This practice can be used in sampling drums, tanks, and similar containers and in sampling monitoring and waste wells including small diameter (1 in.) wells. The pump can collect samples from multiple depths. The samples can be high-viscosity fluids, aggressive and corrosive fluids, high-purity solutions and abrasive fluids. The pump can be used to mix samples (see D 6063).

Peristaltic pumps use a vacuum to transport the samples. This vacuum may cause some degassing and loss of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the sample. When precise quantitative data for VOCs and dissolved gases are not required, peristaltic pumps may be used.

The pump is self-priming, runs dry without damage, and is completely isolated from the pumped fluid. A sample can be taken on the intake or discharge side of the pump.

Some additional advantages of the peristaltic pump are: decontamination of the pump motor is not necessary and the tubing in the pump is disposable and easy to replace. The pumps can be easily started and stopped and can pump fluids at a wide range of pressures and flow rates.

The place, quality and quantity, frequency, and time of sampling is dependent upon the decisions that are to be made (see D 6250), sampling design (see D 6311), the sample, the heterogeneity of the samples (see D 5956), how representative the sample is (see D 6044), and the parameters to be tested as determined by the data quality objectives (DQOs) (see D 5792).