News and Information for
March, 2009

Tips on how to have your equipment ready and fit for Spring

Ok, we agree, it is a bit early to talk spring, but not for sampling and monitoring ground and surface water. “Give me a break!” you say. You have not finished all your reports, and the streams, wells, and reservoirs are still frozen. Well, by talking about it now, we are giving you that break, but for spring. Let me elaborate.

What we are referring to is your equipment. Yep, those electronic gizmos sitting on your shelf collecting dust over the winter months that have been forgotten. That is, until the week before your first spring event. This is when we get most of the panicked calls about equipment not calibrating, turning on, or generally just being temperamental.

So, now is the time to think about this equipment, not next month, not the month after, now!

Here is a list of pointers to help you find out if you have any issues now, so you can have them resolved prior to loading the truck or flying out. Checking things out now will keep you from losing time and money in panicked overnight shipments for parts, calibrations, repairs, and possibly rental equipment to get you going when your stuff fails.

1. Turn It On:

Does it turn on? Does it need new batteries? Alkaline batteries left in equipment can off-gas over time, causing corrosion. Check them now.
If rechargeable, time to give it a good charge and test it out. Better to know now if that battery can hold a charge or if the charger is defunct.

2. O-Rings:

Yep, O-Rings! Any meter with submersible field changeable sensors are bound to have O-Rings to keep the water out of the connections. Take out the sensors, replace or re-silicone the O-rings (remember a little bit of silicone, just enough to make the O-ring sticky, not slippery). A word of warning; do not get silicone into the pins or actual contacts. You will do more harm than good!!

3. Sensor Check:

Water quality sensors such as pH and Dissolved Oxygen should be stored wet.

Never store in DI water! Never. Water is the “universal solvent”; DI water will kill sensors dead if they are left in it for a period of time. Clean with it, do not store with it!

pH storage solutions are available. In general, storing in pH 4 buffer is a safe bet, please check your manual!

Dissolved Oxygen can typically be stored with a sponge or with just a small layer of water in the storage chamber that does not directly contact the sensor. A small piece of sponge holds water longer.

4. Calibrate it Now:

Sure, you will have to calibrate again before you use it, but find out now if any sensors are out of whack, and if there are any that need repair or replacement, now is the time. Ground shipping is still far cheaper than Next Day Air (my skin crawls just saying it).

5. Other Stuff to Check:

a. Cables and connections. Any bent pins? Corrosion?

b. Communication cables. Still got them if you need them? Test them out.

c. Software. Any IT updates in your office knock your software out? Test.

d. Firmware updates. These fix bugs with equipment so they can function better.

This is just a basic list, and air quality instruments not used for a season will need the same love and attention as water quality instruments. If you use sampling pumps, time to break them out and give them a test, too. Remember, this equipment gets you your data, which is what you are out there for…right!?

If you run into issues, call us now, let’s figure out what happened together!

electric or pneumatic,
your choice will be
the intelligent
low flow sampling solution

If your project requires multiple monitoring wells for periodic groundwater sampling, you should consider the Geosmart solution. Geosmart is a system for packaging dedicated low flow sampling well equipment in a way that will immediately reduce time PLUS equipment costs over a period of time. Geosmart Dedicated Sampling Systems are custom manufactured to your specifications and install in 10 minutes or less. Systems are cut to length, pre-assembled and individually packaged for easy installation. Pump options include pneumatic bladder pumps, electric submersible pumps, and 12 volt DC electric sample pumps. Pumps are secured in place with your choice of well caps and pump tubing. Geosmart pump systems reduces installation time and virtually eliminate the potential of cross contamination as compared to portable systems.

Consider the cost of routine equipment blanks, decontamination time, plus wear and tear on your equipment, and then decide if Geosmart is right for you.

Contact Geotech for more information.

March 3-5
Marriott Atlanta Marquis
Atlanta, Georgia

RemTEC Summit ’09

We invite you to be part of a select group to attend the RemTEC Summit as our special guest. We want to invite you, as our guest, by offering you $200 off the $795 standard registration fee. See us at booth 4.

This inaugural summit is dedicated to the vigorous exchange of environmental professionals. RemTEC ‘09 is designed to be the place where you can come to hear the leading and most important sources of information on technology, application, and policy affecting contaminated site restoration. Reap the benefits of one-on-one personal contact with KEY industry leaders and professionals and learn the latest on emerging technologies.

Please visit www.remtec09.com to register online. Enter discount code GTEE200 to receive $200 OFF your standard registration. We’ll see you there!

May 7-9, 2009
Caribe Royale Orlando
Orlando, Florida

2009 Florida Ground Water Association Annual Convention & Trade Show

This year’s convention will be held at the beautiful Caribe Royale Orlando, only 1.5 miles from Walt Disney World® and just minutes from dozens of other world-famous attractions and theme parks. Another large turnout is expected as this convention promises to be an excellent experience for attendees, sponsors and exhibitors.

May 12-14, 2009
Austin Convention Center
Austin, Texas

Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality
2009 Environmental Trade Fair & Conference

Make plans now to attend the TCEQ 2009 Environmental Trade Fair and Conference!
This annual event is Texas' premier environmental educational forum, considered by many to be one of the best in the country. It will feature more than 400 exhibits, speakers, and up to 12 hours of continuing education credits. This event is a must for professional engineers, MSW technicians and supervisors, wastewater and water operators, LPST corrective action project managers, and professional sanitarians.

To contact Geotech:
Phone: 1-800-833-7958 • Fax: 303-322-7242

Prices and promotions mentioned in this newsletter are valid through March 31, 2009.
Geotech is solely responsible for the content in this newsletter.
Some items may not be immediately available at the time you receive this newsletter, call for details.
© 2009 Geotech Environmental Equipment, Inc.