ASTM D5851-95(2015)
(Guide)Standard Guide for Planning and Implementing a Water Monitoring Program
Standard Guide for Planning and Implementing a Water Monitoring Program
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The user of this guide is not assumed to be a technical practitioner in the water field. This guide is an assembly of the components common to all aspects of water monitoring and fulfills a need in the development of a common framework for a better coordinated and more unified approach to monitoring water.
4.2 Limitations—This guide does not establish a standard procedure to follow in all cases and it does not cover the details necessary to meet a particular monitoring objective.
SCOPE
1.1 Purpose—This guide is generic in its application to surface or ground water, rivers, lakes, or estuaries (quantity and quality). It proposes a series of options that offer direction without recommending a definite course of action and discusses the major elements that are common to all purposes of water monitoring.
1.2 The elements described are applicable whether the monitoring is only for one location or integrates multiple measurement sites for the purpose of assessing a whole watershed, estuary, or aquifer system.
1.3 This guide is intended to outline for planners and administrators the components, process, and procedures which should be considered when proposing, planning, or implementing a monitoring program. The guide is not a substitute for obtaining specific technical advice. The reader is not assumed to be a technical practitioner in the water field; however, practitioners will find it a good summary of practice and a handy checklist. Other standard guides have or will be prepared that address the necessary detail.
1.4 Monitoring Components—A water monitoring program is composed of a set of activities, practices, and procedures designed to collect reliable information of known accuracy and precision concerning a particular water resource in order to achieve a specific goal or purpose. The purposes may range in scope from tracking status and trends on a regional or national basis to gathering data to determine the effects of a specific management practice or pollution incident such as a spill. This guide suggests and discusses the following process and components:
1.4.1 Establishment of program goals and objectives and recording of decisions in a written plan (see 6.1),
1.4.2 Developing background data and a conceptual model (see 6.1.12),
1.4.3 Establishment of data (quality, quantity, type) objectives (see 6.2),
1.4.4 Design of field measurement and sampling strategies and specification of laboratory analyses and data acceptance criteria (see 6.3),
1.4.5 Data storage and transfer (see 6.6),
1.4.6 Implementation of sampling and analysis strategies (see 6.4),
1.4.7 Data quality assessment (see 6.5),
1.4.8 Assessment of data (see 6.7),
1.4.9 Program evaluation (see 6.8), and
1.4.10 Reporting (see 6.9). See also Fig. X1.1 in Appendix X1 and the condensed list of headings in Appendix X2.
1.5 Monitoring Purposes—Establishing goals defines the purpose for monitoring. Each purpose has some monitoring design needs specific to itself. There are six major purposes for water monitoring. They are as follows:
1.5.1 Determining the Status and Trends of Water Conditions—This can require long term, regular monitoring to determine how parameters change over time.
1.5.2 Detecting Existing and Emerging Problems—Determining if, how, or where a substance may move through an aquatic system, or if water quantities are changing.
1.5.3 Developing and Implementing Management and Regulatory Programs—Includes baseline and reconnaissance monitoring to characterize existing conditions such as to identify critical areas or hot spots; implementation monitoring to assess whether activities were carried out as planned; and compliance monitoring to determine if specific water quality or water use criteria were met.
1.5.4 Responding to an Emergency—Performed to provide information in the near term.
1.5.5 Evaluating the Effectiveness of Water Monitoring Programs—Is the ...
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Designation: D5851 − 95 (Reapproved 2015)
Standard Guide for
Planning and Implementing a Water Monitoring Program
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5851; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
Water resource monitoring has taken place in many forms for scores of years. This monitoring has
been sponsored and performed by a variety of federal, state, and local public agencies; and perhaps
byanevenwidervarietyofprivate,quasi-publicandindustrialentities.Historically,muchoftheearly
datadealtwithquantitiesofflow,anddrinkingwaterqualitywasjudgedbythestandardsoftheperiod.
During the past several years the problems related to point and nonpoint sources of pollution of
water resources have become increasingly apparent. Technology has improved dramatically, as the
need for monitoring data has improved. There is a necessity for information on marine beaches and
estuarine areas, fresh water swamps, ground water, wetlands, streams, and sediment deposits, and to
better understand the entire hydrologic cycle.
The need for more and varied water quality information has expanded as rapidly as our
technological ability to generate the information. Further, it has become increasingly difficult and
sometimes impossible to understand and resolve conflicts among the different data sets available.
Much of the data have been collected at different times, in different geographic areas, and for different
purposes. The data have been collected by persons with varied training, using different methods, and
with vastly different analytical capabilities.As a consequence, we presently are at the stage where we
may know more about a given situation than we understand and workers in the field who receive the
data are unable to integrate the data available into a useful solution. The need for standardization of
monitoring programs is evident. Standardization does not herein mean everyone doing everything
exactly the same way. It does mean the use of methods and procedures, where applicable, that follow
recognized and documented protocols as well as the accurate recording and storage of the data in
accessible formats.
Realizing the difficulties in water monitoring, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of the
federal government charged the Water Information Program (WICP), a program of the U.S.
Geological Survey’s Office ofWater Data Coordination, with studying water quality monitoring in the
United States and recommending improvements. The Intergovernmental Task Force on Monitoring
Water Quality (ITFM), a federal, state, and tribal partnership, was established under the WICP’s
Interagency Advisory Committee on Water Data to carry out this study. The results of three years of
work by about 200 contributors have been captured in a series of three annual reports (1, 2, 3).
The following summarizes the conclusions from those reports:
(1) Monitoring programs shall keep pace with changing water-management programs.
(2) A collaborative strategy is needed to link the many separate monitoring programs.
(3) Agenuineappreciationoftheneedforcooperationcurrentlyexistsamongmonitoringagencies.
(4) Recent advances in technology provide opportunities for interaction and cooperation that
previously were impossible.
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D19 on Water and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.02 on Quality Systems, Specification, and
Statistics.
Current edition approved Dec. 15, 2015. Published December 2015. Originally approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as D5851 – 95 (2011). DOI:
10.1520/D5851-95R15.
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of this guide.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D5851 − 95 (2015)
Based upon those conclusions, the following recommendations were made:
(1) Implement an integrated, voluntary, nationwide strategy to improve water quality monitoring.
(2) Charter a permanent national body to guide the implementation of ITFM recommendations.
(3) Develop a framework for monitoring water quality that defines the components of a monitoring
program.
(4) Develop criteria with which to select parameters that measure progress in achieving water
quality goals.
(5) Recommend indicators to measure whether water quality uses designated by the state are being
met.
(6) Charter a Methods and Data Comparability Council to foster the development and use of
performance-based methods of collection and analysis.
(7) Use the ecoregions concept, reference conditions, and index calibration.
1. Scope 1.4.9 Program evaluation (see 6.8), and
1.4.10 Reporting (see 6.9).
1.1 Purpose—This guide is generic in its application to
See also Fig. X1.1 in Appendix X1 and the condensed list of
surfaceorgroundwater,rivers,lakes,orestuaries(quantityand
headings in Appendix X2.
quality). It proposes a series of options that offer direction
without recommending a definite course of action and dis-
1.5 Monitoring Purposes—Establishing goals defines the
cusses the major elements that are common to all purposes of
purpose for monitoring. Each purpose has some monitoring
water monitoring.
design needs specific to itself.There are six major purposes for
water monitoring. They are as follows:
1.2 The elements described are applicable whether the
1.5.1 Determining the Status and Trends of Water
monitoring is only for one location or integrates multiple
Conditions—This can require long term, regular monitoring to
measurement sites for the purpose of assessing a whole
determine how parameters change over time.
watershed, estuary, or aquifer system.
1.5.2 Detecting Existing and Emerging Problems—
1.3 This guide is intended to outline for planners and
Determining if, how, or where a substance may move through
administrators the components, process, and procedures which
an aquatic system, or if water quantities are changing.
shouldbeconsideredwhenproposing,planning,orimplement-
1.5.3 Developing and Implementing Management and
ing a monitoring program. The guide is not a substitute for
Regulatory Programs—Includes baseline and reconnaissance
obtaining specific technical advice. The reader is not assumed
monitoring to characterize existing conditions such as to
to be a technical practitioner in the water field; however,
identify critical areas or hot spots; implementation monitoring
practitioners will find it a good summary of practice and a
to assess whether activities were carried out as planned; and
handy checklist. Other standard guides have or will be pre-
compliancemonitoringtodetermineifspecificwaterqualityor
pared that address the necessary detail.
water use criteria were met.
1.4 Monitoring Components—A water monitoring program
1.5.4 Responding to an Emergency—Performed to provide
is composed of a set of activities, practices, and procedures
information in the near term.
designed to collect reliable information of known accuracy and
1.5.5 Evaluating the Effectiveness of Water Monitoring
precision concerning a particular water resource in order to
Programs—Is the monitoring able to achieve the stated goals?
achieve a specific goal or purpose. The purposes may range in
Also, monitoring to check on monitoring.
scope from tracking status and trends on a regional or national
1.5.6 Supporting research objectives or validating of simu-
basis to gathering data to determine the effects of a specific
lation models.
management practice or pollution incident such as a spill. This
1.6 This guide is applicable to these purposes and provides
guide suggests and discusses the following process and com-
ponents: guidanceonsomeofthespecificneedsofeach.Aftergoalsand
objectives have been established, a specialist can define the
1.4.1 Establishment of program goals and objectives and
recording of decisions in a written plan (see 6.1), type, frequency, and duration of sampling and measurements.
The specialist also will be able to forecast the data analysis
1.4.2 Developing background data and a conceptual model
needed to meet the objectives.
(see 6.1.12),
1.4.3 Establishment of data (quality, quantity, type) objec-
1.7 There are related standards currently available or under
tives (see 6.2),
development and several documents that prescribe protocols
1.4.4 Design of field measurement and sampling strategies
for water monitoring (4–5). See also Section 2.
and specification of laboratory analyses and data acceptance
1.8 This guide suggests that water monitoring programs use
criteria (see 6.3),
standardized documented protocols for all aspects of the
1.4.5 Data storage and transfer (see 6.6),
program. Where they are not available or appropriate, the
1.4.6 Implementation of sampling and analysis strategies
methods used should be documented.
(see 6.4),
1.4.7 Data quality assessment (see 6.5),
1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the
1.4.8 Assessment of data (see 6.7), safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
D5851 − 95 (2015)
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 4. Significance and Use
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
4.1 The user of this guide is not assumed to be a technical
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
practitioner in the water field. This guide is an assembly of the
1.10 This international standard was developed in accor-
components common to all aspects of water monitoring and
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
fulfills a need in the development of a common framework for
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
a better coordinated and more unified approach to monitoring
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
water.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
4.2 Limitations—This guide does not establish a standard
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
proceduretofollowinallcasesanditdoesnotcoverthedetails
necessary to meet a particular monitoring objective.
2. Referenced Documents
5. A Primer on Water Monitoring Programs
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
5.1 The Problem—Why is water monitoring difficult?
5.1.1 The movement of water through the hydrologic cycle
2.2 Other Documents:
dwarfs other material cycles operating on the earth’s surface,
Compilation of Scopes of ASTM Standards Relating to
such as the carbon and oxygen cycles. Water’s chemical and
Environmental Monitoring, 1994, ASTM, Philadelphia,
physical properties enable it to dissolve many substances and
PA. PCN: 13-600003-16 (700 standards)
physically remove and suspend others. Consequently, as water
ASTM Standards on Ground Water and Vadose Zone
encounters various substances in the atmosphere, on land
Investigations. PCN: 03-418094-38
surfaces, and below ground, the water’s chemical composition
2.3 EPA Documents:
changes, and the composition of materials suspended in the
U.S. EPA813/B-92-002 Definitions for the Minimum Set of
water changes. Physical and chemical processes further change
Data Elements for Ground Water Quality
its composition as water moves through the hydrologic cycle.
U.S. EPA 910/9-91/001 Monitoring Guidelines to Evaluate
5.1.2 Human activities using land and water have greatly
Effects of Forestry Activities on Streams in the Pacific
5 altered the kind and amount of substances that water encoun-
Northwest and Alaska
ters as it moves through the hydrological cycle. Often, some
substances, including those biological communities living
3. Terminology
within water, are present at concentrations that impair various
3.1 For definitions of terms used in this guide, refer to
water uses. These substances are regarded as pollutants. Much
Terminology D1129.
of our effort to manage water resources is directed at reducing
the addition of pollutants in water. Other management efforts
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
are directed toward altering local pathways of water flow and
3.2.1 analyze—to determine the relationship of parts or the
maintaining or enhancing aquatic and marine habitats.
value of a particular parameter.
5.1.3 Across the globe or across a county there are large
3.2.2 assess—to determine importance of data.
spatial and temporal variations in water flows and volumes, in
3.2.3 evaluate—to determine significance or worth.
the natural features, which impact water resources, and in the
nature and extent of human land and water uses. Consequently,
3.2.4 measurement—determining the values of a character-
there can be large spatial and temporal variations in the
istic within a sample or in situ.
composition of water. The problem that must be addressed in
3.2.5 metadata—ancillary data that describe the natural
water monitoring is how to spatially and temporally character-
conditions under which an environmental data value is
izethecompositionofwaterandthesourceofthiscomposition
measured, the purpose for collection, the methods and stan-
with sufficient accuracy and precision to support local and
dards employed, and the organization responsible.
regional water uses and management efforts. Monitoring water
3.2.6 sampling—theremovalofaportionofthewaterwhich
as it flows through the hydrologic cycle is not easy.
may or may not be representative of the whole. This is not
5.1.4 Reading through the following list of procedures and
monitoring.
considerations will provide the administrator or planner with
insight into the details of needed expertise, complexity, and
3.2.7 water monitoring—water monitoring consists of sys-
work tasks in the design, implementation, and evaluation of a
tematic activities conducted to characterize the quantity or
monitoring project.
quality, or both, of water.
6. Procedure
6.1 Establish Program Goals and Objectives:
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
6.1.1 Define goals and objectives using a multidisciplinary
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
team. This requires a variety of professionals with special
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
insights in order to prepare a sensible plan.
Available from ASTM Headquarters, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West
6.1.1.1 Review existing data.
Conshohocken, PA 19428–2959.
6.1.2 Prepare a plan of work from the goals, objectives, and
Available from Superintendent of Documents, Gover
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D5851 − 95 (Reapproved 2011) D5851 − 95 (Reapproved 2015)
Standard Guide for
Planning and Implementing a Water Monitoring Program
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5851; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
Water resource monitoring has taken place in many forms for scores of years. This monitoring has
been sponsored and performed by a variety of federal, state, and local public agencies; and perhaps
by an even wider variety of private, quasi-public and industrial entities. Historically, much of the early
data dealt with quantities of flow, and drinking water quality was judged by the standards of the period.
During the past several years the problems related to point and nonpoint sources of pollution of
water resources have become increasingly apparent. Technology has improved dramatically, as the
need for monitoring data has improved. There is a necessity for information on marine beaches and
estuarine areas, fresh water swamps, ground water, wetlands, streams, and sediment deposits, and to
better understand the entire hydrologic cycle.
The need for more and varied water quality information has expanded as rapidly as our
technological ability to generate the information. Further, it has become increasingly difficult and
sometimes impossible to understand and resolve conflicts among the different data sets available.
Much of the data have been collected at different times, in different geographic areas, and for different
purposes. The data have been collected by persons with varied training, using different methods, and
with vastly different analytical capabilities. As a consequence, we presently are at the stage where we
may know more about a given situation than we understand and workers in the field who receive the
data are unable to integrate the data available into a useful solution. The need for standardization of
monitoring programs is evident. Standardization does not herein mean everyone doing everything
exactly the same way. It does mean the use of methods and procedures, where applicable, that follow
recognized and documented protocols as well as the accurate recording and storage of the data in
accessible formats.
Realizing the difficulties in water monitoring, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of the
federal government charged the Water Information Program (WICP), a program of the U.S.
Geological Survey’s Office of Water Data Coordination, with studying water quality monitoring in the
United States and recommending improvements. The Intergovernmental Task Force on Monitoring
Water Quality (ITFM), a federal, state, and tribal partnership, was established under the WICP’s
Interagency Advisory Committee on Water Data to carry out this study. The results of three years of
work by about 200 contributors have been captured in a series of three annual reports (1, 2, 3).
The following summarizes the conclusions from those reports:
(1) Monitoring programs shall keep pace with changing water-management programs.
(2) A collaborative strategy is needed to link the many separate monitoring programs.
(3) A genuine appreciation of the need for cooperation currently exists among monitoring agencies.
(4) Recent advances in technology provide opportunities for interaction and cooperation that
previously were impossible.
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.02 on Quality Systems, Specification, and
Statistics.
Current edition approved May 1, 2011Dec. 15, 2015. Published May 2011December 2015. Originally approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 20062011 as
D5851 – 95 (2006).(2011). DOI: 10.1520/D5851-95R11.10.1520/D5851-95R15.
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of this guide.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D5851 − 95 (2015)
Based upon those conclusions, the following recommendations were made:
(1) Implement an integrated, voluntary, nationwide strategy to improve water quality monitoring.
(2) Charter a permanent national body to guide the implementation of ITFM recommendations.
(3) Develop a framework for monitoring water quality that defines the components of a monitoring
program.
(4) Develop criteria with which to select parameters that measure progress in achieving water
quality goals.
(5) Recommend indicators to measure whether water quality uses designated by the state are being
met.
(6) Charter a Methods and Data Comparability Council to foster the development and use of
performance-based methods of collection and analysis.
(7) Use the ecoregions concept, reference conditions, and index calibration.
1. Scope
1.1 Purpose—This guide is generic in its application to surface or ground water, rivers, lakes, or estuaries (quantity and quality).
It proposes a series of options that offer direction without recommending a definite course of action and discusses the major
elements that are common to all purposes of water monitoring.
1.2 The elements described are applicable whether the monitoring is only for one location or integrates multiple measurement
sites for the purpose of assessing a whole watershed, estuary, or aquifer system.
1.3 This guide is intended to outline for planners and administrators the components, process, and procedures which should be
considered when proposing, planning, or implementing a monitoring program. The guide is not a substitute for obtaining specific
technical advice. The reader is not assumed to be a technical practitioner in the water field; however, practitioners will find it a
good summary of practice and a handy checklist. Other standard guides have or will be prepared that address the necessary detail.
1.4 Monitoring Components—A water monitoring program is composed of a set of activities, practices, and procedures designed
to collect reliable information of known accuracy and precision concerning a particular water resource in order to achieve a specific
goal or purpose. The purposes may range in scope from tracking status and trends on a regional or national basis to gathering data
to determine the effects of a specific management practice or pollution incident such as a spill. This guide suggests and discusses
the following process and components:
1.4.1 Establishment of program goals and objectives and recording of decisions in a written plan (see 6.1),
1.4.2 Developing background data and a conceptual model (see 6.1.12),
1.4.3 Establishment of data (quality, quantity, type) objectives (see 6.2),
1.4.4 Design of field measurement and sampling strategies and specification of laboratory analyses and data acceptance criteria
(see 6.3),
1.4.5 Data storage and transfer (see 6.6),
1.4.6 Implementation of sampling and analysis strategies (see 6.4),
1.4.7 Data quality assessment (see 6.5),
1.4.8 Assessment of data (see 6.7),
1.4.9 Program evaluation (see 6.8), and
1.4.10 Reporting (see 6.9).
See also Fig. X1.1 in Appendix X1 and the condensed list of headings in Appendix X2.
1.5 Monitoring Purposes—Establishing goals defines the purpose for monitoring. Each purpose has some monitoring design
needs specific to itself. There are six major purposes for water monitoring. They are as follows:
1.5.1 Determining the Status and Trends of Water Conditions—This can require long term, regular monitoring to determine how
parameters change over time.
1.5.2 Detecting Existing and Emerging Problems—Determining if, how, or where a substance may move through an aquatic
system, or if water quantities are changing.
1.5.3 Developing and Implementing Management and Regulatory Programs—Includes baseline and reconnaissance monitoring
to characterize existing conditions such as to identify critical areas or hot spots; implementation monitoring to assess whether
activities were carried out as planned; and compliance monitoring to determine if specific water quality or water use criteria were
met.
1.5.4 Responding to an Emergency—Performed to provide information in the near term.
1.5.5 Evaluating the Effectiveness of Water Monitoring Programs—Is the monitoring able to achieve the stated goals? Also,
monitoring to check on monitoring.
1.5.6 Supporting research objectives or validating of simulation models.
D5851 − 95 (2015)
1.6 This guide is applicable to these purposes and provides guidance on some of the specific needs of each. After goals and
objectives have been established, a specialist can define the type, frequency, and duration of sampling and measurements. The
specialist also will be able to forecast the data analysis needed to meet the objectives.
1.7 There are related standards currently available or under development and several documents that prescribe protocols for
water monitoring (4–5). See also Section 2.
1.8 This guide suggests that water monitoring programs use standardized documented protocols for all aspects of the program.
Where they are not available or appropriate, the methods used should be documented.
1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
2.2 Other Documents:
Compilation of Scopes of ASTM Standards Relating to Environmental Monitoring, 1994, ASTM, Philadelphia, PA. PCN:
13-600003-16 (700 standards)
ASTM Standards on Ground Water and Vadose Zone Investigations. PCN: 03-418094-38
2.3 EPA Documents:
U.S. EPA 813/B-92-002 Definitions for the Minimum Set of Data Elements for Ground Water Quality
U.S. EPA 910/9-91/001 Monitoring Guidelines to Evaluate Effects of Forestry Activities on Streams in the Pacific Northwest and
Alaska
3. Terminology
3.1 For definitions of terms used in this guide, refer to Terminology D1129.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 analyze—to determine the relationship of parts or the value of a particular parameter.
3.2.2 assess—to determine importance of data.
3.2.3 evaluate—to determine significance or worth.
3.2.4 measurement—determining the values of a characteristic within a sample or in situ.
3.2.5 metadata—ancillary data that describe the natural conditions under which an environmental data value is measured, the
purpose for collection, the methods and standards employed, and the organization responsible.
3.2.6 sampling—the removal of a portion of the water which may or may not be representative of the whole. This is not
monitoring.
3.2.7 water monitoring—water monitoring consists of systematic activities conducted to characterize the quantity or quality, or
both, of water.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 The user of this guide is not assumed to be a technical practitioner in the water field. This guide is an assembly of the
components common to all aspects of water monitoring and fulfills a need in the development of a common framework for a better
coordinated and more unified approach to monitoring water.
4.2 Limitations—This guide does not establish a standard procedure to follow in all cases and it does not cover the details
necessary to meet a particular monitoring objective.
5. A Primer on Water Monitoring Programs
5.1 The Problem—Why is water monitoring difficult?
5.1.1 The movement of water through the hydrologic cycle dwarfs other material cycles operating on the earth’s surface, such
as the carbon and oxygen cycles. Water’s chemical and physical properties enable it to dissolve many substances and physically
remove and suspend others. Consequently, as water encounters various substances in the atmosphere, on land surfaces, and below
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Available from ASTM Headquarters, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428–2959.
Available from Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.
D5851 − 95 (2015)
ground, the water’s chemical composition changes, and the composition of materials suspended in the water changes. Physical and
chemical processes further change its composition as water moves through the hydrologic cycle.
5.1.2 Human activities using land and water have greatly altered the kind and amount of substances that water encounters as
it moves through the hydrological cycle. Often, some substances, including those biological communities living within water, are
present at concentrations that impair various water uses. These substances are regarded as pollutants. Much of our effort to manage
water resources is directed at reducing the addition of pollutants in water. Other management efforts are directed toward altering
local pathways of water flow and maintaining or enhancing aquatic and marine habitats.
5.1.3 Across the globe or across a county there are large spatial and temporal variations in water flows and volumes, in the
natural features, which impact water resources, and in the nature and extent of human land and water uses. Consequently, there
can be large spatial and temporal variations in the composition of water. The problem that must be addressed in water monitoring
is how to spatially and temporally characterize the composition of water and the source of this composition with sufficient accuracy
and precision to support local and regional water uses and management efforts. Monitoring water as it flows through the hydrologic
cycle is not easy.
5.1.4 Reading through the following list of procedures and considerations will provide the administrator or planner with insight
into the details of needed expertise, complexity, and work tasks in the design, implementation, and evaluation of a monitoring
project.
6. Procedure
6.1 Establish Program Goals and Objectives:
6.1.1 Define goals and objectives u
...
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