Surface, ground, and soil-water samples are used to evaluate the quality of a water system. Surface water can be sampled easily, ground water can be taken from wells, but soil water, which is held in the soil pores by strong forces, cannot be easily removed for analysis. Porous ceramics, however, enable removing a water sample from unsaturated soils and subsequent analysis just as surface water and ground water can be sampled and analyzed. Sampling soil water instead of, or in addition to, surface and ground water will often result in a more adequate description of potential pollution hazards. This report describes how to use porous ceramic samplers, how to construct a soil-water sampling system, how and where to install samplers, and how to obtain samples. It is intended as a guide for users of porous ceramic samplers who have little or no background knowledge of soil, hydrology, or geology.