Course Catalogue.

After participating in this course, you will be able to:

• Select the most updated techniques and methods in collecting representative samples of groundwater that meet the required needs for your project.
• Examine procedures and steps to follow in planning a successful field groundwater sampling program.
• Apply progressive techniques for monitoring groundwater quality and groundwater levels for long-term data collection that can be used to assess the impact of Environmental climate change on water resources and drought conditions.
• Minimize bias in collecting high-quality data for a cost-effective project using QA/QC.
• Develop and implement a successful and affordable groundwater sampling program that meets the regulations and requirements recommended by international environmental organizations in Canada and the U.S.

Description
This training course discusses the comprehensive approach and cost-effective operation of a successful field groundwater monitoring and sampling program to collect representative groundwater samples.

The workshop will assist individuals in understanding the design principle, required personnel, equipment needed, field operation, and procedures for monitoring and collecting groundwater samples for analysis, as well as saving money for their project.

Who Should Attend
Environmental Consultants • Engineers •Technical Personnel and Technologists responsible for collecting groundwater samples • Project Managers • Regulatory Personnel •Utility companies and Agencies • Building Companies, Real Estates, and Conservation Authorities

Course Syllabus

Welcome, Introduction, Course Preview, Learning Outcomes and the Assessment Method

Section 1)

• Planning groundwater sampling event
• Field equipment requirement
• Objectives of groundwater sampling
• Well selection for groundwater sampling

Section 2)

• Groundwater level measurement
• The objective of groundwater level measurement
• Methods of groundwater level measurement
• Factors affecting groundwater level measurement accuracy
• Procedures of groundwater level measurement

Section 3)

• Purging
• Objectives of purging
• Standard traditional purging
• Purging volumes calculation
• The exception to the 3 well Volumes Rule

Section 4)

• Purging and sampling devices
• Advantages and disadvantages of sampling devices
• Portable versus dedicated sampling devices (pump)

Section 5)

• Monitoring field parameters
• Monitoring of parameters of stabilization
• Parameters of stabilization criteria

Section 6)

• Groundwater sampling procedures
• Groundwater sampling methods
• Monitoring and sampling procedures

Section 7)
Sample Collection

• general chemistry
• metals
• pesticides
• volatile organics and phenols

Section 8)

• Filtration and preservation of groundwater samples
• Sample filtration
• Sample preservation

Section 9)

• Field Quality Assurance/Quality Control Program (QA/QC)
• Why Quality Assurance and Quality Control are important?
• What are accuracy and precision?
• What is bias?
• Areas of quality assurance concern

Section 10)

• Components of field Quality Control samples:
• Equipment blanks, trip blanks, field blanks, temperature blanks, duplicate samples

Section 11)
Equipment Decontamination:

• Objectives of equipment decontamination
• Portable equipment decontamination
• Chemical decontamination options
• Which equipment needs decontamination?
• Minimum decontamination procedures
• More rigorous decontamination

Section 12)
Sample Shipment and Handling

• Sample chain of custody (COC)
• Selecting shipment method

Section 13)

• Low-flow purging and sampling
• Low-flow vs traditional purging
• Advantages of low-flow sampling
• Low-flow sampling requirement for dedicated pumps
• Low-flow sampling requirement for portable pumps

Section 14)

• Post sampling documentation

Section 15)

• Collection of drinking water samples

Section 16)

• Video Presentation of low-flow purging and sampling groundwater

The students are divided into two or three groups (depending on the number of students) and assigned to practice a case study in order to be familiar with the steps such as calculating the volume of purged water from a well, water level measurement, monitoring the parameters of stabilization as well as other activities in the field.

The video presentation will be shown in the morning of the next day's Course, followed by questions and answers.

Questions and Answers and Feedback to Participants on Achievement of Learning Outcomes