ASTM D5408-93(2004)
(Guide)Standard Guide for Set of Data Elements to Describe a Ground-Water Site; Part One-Additional Identification Descriptors
Standard Guide for Set of Data Elements to Describe a Ground-Water Site; Part One-Additional Identification Descriptors
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers Part One of three guides to be used in conjunction with Practice D 5254 that delineates the data desirable to describe a ground-water data collection or sampling site. This guide describes additional information beyond the minimum set of data elements that may be needed to identify a ground-water site. Part Two identifies physical descriptors, such as construction, for a site, while Part Three identifies usage descriptors, such as monitoring, for an individual ground-water site. Note 1
A ground-water 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, that can be shown to be hydraulically connected to the ground water, are appropriate for the use intended.Note 2
Part Two (Guide D 5409) includes individual site characteristic descriptors (7 data elements), construction descriptors (56 data elements), lift descriptors (16 data elements), geologic descriptors (26 data elements), hydraulic descriptors (20 data elements), and spring descriptors (11 data elements). Part Three (Guide D 5410) includes monitoring descriptors (77 data elements), irrigation descriptors (4 data elements), waste site descriptors (9 data elements), and decommissioning descriptors (8 data elements). For a list of descriptors in this guide, see Section .
1.2 These data elements are described in terms used by ground-water hydrologists. Standard references, such as the Glossary of Geology and various hydrogeologic professional publications, are used to determine these definitions. Many of the suggested elements and their representative codes are those established by the Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey and used in the National Water Information Systems computerized data base (). Note 3
The purpose of this guide is to suggest data elements that can be collected for ground-water sites. This does not uniquely imply a computer data base, but rather data elements for entry into any type of permanent file.Note 4
Component and code lists given with some of the data elements, for example "Format of Other Data," are only suggestions. These lists can be modified, expanded, or reduced for the purpose intended by the company or agency maintaining the ground-water data file.Note 5
Use of trade names in this guide is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by ASTM.
1.3 This guide includes the data elements desirable to identify a ground-water site beyond those given in the "Minimum Set of Data Elements." Some examples of the data elements are map identification, permitting facts, and supporting information. No single site will need every data element, for example, many ground-water sites do not need the data elements described in the legal record group. Each record (group of related data elements) for a site has mandatory data elements, such as the date for the ownership record. However, these elements are considered necessary only when that specific record is gathered for the site.
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The SI units given in parentheses are for information only.
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.
1.5 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 th...
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Designation: D5408 – 93 (Reapproved 2004)
Standard Guide for
Set of Data Elements to Describe a Ground-Water Site;
Part One—Additional Identification Descriptors
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5408; 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.
NOTE 3—The purpose of this guide is to suggest data elements that can
1. Scope
be collected for ground-water sites. This does not uniquely imply a
1.1 This guide covers Part One of three guides to be used in
computer data base, but rather data elements for entry into any type of
conjunction with Practice D5254 that delineates the data
permanent file.
desirable to describe a ground-water data collection or sam-
NOTE 4—Component and code lists given with some of the data
pling site. This guide describes additional information beyond elements, for example “Format of Other Data,” are only suggestions.
Theselistscanbemodified,expanded,orreducedforthepurposeintended
the minimum set of data elements that may be needed to
by the company or agency maintaining the ground-water data file.
identify a ground-water site. Part Two identifies physical
NOTE 5—Use of trade names in this guide is for identification purposes
descriptors, such as construction, for a site, while Part Three
only and does not constitute endorsement by ASTM.
identifies usage descriptors, such as monitoring, for an indi-
1.3 This guide includes the data elements desirable to
vidual ground-water site.
identify a ground-water site beyond those given in the “Mini-
NOTE 1—A ground-water site is defined as any source, location, or
mum Set of Data Elements.” Some examples of the data
sampling station capable of producing water or hydrologic data from a
elements are map identification, permitting facts, and support-
natural stratum from below the surface of the earth. A source or facility
ing information. No single site will need every data element,
can include a well, spring or seep, and drain or tunnel (nearly horizontal
for example, many ground-water sites do not need the data
in orientation). Other sources, such as excavations, driven devices, bore
holes, ponds, lakes, and sinkholes, that can be shown to be hydraulically elements described in the legal record group. Each record
connected to the ground water, are appropriate for the use intended.
(group of related data elements) for a site has mandatory data
NOTE 2—Part Two (Guide D5409) includes individual site characteris-
elements, such as the date for the ownership record. However,
tic descriptors (7 data elements), construction descriptors (56 data
these elements are considered necessary only when that spe-
elements),liftdescriptors(16dataelements),geologicdescriptors(26data
cific record is gathered for the site.
elements),hydraulicdescriptors(20dataelements),andspringdescriptors
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
(11 data elements). Part Three (Guide D5410) includes monitoring
as the standard. The SI units given in parentheses are for
descriptors (77 data elements), irrigation descriptors (4 data elements),
waste site descriptors (9 data elements), and decommissioning descriptors
information only.
(8 data elements). For a list of descriptors in this guide, see Section 4.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.2 These data elements are described in terms used by
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
ground-water hydrologists. Standard references, such as the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
Glossary of Geology and various hydrogeologic professional
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
publications, are used to determine these definitions. Many of
1.6 This guide offers an organized collection of information
the suggested elements and their representative codes are those
or a series of options and does not recommend a specific
established by the Water Resources Division of the U.S.
course of action. This document cannot replace education or
Geological Survey and used in the National Water Information
experience and should be used in conjunction with professional
Systems computerized data base (1-9).
judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all
circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to repre-
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock
sent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.21 on Ground Water and
a given professional service must be judged, nor should this
Vadose Zone Investigations.
Current edition approved July 1, 2004. Published July 2004. Originally approved document be applied without consideration of a project’s many
in 1993. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as D5408 - 93 (1998). DOI:
unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this
10.1520/D5408-93R04.
document means only that the document has been approved
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of
through the ASTM consensus process.
the text.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D5408 – 93 (2004)
2. Referenced Documents
Map Scale
Method Altitude Determined
2.1 ASTM Standards:
Political Regimes
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
Congressional District
Source Identifiers:
Fluids
Mean Greenwich Time Offset
D5254 Practice for Minimum Set of Data Elements to
Site Reference in Report
Identify a Ground-Water Site Site in a Computer Data Base
Photography/Sketch Available of Site
D5409 Guide for Set of Data Elements to Describe a
Repeated Elements
Ground-Water Site; Part Two—Physical Descriptors
Legal Record Group:
D5410 Guide for Set of Data Elements to Describe a Legal Record:
Permitting Agency
Ground-Water Site;Part Three—Usage Descriptors
Priority Date
Application Number
3. Terminology
Application Date
Certification Number
3.1 Definitions:
Certification Date
3.1.1 For definitions of terms applicable to this guide, see
Permit Number
Permit Date
Terminology D653.
Water Allocation
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
Supporting Information Record Group
3.2.1 code—a suggested abbreviation for a component, for
Owner Record:
Date of Ownership
example, “F” is the code suggested for the “Files (Raw Data)”
Owner’s Name
component of data element “Format of Other Data.”
Site Visits Record:
3.2.2 component—a subdivision of a data element, for
Date of Visit
Person Who Made Visit
example, “Files (Raw Data)” is one of four components
Purpose of Visit
suggested for data element “Format of Other Data.”
Other Identification Record:
3.2.3 data element—an individual segment of information
Other Name, Number, or Identification
Assigner
about a ground-water site, for example, “Format of Other
Other Data Record:
Data.” The data element is in the “Other Data Record” record.
Other Data Type
3.2.4 record—a set of related data elements that may need
Other Data Location
Format of Other Data
to be repeated to fully describe a ground-water site. For
Remarks Record:
example, a ground-water site that has a series of separate data
Remark Date
files will need more than one “Other Data Record” record (the
Remark
Remark Source
record includes data elements, other data type, other data
location, and format of other data) to fully document the
5. Significance and Use
history of the site. However, if only a single separate data file
exists for the well, the record is utilized once. 5.1 Data at ground-water sites are gathered for many pur-
3.2.5 record group—a set of related records. For example,
poses, each of which generally requires a specific set of data
the “Supporting Information Record Group” includes the elements. For example, when ground-water quality is a con-
owner record, site visits record, other identification record,
cern, not only are the minimum set of data elements required
other data record, and remarks record. Some record groups for the site, but information concerning the sample collection
consist of only one record, for example, the “Legal Record
depth interval, method of collection, and date and time of
Group” includes only the legal record.
collection are needed to fully qualify the data. Another group
of elements are recommended for each use of the data, such as
4. Summary of Guide
aquifer characteristics or water-level records. Normally the
4.1 This guide includes the following additional identifica- more information that is gathered about a site by field
personnel, the easier it is to understand the ground-water
tion descriptor data elements to describe a ground-water site.
conditions and to reach valid conclusions and interpretations
The universal element accompanies any data element requiring
a confidence classification. Single elements usually need one regarding the site.
entry for a site, while repeated elements commonly require 5.2 ThedataelementslistedinthisguideandGuidesD5409
several records to fully describe the conditions and history of
and D5410 should assist in planning what information can be
the site: gathered for a ground-water site and how to document these
Universal Element data.
Data Confidence Classification
NOTE 6—Some important data elements may change during the exist-
Single Elements
Geographic Location:
ence of a site. For example, the elevation of the measuring point used for
Land-Net Location
the measurement of water levels may be modified because of repair or
Location Map
replacement of equipment. This frequently occurs when the measuring
point is an opening in the pump and the pump is modified or replaced.
Becausechangescannotalwaysbeanticipated,itispreferabletoreference
3 the height of the measuring point to a nearby, permanent altitude datum.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
The measuring point is referenced by being the same altitude (zero
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
correction) or above (negative correction) or below (plus correction) the
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. altitude datum. All appropriate measurements should be corrected in
D5408 – 93 (2004)
reference to the altitude datum before entry into the permanent record.
location may be a general land office description of the site’s
Care must be exercised to keep the relationship of these data elements
position on the surface of the earth. This description is used in
consistent throughout the duration of the site.
many parts of the United States to subdivide the land into
5.3 Some data elements have an extensive list of compo-
sections, townships, and ranges for the purpose of governmen-
nents. For example, the aquifer identification list described in
tal administration and originally was used (beginning in 1786)
Guide D5409, has over 5000 components. Lengthy lists of
as a systematic method for the disposal of unoccupied land
possible components are not included in this guide, however,
(10). An abbreviated form of this description is used by many
information on where to obtain these components is included
water agencies, in the many parts of the country, as the primary
with the specific data element.
method of systematically cataloging ground-water sites. The
method allows for the location of sites to a minimum of a
NOTE 7—This guide identifies many sources, lists, etc., of information
1 1
2 ⁄2-acre (one hectare) tract ( ⁄256 th of a section) within a
required to completely document information about any ground-water
site. specified section, township, range, and meridian. The meridian
designationmustbeincludedtodenotewherethetownshipand
6. Documentation of Universal Element
range are located in the National grid system.An example of a
1 1
6.1 For any element that requires a Confidence Classifica-
2 ⁄2-acre (one hectare) location is “Northeast ⁄4 of the South-
1 1 1
tion, document the data confidence classification for that
east ⁄4 of the Northwest ⁄4 of the Southwest ⁄4 , Section 22,
specified critical data element for the ground-water site.
Township 45 South, Range 87 West, Boise meridian.” This
Field-measured or laboratory-determined values have varying
location is usually abbreviated to a form similar to “NESEN-
degrees of accuracy depending upon the methods used to
WSW Sec. 22, T45S, R87W B.” A number of formats
obtain the information. This subjective or judged confidence
comparable to this abbreviation have been established by the
should be documented for each measured data element by the
various agencies that use the system, however, they basically
agency or company that gathered or recorded the information,
communicate the same results (5, 6, 11, 12).
or both. Suggested components for the data confidence classi-
NOTE 10—The accuracy of this location method for the minimum
fication and representative codes are as follows:
2 ⁄2-acre (one hectare) area is about 230 ft (70.104 m), that corresponds to
A—Value is accurate to within the tolerance of the mea-
between 2 and 3 s of latitude or longitude. Surveying errors are common
surement instrument.
in the original measurements. See FIPS PUB 70-1.
I—Value is judged to be inaccurate due to improper instru-
NOTE 11—To supplement the description of the location of a ground-
mentation or bias instrumentation or laboratory methods.
water site, a common method used is to draw a sketch showing the
N—Not verified, value was obtained from another source
and due to the mature of the data, cannot be verified.
relationship of the site to other features in the immediate area, such as
roads,buildings,etc.Inaddition,asketchofthemeasuringpointcanassist
NOTE 8—At a minimum, it is important, and often sufficient, that data
in defining its exact location at the site. Photographs of the site and
be classified subjectively by experienced professionals. It is not always
measuring point commonly are used as a part of the description.
possible or necessary to objectively quantify the confidence that a data
user might have in a data value, but a professional classification can be
7.2.2 Location Map—The location map name that is docu-
useful. For the purposes of the three guides, the word confidence refers to
mented is that or the best available map of the area where the
a subjective professional judgment on data accuracy as represented by the
site is located. Much of the United States is
...
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