A temporary sampling technique for investigating groundwater quality near the ground surface

Improved knowledge of processes determining groundwater quality is an important precondition for the solution of various ecological and water management problems. In areas with highly fluctuating groundwater levels, time-limited access, local pollution sources or temporary interactions between surface water and groundwater, a temporary groundwater sampling technique could be of advantage. Furthermore, depth-specific sampling is of high value for investigating groundwater pollution related to seepage or surface water infiltration. A stainless steel core probe has been developed to obtain groundwater samples and to measure the hydraulic head distribution at various defined depths. The sampling technique is applicable only for non-volatile water constituents. An advantage of the core probe is that it can be driven into soil or sediments using ordinary low cost percussion equipment. The probe enables hydraulic head measurements and water sampling over vertical intervals of 0.3 m. Results from field experiments using the stainless steel core probe were in good correspondence with results from groundwater sampling at nearby observation wells. In the upper layer of the aquifer, the intrinsic spatial change in concentrations of sulphate, chloride and other water constituents is a function of distance between observation points and groundwater surface. Results indicate strong effects of a fluctuating groundwater level on groundwater quality at certain depths.