Abstract: An apparatus for covering the top of a monitoring well with a lockable, weathertight cover which can be easily removed to allow ready access to the monitoring well so that water samples can be taken as desired. The device is positioned over the monitoring well casing in such a manner that when installation is complete, the monitoring well cover is mounted flush and level with the surrounding terrain.

Abstract: A protected fiber optic waveguide comprising:(I) a core;(II) a cladding disposed on, around, and in contact with the exterior surface of the core; and(III) a buffer coating disposed on, around, and in contact with the exterior surface of the cladding, the buffer coating comprising a polysiloxane material comprising:(a) a polydimethylsiloxane and(b) a copolysiloxane comprising(i) a repeat unit selected from the group consisting of methylphenylsiloxane and diphenylsiloxane and(ii) a dimethylsiloxane repeat unit,the molar ratio of units (i) to units (ii) being between about 10:90 and about 80:20 if unit (i) is methylphenylsiloxane and between about 5:95 and about 50:50 if unit (i) is diphenylsiloxane;the weight ratio of polydimethylsiloxane (a) to copolysiloxane (b) being between about 5:95 and about 85:15.