A quick and simple solution to retrieving a lost bailer within a monitoring well.

1. Question, what do you do when you
lose your entire bailer and rope
down the inner casing of the
monitoring well or just the bailer?
By: Stan Liszka
Project Geologist

2. Poor Person’s Bailer Retrieval System
 I recently was in the field sampling a site in Missouri
and encountered this problem that sometimes occurs
when sampling monitoring wells with a bailer. I
ponder to myself; could other EMR employees possibly
use this tip?
 Special Note: The following list of equipment is very
simple and if you are in a jam can be obtained in any
small town hardware store or at the local Walmart.

3. Poor Person’s Bailer Retrieval System
Equipment Required:
1) A roll of fishing line, preferably 25 lb. test line or higher.
2) Either large fishing hooks, at least three or two spoon
lures.
3) One fishing leader with an attached snap swivel.
4) Pad lock, small for a 2” inner casing opening.
5) Alconox / Dawn soap for cross contamination issues.

4. Poor Person’s Bailer Retrieval System

5. Poor Person’s Bailer Retrieval System
Construction:
1) Attach either the fishing hooks or spoon lures to the
end of the leader snap swivel.
2) Tie the other end of the leader tightly to the pad
lock.
3) Fasten another snap swivel to the fishing line and tie
to the pad lock.

6. Poor Person’s Bailer Retrieval System

7. Poor Person’s Bailer Retrieval System
Retrieval:
1) Drop the rig down the inner casing, the pad lock acts as
the weight to help in pulling the bailer up.
2) You will be able to tell if the hooks are attached to the
top of the opening of the bailer by the sense of feel, use
a slow steady hand moment to lift the bailer up.
3) Remember you will have additional weight most likely
due to the bailer will be full of groundwater.
4) Take your time!

8. Poor Person’s Bailer Retrieval System
Final Note:
Once the bailer is retrieved the equipment can be
decontaminated and used again. I store my rig in a
zip lock bag.