Cleaner, quieter, more precise – groundwater sampling on behalf of the Basel-Landschaft Office for Environment and Energy

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Groundwater is one of our most valuable resources. Human activities and natural processes can pollute groundwater. For many years, the Basel-Landschaft Office for Environment and Energy has commissioned GEOTEST AG to carry out extensive groundwater sampling in Allschwil, Muttenz/Pratteln and the Frenken valleys, to ensure the long-term quality of the groundwater. The field team relies not only on its extensive expertise but also on state-of-the-art technology.

Depending on the specific question, groundwater samples from the canton of Basel-Landschaft are analysed for elements, organic compounds, trace substances, freons, heavy metals, pesticides, perfluorinated surfactants, or various isotope ratios.

The field work and subsequent highly sensitive analysis require cleanliness, precision and experience. The GEOTEST field team is known for its reliable and clean sampling: in just one week, samples are taken at around 50 to 60 locations – even at sites that are difficult to access.

Groundwater boreholes converted into measurement sites provide access to the groundwater.

Each site has distinctive characteristics. Some of them are located directly on roads.

The GEOTEST field team fills up to eight sample containers per groundwater measurement site. The groundwater samples are taken from depths of up to 300 metres. This is done in strict accordance with the guidelines set out in ‘Groundwater sampling, BUWAL, 2003’, a handbook for practitioners. The environmental laboratories commissioned to carry out the analysis regularly confirm the high quality of the samples provided by GEOTEST. In this way, the team lays the foundations for reliable analyses.

GEOTEST employees take up to eight groundwater samples per measurement site.

To further reduce the risk of sample contamination during collection in the future, GEOTEST has introduced the portable Instagrid energy storage device for use by its mobile field team. In many applications, the device replaces the petrol generator as a power supply for water pumps used directly in the field.

The Instagrid energy storage device is easy to transport.

This allows groundwater samples to be taken under even cleaner conditions – without introducing exhaust fumes, noise or vibrations that could impair the quality of the measurements.

Unlike a generator, Instagrid operates without noise or exhaust emissions.

This compact 20 kg device is quiet and emission-free, and there is less of a risk of cross-contamination of samples by exhaust fumes. For specialists, the device also means less noise, better concentration, and a much more pleasant working atmosphere.

Documenting the samples is an important step.

The field team can sample all 60 sites in one week.

This is how technological innovation and technical expertise are combined to efficiently, precisely and sustainably implement the mandate of the Basel-Landschaft Office for Environment and Energy – to protect one of our essentials for life: groundwater.