Field Hydrogeology Lab

Multi-level packer system

This system uses water to inflate rubber zones (packers) against the borehole walls, making it possible to conduct experiments and sample from discrete interval depths of an aquifer/aquitard.

We also have a Minnesota Geological Survey (MGS) packer system that uses pressurized air to inflate one packer, making it possible to conduct experiments directly in a single fracture, for instance in aquifer tests.

Teledyne Isco 3700 autosampler

This is a portable and programable auto sampler, ideal for sampling water during long periods. It has many features that ensure quality control, such as a purge step before sampling, a log record from the sampling period, and more.

It has a acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) exterior with stainless steel, anodized aluminum, polypropylene, and EPDM components, making it more resistant to weather conditions.


Hydrogeology sensors

We have many hydrogeology sensors used to measure and monitor groundwater and soil properties. Examples are: 

Solinst double valve pump

Double Valve Pumps (DVPs) are portable water samplers that use compressed gas or air providing high quality, consistent samples, and excellent VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) sample results. It can be fitted with packers to control groundwater flow and limit purge requirements. 


In-situ submersible fluorometers

In-situ fluorometers use a single wavelength that convert the output signal to a specific concentration estimate. They are used to measure a dye tracer concentration through time during a tracer test, but can also be used for a broad range of other applications. These sensors are built with titanium, which provides resistance to corrosion as well as lower energy consumption allowing measurement for long periods. Usually, they are integrated with dataloggers that record the data collected.

We have in-situ fluorometers that can capture concentrations of fluorescein (0.02 ppb to 150 ppb) and rhodamine (0.03 ppb to 200 ppb).