Soil and Groundwater Monitoring

Soil and groundwater assessments are both essential elements in sustainable environmental management and usually involves the collection of samples via bore holes and monitoring wells. Apart from collecting water samples to monitor and assess water quality, water quality meters such as the YSI ProDSS Handheld Multiparameter Meter can also be used to record data at a single point in time.

Sourced from industry leading manufacturers such as Geotech Environmental Equipment Inc, AMS Inc, YSI Inc and Solinst Ltd, Air-Met’s quality range of soil sampling and groundwater and water quality monitoring equipment are preferred by industry professionals and are available for purchase and hire.

Groundwater Monitoring Equipment for Well and Borehole Monitoring

Groundwater is the water beneath the earth’s surface and moves slowly between gaps in rocks and sediment. Groundwater is an important source of water for towns, industries and irrigators and is equally as important for some ecosystems.

While groundwater levels can change naturally over time due to changes in weather patterns and climate change, the levels can also react to withdrawal by humans using wells or bores. This extraction also has the potential to alter the natural flow of groundwater. Time can also affect the quantity and quality of the groundwater.

As a result, groundwater monitoring provides critical data on quality and quantity and is an essential aspect for groundwater and land management. The sampling of groundwater can be undertaken for a variety of reasons including:

To monitor the effect of management on water tables
To monitor any change in the water quality
To track the direction of water level changes
To assess the risk of increasing salinity
For the evaluation of land management practices on groundwater levels

Whether you are monitoring for groundwater level, groundwater quality or undertaking groundwater remediation, Air-Met Scientific offer a wide variety of groundwater monitoring equipment to suit your needs including:

Water quality meters
Water level meters
Passive, electric & pneumatic total fluid & dissolved phase remediation equipment
Interface meters
Peristaltic pumps
Water quality consumables including tubing, in-line filters, decontamination solutions and more.

Hand Augers, Sludge Sediment Samplers and Soil Sampling Equipment

Soil assessments focus on collecting samples for specific analysis based on known or suspected environmental conditions. Recovered soil samples are generally sent to laboratories for further analysis using products such as AMS Professional Soil Sampling Kit which features the trusted AMS ¾in threaded connection and have thicker cutting teeth with stronger welds. Commonly used for contamination investigations such as site assessments during construction, agricultural and geotechnical applications, Air-Met's range of AMS Inc Soil Sampling equipment are designed for tough field use and are available for sale or rental.

Our product range includes:

Soil Augers
Soil Core Samplers
Sludge Sediment Samplers
Gas Vapour Implants

For more information, contact our teams at one of our six offices today.

Does Air-Met Scientific hire soil sampling and groundwater monitoring equipment for short or long term projects?

Yes, Air-Met Scientific offers a wide range of soil sampling equipment, groundwater monitoring equipment such as peristaltic pumps, water level meters as well as water quality sampling instrumentation such as water quality meters for hire. Our instrumentation is also complemented by a comprehensive range of water quality consumables including bailers, tubing, filters, calibration solutions and more. Contact your local Air-Met Scientific Rental office to discuss your monitoring requirements or for product availability. Air-Met Scientific have rental offices in most major cities including Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Mackay, Perth and Adelaide.

Does Air-Met Scientific offer groundwater sampling supplies to complement their equipment?

Yes, Air-Met Scientific offers a comprehensive range of groundwater sampling consumables to complement their groundwater and water quality equipment. Our consumable range includes:

In-line filters
HydraSleeves
Tubing
Bailers
Well caps
Foot valves
Surge blocks
Calibration solutions including decontamination solution, pH, salinity and turbidity

Most of the consumables are in stock and available for immediate delivery. For information on stock availability, please contact your local Air-Met office.

What is groundwater monitoring?

Groundwater monitoring is the ongoing process of collecting and analysing water samples from wells or other monitoring points to assess the quality and quantity of groundwater. It is done to ensure that the groundwater is safe and suitable for its intended use, and to detect any potential contamination from human activities or natural sources.

Groundwater monitoring can be conducted for a variety of purposes, such as regulatory compliance, site investigation and remediation, resource management, and public health protection. The frequency and extent of groundwater monitoring can vary depending on the specific site and the intended use of the groundwater. Groundwater monitoring is typically conducted by trained professionals using specialised equipment, and the results are carefully documented and reported to stakeholders, such as regulatory agencies or the public.

What is soil sampling?

Soil sampling is the process of collecting representative samples of soil from a specific site for laboratory analysis. The purpose of soil sampling is to evaluate the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil to better understand its characteristics and to identify any potential contaminants. Soil sampling is typically done for a variety of purposes, including agricultural applications, construction projects, site investigation and remediation, and environmental monitoring.

Soil samples are collected using specialised tools and techniques, and the samples are analysed in a laboratory to measure important parameters such as nutrient content, pH, and organic matter. The results of the soil analysis can be used to make informed decisions about soil management and to identify any potential environmental concerns. Soil sampling is typically conducted by trained professionals using specialised equipment such as soil augers, and the results are carefully documented and reported to stakeholders, such as regulatory agencies or the public.

What are some common methodologies for low flow groundwater monitoring?

Low flow groundwater monitoring is a method of collecting water samples from monitoring wells while minimising the disturbance of the natural flow conditions of the groundwater. This technique is used to collect water samples that more accurately represent the in-situ water quality conditions, which is especially important for long-term monitoring of groundwater quality. There are two primary methodologies for low flow groundwater monitoring:

Low-Flow Purging: In this method, a specialised low flow pump is used to remove a small volume of water from the well, just enough to initiate low flow conditions. The water is then recirculated within the well to maintain low flow conditions, and a small, dedicated sampling line is used to collect water samples. This method minimises the disturbance of the natural flow conditions of the groundwater and produces a representative sample of the in-situ water quality.
Passive Sampling: Passive sampling involves the use of specialised devices, such as diffusion samplers, that are placed within the well and left in place for a period of time. The device allows water to slowly diffuse into the sampler and collect a representative sample of the in-situ water quality conditions. This method is less invasive than low flow purging and can be used for long-term monitoring.

For users who are sampling deeper wells/bores, the Geotech Drop Tube Assembly can be used to increase the sampling depth of the Geotech Bladder Pump to sampler from a deeper horizon.

Soil and Groundwater Monitoring