Tips and Tricks

It's with great excitement that we announce our new line of compact bottom weights.  These are heavier and more compact than our traditional bullet weights.  They will be ideal for applications where you need extra room for sample collection at the bottom of the well.  Also they will provide more weight options when deploying top-weighted assemblies.

We will continue to carry all sizes of the traditional bullet weights; these compact weights will just make a larger selection of weights to choose from.

Compact Weights are marked in the photo for reference only.  Weights will not come with markings.

As you can see from the comparison photo, what used to be the length of an 8-ounce weight (4 inches) will now be 23 ounces with the compact weight. Also note an 8-ounce weight can now be obtainable in just 1.5 inches.  

They will still come with the attaching clips and are now available for purchase. 

4-inch compact weight, 23 ounces $35.00

3-inch compact weight, 17 ounces $30.00

2-inch compact weight, 11 ounces $27.00

1.5-inch compact weight, 8 ounces $25.00

Please call 800-996-2225 or click the above links to order.

Great news in the world of no-purge groundwater sampling!

The largest environmental testing lab in the United States, Test America, has started a Lower Sample Volume Initiative (LVI) the details of which can be found here:

 Test American Lower Sample Volume Initiative Introduction

They even received Department of Defense accreditation for this program as seen in this online article..

Sample volume has always been the biggest obstacle for HydraSleeve use in many applications. Programs such as their Lower Sample Volume Initiative will open the door for HydraSleeve use at sites where standard sample volume requirements would not allow their use in the past.  Of all the no-purge samplers HydraSleeves collect the largest volume possible and provide more sample volume per dollar.

Once again, we would like to stress that it's definitely worth talking to YOUR lab about reducing their sample volume requirements when possible! 

Please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you need help with the negotiations.  We can send you an independently developed (by the ITRC) Minimum Sample Volume Requirement Spreadsheet.

So, how much sample volume can be obtained from our HydraSleeves?

The chart below shows the maximum amount of volume which can be obtained considering these factors:

1.  No spillage

2.  Be sure not to use the water that collects on top of the check valve

These sample volumes may vary slightly, but this is typical if the above steps are followed. 

So why do our part numbers and paperwork vary from the amounts found here?  We always quote conservatively when quoting sample volumes in our paperwork.  This is to account for new users who may have spillage, and those who cannot obtain all of the water from inside the HydraSleeves.  Please note that some of the larger HydraSleeves  can be more difficult to decant and therefore the amount we quote in our paperwork varies even more than the smaller HydraSleeves which are easier to decant.  With continued experience using HydraSleeves and decanting samples, the amount you actually collect will likely increase over time.

We are happy to introduce to you the new "Armored HydraSleeves"

 We have applied an additional layer of polyethylene material to the outside of the sleeve, placed some strategic holes to allow air to escape, and have more than doubled the wall thickness of a typical HydraSleeve.  Doing so also increases the tensile strength by 10 pounds to better than 35 pounds for the 2-inch 1-liter unit, with similar results on the other sizes.

Standard HydraSleeves are 3 mil thick; the armored sleeves will be 7 mil. 

An Armored HydraSleeve could be useful in steel wells, open boreholes, or anywhere you might expect that a HydraSleeve would come in contact with jagged edges or increased potential for abrasion.

They are not available for SuperSleeves because the heavier wall thickness will not allow the sleeve to compress in the bottom of the well very easily.  Therefore, even standard top weights should not be used in conjunction with an armored sleeve. 

The only drawback is that the total sample volume will be slightly reduced using an armored sleeve.  For those that need an extra heavy-duty HydraSleeve the small reduction in sample volume should not prove to be too much of an obstacle.  For our 2-inch sleeves you will lose 100 mls of sample volume and for the 4-inch sleeves you will lose 200 mls.   Due to the stiffness and additional buoyancy, additional bottom weight will be needed when using Armored HydraSleeves.  We would suggest moving one up on the weight size chart to overcome any trapped air between the layers of material, and also to accommodate pulling down the additional buoyancy of the Armored HydraSleeves.

Quantities are available for purchase immediately.  They are surcharged the same as any customized HydraSleeve, that is, add $10 to the list price.  Please visit our online shopping area for more information.  Or, if you are interested in further discussion, please give us a call 800-996-2225 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.with questions.