What are long-handled, polyethylene devices used for collecting samples from water?

• A. Kemmerer bottles
• B. Alpha samplers
• C. Bacon bombs
• D. Dippers

Answer: (D)

Dippers are the long-handled, polyethylene devices used for collecting samples from water. The long handle lets you reach out over the water and scoop a grab sample from the surface without contaminating it with your hand. The polyethylene construction is inert and inexpensive, making it ideal for routine field sampling of lakes, rivers, and streams. You dip the scoop into the water, fill it, and transfer the sample to a container for lab analysis, keeping the process simple and minimizing disturbance to the sample. Other options are designed for different sampling scenarios—depth-specific bottles, specialized in-line samplers, or bomb-type samplers—so they aren’t the standard choice for a straightforward surface-water grab sample.