Can I still use a Triad approach if an appropriate real-time technique is not available for my site (i.e., contaminants are not detectable at action levels by real-time techniques)?
Even if a site cannot make full use of the Triad (e.g., an appropriate real-time technique is not available or cost-effective), components of the Triad can still provide significant benefit. For example, the use of a systematic planning process will have value even if a dynamic work strategy and real-time measurement techniques are not employed. Similarly, focusing on collaborative data sets (e.g., data sets that contain some higher quality standard laboratory analyses supplemented by a larger number of lower-cost but less definitive data) can greatly improve overall decision quality while at the same time reducing characterization costs, whether adaptive sampling programs are used or not. Even if available field methods cannot reach regulatory action levels, they may still be useful in developing the conceptual site model (understanding source areas and migration pathways and the degree of heterogeneity). An important point to remember is that for some contaminants of concern, even co
