Storm water runoff first flush sampler

A first flush liquid sampler having an interior and an exterior and having an upstream end near a source of liquid discharge and a downstream end comprising:

• a plurality of containers generally positioned at the downstream end, each container having a top and a bottom;
• a funnel generally positioned at the upstream end having a large open top intake end for collecting liquid and a small open bottom discharge end for discharging the liquid;
• a fluid conduit having an open inlet end for receiving the liquid from the funnel and an open outlet end for discharging the liquid into the containers, said fluid conduit having a conduit sidewall, said sidewall having means for releasing kinetic pressure due to falling fluid impinging on the funnel after the containers are full of the liquid and for providing a discharge directly to the exterior of the sampler of liquid impinging on the funnel after the containers are full of the liquid, said means for releasing and providing a discharge comprising an aperture located downstream of the small open bottom discharge end of the funnel;
• and
• a set of discharge tubes, one end of each discharge tube being connected to one of the plurality of containers for venting air therefrom when the respective container fills with liquid and the other end of each tube extending above the large top intake end of the funnel for discharging the vented air.

A method of sampling the sediment content of first runoff liquid comprising the steps of:

• positioning a container below a liquid runoff area;
• transmitting runoff liquid in a substantially closed fashion from a liquid collection location above the container to the container;
• venting air from the container to a location above the liquid collection location;
• trapping and preventing additional sediment from entering the container after the container is full of said first runoff liquid;
• and
• releasing kinetic pressure from a location between the liquid collection location and the container when liquid runoff continues after the container is full;
• whereby additional liquid due to runoff subsequent to the first runoff is prevented from entering the container.