Development and field implementation of a new generation penetrometric sampling system

ABSTRACT This paper describes the development of a second generation penetrometric sampling system as an environmental assessment tool for the characterisation of groundwater quality. The system improvements included an increase in the maximum rate of groundwater sampling capacity and the development of a new multiparametric flow cell using mini- and microsensors to obtain more accurate values of a greater number of physico-chemical parameters in real-time. The system was tested extensively, both in the laboratory and in the field around an active municipal solid waste landfill. The field data collected was used to characterise the spatial distribution of the groundwater quality parameters around the landfill site.