Sampling Sentinel Wells in Albuquerque, New Mexico

In this photo Rebecca Travis, Rob Henrion, Hal Nelson, and Erik Storms install passive-groundwater-quality samplers in sentinel wells for the Kirtland Bulk Fuels Facility Remediation project. The purpose of the sentinel wells is to provide an early warning to the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority if contamination moves downgradient towards groundwater production wells. The USGS NMWSC will evaluate the results from the passive samplers in comparison to traditional groundwater sampling techniques which use pumps to purge water from the wells. At other sites passive samplers have shown a significant savings to taxpayers moneys, over other sampling techniques, and a reduction in the amount of water wasted during the sampling process.