This comprehensive 29-module E-Course covers everything from optimizing monitoring well placement to environmental drilling technologies to monitoring well design, construction and development to the most up-to-date methods and practices for sampling ground water from monitoring wells.

In the first 14 modules of this E-Course, instructors focus on the elements that comprise an effective ground-water monitoring program; the importance of establishing monitoring program objectives, data needs and uses; factors that influence optimal monitoring well location and monitoring system design, including site-specific geology, hydrogeology and geochemistry; collecting existing information to create an initial conceptual site model; using accelerated site characterization methods and modern technologies to efficiently develop a detailed understanding of site geology, hydrogeology and geochemistry; refining the conceptual site model to optimize positioning of wells and well screens; drilling methods available for characterizing sites and installing boreholes, wells and multi-level monitoring systems; soil sample description and handling in the field; well design techniques to ensure sediment-free ground-water samples; and monitoring well construction and development methods. 

The substance of more than a dozen ASTM Standard Guides and Practices for environmental site characterization, environmental drilling and direct-push methods, monitoring well design and construction and well development is covered in this portion of the E-Course.  In the field video portions of these modules, students learn how various advanced site characterization methods, including discrete and continuous soil sampling, discrete ground-water sampling and profiling, remote-sensing methods (including soil electrical conductivity profiling, soil hydraulic conductivity profiling and direct VOC detection), and cone penetration testing can be used to develop a detailed understanding of subsurface conditions.  Additional video segments focus on how direct-push technology and sonic drilling can be used to collect soil samples install small-diameter monitoring wells. 

In the next 15 modules of this E-Course, instructors focus on ground-water sampling issues.  In modules 15 through 17, students learn about a number of important issues, including what factors influence the successful implementation of ground-water sampling programs; how to prepare and implement effective ground-water sampling and analysis plans; how to update existing sampling protocols in response to changes in technology and field practices; how to develop an effective field equipment decontamination program; and how to implement good field practices and incorporate strong field QA/QC protocols to ensure both precision and accuracy in ground-water sampling events.  The field video portions of these modules focus on well inspection and housekeeping prior to sampling, field equipment decontamination practices, and how to properly collect field QA/QC samples.

In modules 18 through 29, instructors focus on the science behind ground-water sampling (uses of water-level data, water-level measurement methods, sources of bias and error in water-level measurement, sources of bias and error in ground-water sample collection, and factors affecting the representative nature of ground-water samples); selection and operation of purging and sampling devices; how to implement various purging and sampling methodologies (including conventional purging and sampling, low-flow purging and no-purge sampling); field water-quality indicator parameter measurement; sample collection and pre-treatment procedures (filtration and preservation); handling and shipment of ground-water samples (with discussions of DOT and IATA shipping regulations); and documentation of sampling events to ensure defensibility of data and records. 

The substance of more than a dozen ASTM Standard Guides and Practices on these topics is covered in this portion of the course.  The field video portions of these modules focus on all of the field practices and procedures used to effectively implement ground-water sampling events, including operation of a variety of ground-water sampling pumps, methods for conventional sampling, low-flow purging and sampling, and no-purge sampling; water-level measurement; measurement of field water-quality indicator parameters; sample collection, filtration and preservation; and sample packaging and shipment.

Total CEUs for This E-Course: 32.5 CEUs

Modules Included in This E-Course

This is the most comprehensive and up-to-date practical course on ground-water sampling available anywhere.  Because collection of ground-water samples from monitoring wells is a critical component of environmental investigations at many sites, and because this is a complex subject, this E-Course covers this topic in detail in 15 modules. 

In the first 3 modules of this E-Course, students learn what factors influence the successful implementation of ground-water sampling programs; how to prepare and implement effective ground-water sampling and analysis plans; how to update existing sampling protocols in response to changes in technology and field practices; how to develop an effective field equipment decontamination program; and how to implement good field practices and incorporate strong field QA/QC protocols to ensure precision, accuracy and defensibility in ground-water sampling events.

In modules 4 and 5 of this E-Course, instructors discuss in detail the science behind ground-water sampling, including why water-level measurement methods and traditional ground-water sample collection methods (including well-volume purging and sampling using bailers and high-flow-rate pumps), are subject to significant sources of  bias and error.  The latter commonly result in either over-or under-estimation of actual sample concentrations, which is why using more up-to-date methods (including low-flow sampling and no-purge sampling), that have been demonstrated to produce higher-quality samples, allow all stakeholders to have much higher confidence in sample analytical results.  Given the magnitude of the decisions that are made based on ground-water sample analytical data, the technical and economic impacts of using outdated sampling methods can be enormous. 

Modules 6 through 15 of this E-Course cover selection and operation of purging and sampling devices; how to implement various purging and sampling methodologies (including conventional purging and sampling, low-flow purging and sampling and no-purge sampling); field water-quality indicator parameter measurement; sample collection and pre-treatment procedures (filtration and preservation); handling and shipment of ground-water samples (with discussions of DOT and IATA shipping regulations); and documentation of sampling events to ensure defensibility of data and records.  The substance of more than a dozen ASTM Standard Guides and Practices on these topics is covered in this E-Course. 

The field video portions of these modules focus on all of the field practices and procedures used to effectively implement ground-water sampling events, including well inspection and housekeeping practices during sampling events; field equipment decontamination practices; methods for properly collecting field QC samples, operation of ground-water sampling devices of all types; methods for conventional sampling, low-flow purging and sampling, and no-purge sampling; water-level measurement; measurement of field water-quality indicator parameters; sample collection, filtration and preservation; and sample packaging and shipment.

Total CEUs for This E-Course: 17.5 CEUs

Modules Included in This E-Course