A Depth‐Proportional Intake Device for Automatic Water Samplers1

:  This paper describes the construction and testing of a device for pumping water samplers that collects suspended sediment samples by moving the intake vertically to keep it at the same proportion of flow depth. The device uses a simple sprocket mechanism that can be mounted vertically on the down...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the American Water Resources Association 2009-02, Vol.45 (1), p.272-277
Main Author: Lecce, Scott A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Creeks & streams
environmental sampling
pumping sampler
Samples
Scientific apparatus & instruments
Sediments
suspended sediment
urban streams
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Summary::  This paper describes the construction and testing of a device for pumping water samplers that collects suspended sediment samples by moving the intake vertically to keep it at the same proportion of flow depth. The device uses a simple sprocket mechanism that can be mounted vertically on the downstream side of culverts and bridge pilings to protect against damage from floating debris during storms. Suspended sediment samples collected from an urban stream with the depth‐proportional device were compared with manual samples taken with a depth‐integrated sampler. Scatter in the relationship between pumped and manual samples (R2 = 0.76) are probably explained by horizontal variability in concentrations, poor mixing associated with lateral sediment inputs from construction site erosion, the downstream orientation of the intake, and the failure of the concentration at 60% of the flow depth to match the average vertical concentration.
ISSN:1093-474X
1752-1688
DOI:10.1111/j.1752-1688.2008.00269.x