De. Clay et al., AGRICHEMICAL DETECTION IN A SHALLOW UNCONFINED AQUIFER AS INFLUENCED BY SAMPLING TECHNIQUE, Soil Science Society of America journal, 58(1), 1994, pp. 102-104
The sample collection system may influence the ability to describe the
complex temporal and spatial variation of contaminants Within an aqui
fer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the probability of de
tecting atrazine loro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-1,3,5-triazine) us
ing a bailer or skimmer in an unconfined aquifer located below an atra
zine-treated surface soil. In the simulated aquifer, the surface skimm
er collected more Br- than the fixed sampling port located 15 cm below
the aquifer surface and bailer. In the unconfined aquifer, the probab
ility of an atrazine detection was higher when samples were collected
with a surface skimmer than a bailer. These results suggest that the a
bility to determine vertical transport of contaminants from surface so
il to shallow aquifers at the point of agrichemical application is dep
endent on surface sampling of the aquifer.