wall Teflon,
polyethylene or PP tubing is used in the pump head, or if used with
an organic trap setup.
1. Measure the water column to determine the maximum
depth and the sampling depth.
2. Tubing will need to be tied to a stiff pole or be weighted
down so the tubing placement will be secure. Do not use a
lead weight. Any dense, non -contaminating, non -
interfering material will work (brick, stainless steel weight,
etc.). Tie the weight with a lanyard (braided or
monofilament nylon, etc.) so that it is located below the
inlet of the tubing.
3. Turn the pump on and allow several tubing volumes of
water to be discharged before collecting the first sample.
4. Fill the individual sample bottles via the discharge tube.
Sample bottles must be handled as described above.
Rev 4-08 36