Abstract
An important aspect of any detailed groundwater quality investigation is determining the vertical distribution of pollutants. This may best be achieved by using permanent sampling systems installed in dedicated boreholes. However, the availability of open boreholes in the UK, coupled with the relative expense of installing dedicated systems, has increased the value of methods for obtaining level-determined samples from such boreholes. This paper presents a qualitative appraisal of three such methods, based on the use of portable pumps and packers, frequently combined with flow logging. The methods were tested in four open boreholes penetrating a multi-layered aquifer. In the most successful applications, vertical profiles of chlorinated hydrocarbon solvent concentrations were defined which were thought to be representative of those in the aquifer.
