ASTM D6000-96(2008)
(Guide)Standard Guide for Presentation of Water-Level Information from Groundwater Sites
Standard Guide for Presentation of Water-Level Information from Groundwater Sites
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Determining the potentiometric surface of an area is essential for the preliminary planning of any type of construction, land use, environmental investigations, or remediation projects that may influence an aquifer.
The potentiometric surface in the proposed impacted aquifer must be known to properly plan for the construction of a water withdrawal or recharge facility, for example, a well. The method of construction of structures, such as buildings, can be controlled by the depth of the groundwater near the project. Other projects built below land surface, such as mines and tunnels, are influenced by the hydraulic head.
Monitoring the trend of the groundwater table in an aquifer over a period of time, whether for days or decades, is essential for any permanently constructed facility that directly influences the aquifer, for example, a waste disposal site or a production well.
Long-term monitoring helps interpret the direction and rate of movement of water and other fluids from recharge wells and pits or waste disposal sites. Monitoring also assists in determining the effects of withdrawals on the stored quantity of water in the aquifer, the trend of the water table throughout the aquifer, and the amount of natural recharge to the aquifer.
This guide describes the basic tabular and graphic methods of presenting groundwater levels for a single groundwater site and several sites over the area of a project. These methods were developed by hydrologists to assist in the interpretation of hydraulic-head data.
The tabular methods help in the comparison of raw data and modified numbers.
The graphical methods visually display seasonal trends controlled by precipitation, trends related to artificial withdrawals from or recharge to the aquifer, interrelationship of withdrawal and recharge sites, rate and direction of water movement in the aquifer, and other events influencing the aquifer.
Presentation techniques resulting from extensive computational methods, spec...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers and summarizes methods for the presentation of water-level data from groundwater sites.
Note 1—As used in this guide, a site is meant to be a single point, not a geographic area or property, located by an X, Y, and Z coordinate position with respect to land surface or a fixed datum. A groundwater site is defined as any source, location, or sampling station capable of producing water or hydrologic data from a natural stratum from below the surface of the earth. A source or facility can include a well, spring or seep, and drain or tunnel (nearly horizontal in orientation). Other sources, such as excavations, driven devices, bore holes, ponds, lakes, and sinkholes, which can be shown to be hydraulically connected to the groundwater, are appropriate for the use intended.
1.2 The study of the water table in aquifers helps in the interpretation of the amount of water available for withdrawal, aquifer tests, movement of water through the aquifers, and the effects of natural and human-induced forces on the aquifers.
1.3 A single water level measured at a groundwater site gives the height of water at one vertical position in a well or borehole at a finite instant in time. This is information that can be used for preliminary planning in the construction of a well or other facilities, such as disposal pits.
Note 2—Hydraulic head measured within a short time from a series of sites at a common (single) horizontal location, for example, a specially constructed multi-level test well, indicate whether the vertical hydraulic gradient may be upward or downward within or between the aquifer (see 7.2.1).
Note 3—The phrases “short time period” and “finite instant in time” are used throughout this guide to describe the interval for measuring several project-related groundwater levels. Often the water levels of groundwater sites in an area of study do not change significantly in a short time, for example, a ...
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Designation: D6000 − 96(Reapproved 2008)
Standard Guide for
Presentation of Water-Level Information from Groundwater
1
Sites
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6000; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.4 Wherehydraulicheadsaremeasuredinashortperiodof
time, for example, a day, from each of several horizontal
1.1 This guide covers and summarizes methods for the
locationswithinaspecifieddepthrange,orhydrogeologicunit,
presentation of water-level data from groundwater sites.
or identified aquifer, a potentiometric surface can be drawn for
NOTE 1—As used in this guide, a site is meant to be a single point, not
thatdepthrange,orunit,oraquifer.Waterlevelsfromdifferent
a geographic area or property, located by an X, Y, and Z coordinate
verticalsitesatasinglehorizontallocationmaybeaveragedto
position with respect to land surface or a fixed datum.Agroundwater site
a single value for the potentiometric surface when the vertical
is defined as any source, location, or sampling station capable of
gradients are small compared to the horizontal gradients.
producingwaterorhydrologicdatafromanaturalstratumfrombelowthe
surfaceoftheearth.Asourceorfacilitycanincludeawell,springorseep,
NOTE 4—The potentiometric surface assists in interpreting the gradient
and drain or tunnel (nearly horizontal in orientation). Other sources, such
and horizontal direction of movement of water through the aquifer.
as excavations, driven devices, bore holes, ponds, lakes, and sinkholes,
Phenomena such as depressions or sinks caused by withdrawal of water
whichcanbeshowntobehydraulicallyconnectedtothegroundwater,are
from productionareasandmoundscausedbynaturalorartificialrecharge
appropriate for the use intended.
are illustrated by these potentiometric maps.
1.2 The study of the water table in aquifers helps in the
1.5 Essentially all water levels, whether in confined or
interpretation of the amount of water available for withdrawal,
unconfined aquifers, fluctuate over time in response to natural-
aquifer tests, movement of water through the aquifers, and the
and human-induced forces.
effects of natural and human-induced forces on the aquifers.
NOTE 5—The fluctuation of the water table at a groundwater site is
1.3 A single water level measured at a groundwater site
causedbyseveralphenomena.Anexampleisrechargetotheaquiferfrom
gives the height of water at one vertical position in a well or
precipitation. Changes in barometric pressure cause the water table to
borehole at a finite instant in time.This is information that can
fluctuate because of the variation of air pressure on the groundwater
surface, open bore hole, or confining sediment.Withdrawal of water from
be used for preliminary planning in the construction of a well
orartificialrechargetotheaquifershouldcausethewatertabletofluctuate
or other facilities, such as disposal pits.
inresponse.Eventssuchasrisingorfallinglevelsofsurfacewaterbodies
NOTE 2—Hydraulic head measured within a short time from a series of (nearby streams and lakes), evapotranspiration induced by phreatophytic
consumption, ocean tides, moon tides, earthquakes, and explosions cause
sites at a common (single) horizontal location, for example, a specially
constructed multi-level test well, indicate whether the vertical hydraulic fluctuation. Heavy physical objects that compress the surrounding
sediments, for example, a passing train or car or even the sudden load
gradient may be upward or downward within or between the aquifer (see
7.2.1). effectofthestartingofanearbypump,cancauseafluctuationofthewater
2
table (1).
NOTE 3—The phrases “short time period” and “finite instant in time”
are used throughout this guide to describe the interval for measuring
1.6 Thisguidecoversseveraltechniquesdevelopedtoassist
several project-related groundwater levels. Often the water levels of
in interpreting the water table within aquifers. Tables and
groundwatersitesinanareaofstudydonotchangesignificantlyinashort
graphs are included.
time, for example, a day or even a week. Unless continuous recorders are
usedtodocumentwaterlevelsateverygroundwatersiteoftheproject,the
1.7 Thisguideincludesmethodstorepresentthewatertable
measurement at each site, for example, use of a steel tape, will be at a
at a single groundwater site for a finite or short period of time,
slightly different time (unless a large staff is available for a coordinated
a single site over an extended period, multiple sites for a finite
measurement). The judgment of what is a critical time period must be
made by a project investigator who is familiar with the
...
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