LSPA Continuing Education Webinar

Sampling Domestic Wells for Contamination: Overcoming Concentration Averaging Issues 

When: Thursday, April 7, 2022  
Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM EST  
Live Webinar via Zoom
Registration: In your LSPA registration confirmation email, you will receive a link to a Zoom Registration for this topic. Registration for LSPA webinars requires a two-step process. 1) Complete the LSPA registration, and 2) In your LSPA confirmation email, you will receive a link to a Zoom "Webinar Registration". You must also complete this registration in order to receive the webinar link, and reminder emails with course materials. Registration closes 15 minutes prior to the start of the webinar.  
Cost: Members $100 | Non-members $250
Course Instructor: Mark Higgins, PhD, Senior Hydrogeologist, Haley & Aldrich, Inc. and Research Specialist, University of Connecticut, Department of Geosciences (View Instructor Biography)
Available Credits
2.0 Technical LSP Credits - Approved
2.0 CT LEP Credits - CTLEP-560 W
2.0 NY PE Credits - #20228430
2.0 NY PG Credits - #20228430
*To ensure you receive continuing education credit for your attendance in this webinar, please read the LSPA's guidelines here.

Course Description: 
The collection of accurate water quality samples is essential in evaluating contaminated groundwater conditions. This is especially crucial when assessing contaminant risk associated with domestic wells, as most are not sampled on a regular basis. However, there are a host of factors that can impact concentrations determined using common sampling approaches that have a potential to result in data that is not representative of the drinking water risk. The objective of this course is to review issues associated with sampling domestic wells for contamination and practical methods for overcoming these issues.

The course will begin with a review of factors that can influence sample water quality given common approaches to sampling domestic wells. This will include factors associated with both sampling practices and hydrogeologic conditions typically found throughout the northeast. Next the course will introduce flow models that provide a means of quantifying concentration influences. Then we will review several case studies to illustrate real world issues and assessments. These studies include road salt and arsenic contamination issues, in domestic wells, which are pervasive in the northeast. Finally, we will discuss means to practically overcome these issues.

Participants will learn methods for improving sampling approaches to obtain more reliable and consistent information. They will learn how to establish a more effective monitoring protocol for domestic wells to minimize biases due to sample averaging which could lead to misinterpretations of data. We will also review the tools, procedures, and methods that may be available for characterizing the fracture conditions influencing contaminant concentrations in wells. Participants will gain an understanding of the limitations of current methods with sampling and issues associated with interpreting that data.

To view course agenda, please click here.

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