ASTM D5474-93(2000)
(Guide)Standard Guide for Selection of Data Elements for Ground-Water Investigations
Standard Guide for Selection of Data Elements for Ground-Water Investigations
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers the selection of data elements for the documentation of ground-water sites. The data elements are described in four ASTM standards outlining information that may be collected at ground-water sites. Examples of specific investigations are given with the logic of why to select individual and combinations of data elements to meet the requirements of the studies.
Note 1--A ground-water site is 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, that can be shown to be hydraulically connected to the ground water, are appropriate for the use intended.
Note 2--The four ASTM standards that describe the data elements for ground water are Practice D5254 and Guides D5408, D5409, and D5410.
1.2 Systematic and consistent data collection are necessary for the investigation of the availability and the protection or restoration of ground-water resources. The level of detail, precision and bias, and the type of data that need to be collected depend on the objective of the study, the expected complexity of the system, and the resources available for the investigation. This guide presents ideas on what information should be collected for specific studies, why certain data elements are mandatory, and the importance to current and future investigations of maintaining quality control on the collection and retention of these data. This guide focuses on those data elements that are gathered at the field-site location and are used to assist in interpreting the hydrology of the ground-water source and to meet regulatory requirements. Other analytical and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) considerations are addressed in other standards and beyond the scope of this guide.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course of action. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project's many unique aspects. The word "Standard" in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.
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Designation:D5474–93 (Reapproved 2000)
Standard Guide for
Selection of Data Elements for Ground-Water
Investigations
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5474; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.1 This guide covers the selection of data elements for the
1.4 This guide offers an organized collection of information
documentation of ground-water sites. The data elements are
or a series of options and does not recommend a specific
described in four ASTM standards outlining information that
course of action. This document cannot replace education or
may be collected at ground-water sites. Examples of specific
experienceandshouldbeusedinconjunctionwithprofessional
investigations are given with the logic of why to select
judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all
individual and combinations of data elements to meet the
circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to repre-
requirements of the studies.
sent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of
NOTE 1—A ground-water site is any source, location, or sampling
a given professional service must be judged, nor should this
station capable of producing water or hydrologic data from a natural
document be applied without consideration of a project’s many
stratum from below the surface of the earth. A source or facility can
unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this
include a well, spring or seep, and drain or tunnel (nearly horizontal in
document means only that the document has been approved
orientation). Other sources, such as excavations, driven devices, bore
through the ASTM consensus process.
holes, ponds, lakes, and sinkholes, that can be shown to be hydraulically
connected to the ground water, are appropriate for the use intended.
2. Referenced Documents
NOTE 2—The fourASTM standards that describe the data elements for
ground water are Practice D 5254 and Guides D 5408, D 5409, and
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 5410.
D 653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
1.2 Systematic and consistent data collection are necessary
Fluids
for the investigation of the availability and the protection or
D 5254 Practice for the Minimum Set of Data Elements to
restoration of ground-water resources. The level of detail,
Identify a Ground-Water Site
precision and bias, and the type of data that need to be
D 5408 Guide for the Set of Data Elements to Describe a
collected depend on the objective of the study, the expected
Ground-Water Site; Part 1—Additional Identification De-
complexity of the system, and the resources available for the
scriptors
investigation. This guide presents ideas on what information
D 5409 Guide for the Set of Data Elements to Describe a
should be collected for specific studies, why certain data
Ground-Water Site; Part 2—Physical Descriptors
elements are mandatory, and the importance to current and
D 5410 Guide for the Set of Data Elements to Describe a
future investigations of maintaining quality control on the
Ground-Water Site; Part 3—Usage Descriptors
collection and retention of these data. This guide focuses on
3. Terminology
those data elements that are gathered at the field-site location
and are used to assist in interpreting the hydrology of the
3.1 Definitions:
ground-water source and to meet regulatory requirements.
3.1.1 Except as listed as follows, all definitions are in
Other analytical and quality assurance/quality control (QA/
accordance with Terminology D 653.
QC) considerations are addressed in other standards and
3.1.2 code—a suggested abbreviation for a component, for
beyond the scope of this guide.
example, 88G” is the code suggested for the galvanized iron
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
component of data element casing material. The data element
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the
is in the “casing record” record.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1.3 component—a subdivision of a data element, for
example, galvanized iron is one of 30 components suggested
for data element casing material. The data element is in the
casing record record.
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.21 on Ground Water and
Vadose Zone Investigations.
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 1993. Published January 1994. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D5474
A
TABLE 1 General Resource Appraisal Investigation of an Area
3.1.4 data element—an individual segment of information
about a ground-water site, for example, casing material. The Minimum Set of Data Elements (see 6.1.3):
Geographic Location (see 6.1.3.1)
data element is in the casing record record.
Political Regimes (see 6.1.3.2)
3.1.5 record—denotes a set of related data elements that
Source Identifiers (see 6.1.3.3)
may need to be repeated to fully describe a ground-water site. Individual Site Characteristics (see 6.1.3.4)
Additional Data Elements (see X1.6):
For example, a well that consists of several diameters of casing
Geographic Location Record (see X1.6.1)
from the top end to the bottom will need more than one casing
Owner Record (see X1.6.2)
Site Visits Record (see X1.6.3)
record record (the record includes data elements depth to top,
Other Identification Record (see X1.6.4)
depth to bottom, diameter, casing material, and casing thick-
Remarks Record (see X1.6.5)
ness) to fully describe the construction of the well. However, if
Individual Site Characteristics Record (see X1.6.6)
only a single size of casing is used in the well, the record is Construction Record (see X1.6.7)
Casing Record (see X1.6.8)
utilized once.
Opening/Screen Record (see X1.6.9)
3.1.6 record group—a set of related records. For example,
Lift Record (see X1.6.10)
Power Record (see X1.6.11)
the lift record group includes the lift record, power record, and
Geophysical Log Record (see X1.6.12)
standbyrecord.Somerecordgroupsconsistofonlyonerecord,
Geohydrologic Unit Record (see X1.6.13)
for example, the spring record group includes only the spring
Hydraulics Record (see X1.6.14)
Aquifer Parameters Record (see X1.6.15)
record.
Well Clusters Record (see X1.6.16)
Collector Well/Laterals Record (see X1.6.17)
4. Summary of Guide
Ponds Record (see X1.6.18)
Tunnel or Drain Record (see X1.6.19)
4.1 This guide describes four representative categories of
Spring Record (see X1.6.20)
investigations to demonstrate the logic of selecting data ele-
Measuring-Point Record (see X1.6.21)
Water-level Record (see X1.6.22)
ments for the documentation of ground-water data. Included in
Discharge Record (see X1.6.23)
this guide is a series of four tables that list the records (groups
Water-Quality Record (see X1.6.24)
of data elements) used for the examples. The tables cross-
Field Water-Quality Record (see X1.6.25)
reference the sections in this guide where specific explanations A
See Appendix X1.
for data elements are found. A complete list of the individual
A
data elements for each record is included in the text of this
TABLE 2 Monitoring Project for a Waste-Disposal Facility
guide. The minimum set of data elements is standard and
Minimum Set of Data Elements (see 6.1.3):
mandatory with all types of ground-water investigations and is
Geographic Location (see 6.1.3.1)
Political Regimes (see 6.1.3.2)
presented in 6.1.3.
Source Identifiers (see 6.1.3.3)
Individual Site Characteristics (see 6.1.3.4)
5. Significance and Use Additional Data Elements (see X2.5):
Geographic Location Record (see X2.5.1)
5.1 Data are gathered at ground-water sites for many pur-
Political Regime Record (see X2.5.2)
poses. Each purpose requires a different combination of data
Source Identifiers Record (see X2.5.3)
Owner Record (see X2.5.4)
elements. However, it is mandatory that every ground-water
Site Visits Record (see X2.5.5)
site include a minimum set of data elements to uniquely
Other Identification Record (see X2.5.6)
identify that site by precisely locating with coordinates and Remarks Record (see X2.5.7)
Individual Site Characteristics Record (see X2.5.8)
political regimes, absolutely identifying the owner and data
Construction Record (see X2.5.9)
source, and clearly defining the basic site characteristics. This
Casing Record (see X2.5.10)
information is described in Practice D 5254. Opening/Screen Record (see X2.5.11)
Lift Record (see X2.5.12)
5.2 As a part of a ground-water project, each site requires
Geophysical Log Record (see X2.5.13)
additional data elements, beyond the minimum set, to assist in
Geohydrologic Unit Record (see X2.5.14)
the interpretation of the local and areal hydrology. As an Sample/Unconsolidated Material Record (see X2.5.15)
Sample/Consolidated Material Record (see X2.5.16)
example, for a hydrologic reconnaissance study of a ground-
Hydraulics Record (see X2.5.17)
water basin, each well or spring site requires basic information
Aquifer Parameters Record (see X2.5.18)
concerning construction, water level, yield, geology, and water Measuring-Point Record (see X2.5.19)
Network Record (see X2.5.20)
chemistry. Additional information is needed if the project is a
Water-level Record (see X2.5.21)
waste facility investigation, usually to satisfy local, state, and
Discharge Record (see X2.5.22)
Water-Quality Record (see X2.5.23)
federal environmental regulations.
Field Water-Quality Record (see X2.5.24)
Monitoring Site/Waste-Facility Record (see X2.5.25)
6. Documentation
Decommissioning Record (see X2.5.26)
A
6.1 Introduction:
See Appendix X2.
6.1.1 Four representative hydrologic projects with very
different objectives are provided as examples to demonstrate engage in widely diverse projects involving ground-water
what data elements may be selected for a comprehensive resources may require nearly all of the data elements described
ground-water data file (Tables 1-4. When designing a ground- in the four standards. Those organizations should design a
water data file, data elements from all four ASTM guides permanent file system to their specifications that includes these
should be considered (see Note 2).Agencies or companies that data.
D5474
A
TABLE 3 Contamination Assessment and Remediation TABLE 4 Underground Storage Tank Ground-Water
A
Assessment
Minimum Set of Data Elements (see 6.1.3):
Geographic Location (see 6.1.3.1)
Minimum Set of Data Elements (see 6.1.3):
Political Regimes (see 6.1.3.2)
Geographic Location (see 6.1.3.1)
Source Identifiers (see 6.1.3.3)
Political Regimes (see 6.1.3.2)
Individual Site Characteristics (see 6.1.3.4)
Source Identifiers (see 6.1.3.3)
Additional Data Elements (see X3.5):
Individual Site Characteristics (see 6.1.3.4)
Geographic Location Record (see X3.5.1)
Additional Data Elements (see X4.6):
Political Regime Record (see X3.5.2)
Geographic Location Record (see X4.6.1)
Remarks Record (see X3.5.3)
Owner Record (see X4.6.2)
Individual Site Characteristics Record (see X3.5.4)
Site Visits Record (see X4.6.3)
Construction Record (see X3.5.5)
Remarks Record (see X4.6.4)
Casing Record (see X3.5.6)
Individual Site Characteristics Record (see X4.6.5)
Opening/Screen Record (see X3.5.7) Construction Record (see X4.6.6)
Lift Record (see X3.5.8)
Casing Record (see X4.6.7)
Geophysical Log Record (see X3.5.9)
Opening/Screen Record (see X4.6.8)
Geohydrologic Unit Record (see X3.5.10)
Lift Record (see X4.6.9)
Sample/Unconsolidated Material Record (see X3.5.11)
Repairs Record (see X4.6.10)
Sample/Consolidated Material Record (see X3.5.12)
Ponds Record (see X4.6.11)
Hydraulics Record (see X3.5.13)
Geophysical Log Record (see X4.6.12)
Aquifer Parameters Record (see X3.5.14)
Sample/Unconsolidated Material Record (see X4.6.13)
Ponds Record (see X3.5.15)
Sample/Consolidated Material Record (see X4.6.14)
Measuring-Point Record (see X3.5.16) Measuring-Point Record (see X4.6.15)
Water-level Record (see X3.5.17)
Water-level Record (see X4.6.16)
Discharge Record (see X3.5.18)
Field Water-Quality Record (see X4.6.17)
Water-Quality Record (see X3.5.19)
A
See Appendix X4.
Field Water-Quality Record (see X3.5.20)
Decommissioning Record (see X3.5.21)
A
See Appendix X3.
each individual ground-water site. In addition, photographs,
sketches, and maps of the site and associated facility, including
NOTE 3—Aground-water data file can be stored as various media such
the measuring point, are valuable pictorial material to enhance
as flat files in cabinets or as digital records on a computer. No matter
the site description.
whichsystemisused,thedataelementsretainedarethesameinformation.
An advantage of using a computerized file is that the data base containing
6.1.3.1 Geographic Location—Including latitude, longi-
the ground-water information can be easily displayed, duplicated, and
tude, latitude-longitude coordinate accuracy, altitude, and alti-
transferred to another computer.Advantages of paper flat files include low
tude accuracy.
cost, easy access without equipment, and transportability to field locations
6.1.3.2 Political Regimes—State or country identification,
and meetings.
and county or county equivalent.
NOTE 4—For the explanation of ground-water investigations in this
6.1.3.3 Source Identifiers—Owner’s name, source agency
guide, the term “well” is used to mean any test or finished hole (that is,
or company and address, unique identification, and date of first
casing,screen,pump,etc.)thatpenetratesthesurfaceoftheearthtoaccess
the ground-water source. These include drilled, bored, driven, and dug
record for the site.
holes.
6.1.3.4 Individual Site Characteristics— Hydrologic unit,
setting,typeofground-watersite,useofsite,useofwaterfrom
6.1.2 Some agencies or companies may be very specialized
site, and reason for data collection.
in the objective of their projects and require only a finite
number of data elements beyond the minimum data set.
7. Keywords
However, a limited data file may be expanded at a later date by
7.1 contamination assessment; data base; data elements;
adding additional data elements to satisfy the requirements of
more extensive projects. documentation; ground water; monitoring network; record;
6.1.3 The minimum set of data elements (see Practice resource appraisal; site characterization; underground storage
D 5254) is mandatory to uniquely locate,
...
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