The US XPD-24–200—An isokinetic suspended-sediment and water-quality collapsible-bag sampler with point- or depth-integrating sampling capabilities

Abstract

Accurate collection of fluvial suspended‑sediment and water‑quality samples is essential for understanding transport processes, evaluating river health, quantifying loads, and supporting regulatory and management decisions. Since 1939, the Federal Interagency Sedimentation Project (FISP) has led the development and standardization of sediment‑sampling equipment and methods across Federal agencies. Although substantial advancements have been made, the most recent point‑integrating sampler developed in 2006 has notable limitations, including insufficient sample volume for low‑concentration analyses and a mechanically complex pressure‑equalization system required for a rigid-bottle sample container. To address these limitations, FISP collaborated with Carnet Technology to design, fabricate, and test a new collapsible‑bag sampler capable of collecting larger sample volumes and operating as either a point‑integrating or depth‑integrating sampler. The resulting sampler, the US XPD‑24‑200, was evaluated through controlled tow‑tank tests and field testing in a lake environment. Results indicate that the US XPD‑24‑200 can collect a 5.5-fold increase in maximum sample volume than a pre-existing point sampler developed in 2006. The US XPD‑24‑200 performs isokinetically within the expected intake efficiency (IE) range under most conditions. Approximately 73 percent of IEs fell within the target range of 0.9–1.1. A mild bias was observed with IE values outside this range that were predominantly lower than 0.9 and occurred most frequently at the lower test velocities, whereas only 2 percent of IEs exceeded 1.1, primarily at the highest velocities tested. Tow‑tank tests produced tightly clustered IE values with low variability, demonstrating stable performance under controlled conditions. Lake towing tests exhibited more variability, reflecting natural environmental influences such as turbulence, temperature gradients, and unsteady inflow. Collectively, the results demonstrate that the US XPD‑24‑200 provides reliable IEs comparable to existing samplers while offering increased sample volume, reduced mechanical complexity, and enhanced operational flexibility.