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Bucket Monitor
The “bucket” is a low-cost, community-friendly air sampler that helps people measure toxic chemicals such as benzene and hydrogen sulfide in their air. Developed in the late 1990s, it was one of the first (if not the very first) do-it-together environmental monitors. Communities living near oil refineries and petrochemical plants gathered to build their own buckets. They established phone trees to make sure that, when noxious fumes enveloped their neighborhood, someone would take a sample.
Buckets are a critical tool for fenceline communities impacted by oil and gas development. They test for chemicals like benzene, hydrogen sulfide, perchloroethylene, and vinyl chloride, as well as other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and sulfur compounds that are gases in the ambient air. Above all, they allow communities to take control of their air. If that's you, keep reading!
Why use the bucket?
A fit for purpose tool
Health Impacts of Petrochemical Production
Building a campaign
Where should I start?
Think a bucket could be the right tool for you? This page includes links to everything you need (we hope) to learn how to use the bucket to achieve your goals. The resources here were developed in a collaboration that included Public Lab, the Fair Tech Collective, the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance, and groundWork.
How to build a bucket monitor
Learn about the materials you will need to build a bucket monitor and where you can find them. We will also take you step-by-step through the building process and ways to troubleshoot your bucket. If crafting is not for you, follow this link to buy a pre-made bucket monitor.
How to take a sample with a bucket monitor
Find out how to use your bucket monitor to get the most accurate and relevant data for you. We will take you through how to pick a location, how to manually take a sample, and how to get the sample ready for lab analysis.
Finding a lab
Once you have your sample, you'll need to send it to a lab for analysis. We'll explain how to find a lab and what to expect from your interaction with them.
How to use your bucket data
Learn how to go from numbers to a persuasive message about the pollution in your community and what to do about it.
Who else is involved?
History of the bucket monitor
Learn more about the invention of the bucket monitor as well as various bucket monitoring networks currently in use.
Bucket successes
Bucket monitoring data has helped communities reduce pollution, get enforcement action, and push for new legislation. Learn more here about others experiences using buckets to make change.
Activities
Activities should include a materials list, costs and a step-by-step guide to construction with photos. Learn what makes a good activity here.
Questions
Have you used the bucket?
If you have used buckets in your own work and want to be part of this project, please email Community Technology Fellow Katie Gradowski here. We view this as a living document and are eager to collaborate with past and present users.
Updates
Are you interested in following along in the project? Subscribe to the tag below to get updates when we post new material.