When to Use Automatic Samplers for Stormwater Monitoring
Automatic samplers can help when storm events occur outside business hours, sample timing is difficult, access is unsafe, or composite samples are needed. They are useful tools, but they require setup, maintenance, programming, bottle handling, and quality control.
Automatic samplers are useful when
- Stormwater discharges are short and hard to catch manually.
- Outfalls are difficult or unsafe to access during rain.
- Flow-weighted or time-weighted samples are needed.
- Multiple events must be monitored consistently.
- Field staff cannot be onsite quickly enough.
Planning considerations
Review power, tubing length, intake location, bottle capacity, trigger method, sample preservation, security, and how the sampler will be cleaned between events.
Related resources
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