ASTM D5851-95(2006)
(Guide)Standard Guide for Planning and Implementing a Water Monitoring Program
Standard Guide for Planning and Implementing a Water Monitoring Program
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
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.
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 PurposeThis 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 ComponentsA 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 ),
1.4.2 Developing background data and a conceptual model (see ),
1.4.3 Establishment of data (quality, quantity, type) objectives (see ),
1.4.4 Design of field measurement and sampling strategies and specification of laboratory analyses and data acceptance criteria (see ),
1.4.5 Data storage and transfer (see ),
1.4.6 Implementation of sampling and analysis strategies (see ),
1.4.7 Data quality assessment (see ),
1.4.8 Assessment of data (see ),
1.4.9 Program evaluation (see ), and
1.4.10 Reporting (see ). See also in and the condensed list of headings in .
1.5 Monitoring PurposesEstablishing 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 ConditionsThis can require long term, regular monitoring to determine how parameters change over time.
1.5.2 Detecting Existing and Emerging ProblemsDetermining 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 ProgramsIncludes 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 EmergencyPerformed to provide information in the near term.
1.5.5 Evaluating the Effectiveness of Water Monitoring ProgramsIs the monitoring able to achieve the stated goals? Also, monitoring to check on monitoring.
1.5.6 Supporting research objectiv...
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Designation:D5851–95 (Reapproved 2006)
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.
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.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D5851–95 (2006)
(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.
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on Water and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.02 on General Specifications, Technical
Resources, and Statistical Methods.
Current edition approved Feb. 15, 2006. Published February 2006. Originally approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as D5851 – 95 (2000). DOI:
10.1520/D5851-95R06.
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of this guide.
1. Scope 1.4.10 Reporting (see 6.9).
See also Fig. X1.1 in Appendix X1 and the condensed list of
1.1 Purpose—This guide is generic in its application to
headings in Appendix X2.
surfaceorgroundwater,rivers,lakes,orestuaries(quantityand
1.5 Monitoring Purposes—Establishing goals defines the
quality). It proposes a series of options that offer direction
purpose for monitoring. Each purpose has some monitoring
without recommending a definite course of action and dis-
design needs specific to itself.There are six major purposes for
cusses the major elements that are common to all purposes of
water monitoring. They are as follows:
water monitoring.
1.5.1 Determining the Status and Trends of Water
1.2 The elements described are applicable whether the
Conditions—This can require long term, regular monitoring to
monitoring is only for one location or integrates multiple
determine how parameters change over time.
measurement sites for the purpose of assessing a whole
1.5.2 Detecting Existing and Emerging Problems—
watershed, estuary, or aquifer system.
Determining if, how, or where a substance may move through
1.3 This guide is intended to outline for planners and
an aquatic system, or if water quantities are changing.
administrators the components, process, and procedures which
1.5.3 Developing and Implementing Management and
shouldbeconsideredwhenproposing,planning,orimplement-
Regulatory Programs—Includes baseline and reconnaissance
ing a monitoring program. The guide is not a substitute for
monitoring to characterize existing conditions such as to
obtaining specific technical advice. The reader is not assumed
identify critical areas or hot spots; implementation monitoring
to be a technical practitioner in the water field; however,
to assess whether activities were carried out as planned; and
practitioners will find it a good summary of practice and a
compliancemonitoringtodetermineifspecificwaterqualityor
handy checklist. Other standard guides have or will be pre-
water use criteria were met.
pared that address the necessary detail.
1.5.4 Responding to an Emergency—Performed to provide
1.4 Monitoring Components—A water monitoring program
information in the near term.
is composed of a set of activities, practices, and procedures
1.5.5 Evaluating the Effectiveness of Water Monitoring
designed to collect reliable information of known accuracy and
Programs—Is the monitoring able to achieve the stated goals?
precision concerning a particular water resource in order to
Also, monitoring to check on monitoring.
achieve a specific goal or purpose. The purposes may range in
1.5.6 Supporting research objectives or validating of simu-
scope from tracking status and trends on a regional or national
lation models.
basis to gathering data to determine the effects of a specific
1.6 This guide is applicable to these purposes and provides
management practice or pollution incident such as a spill. This
guidanceonsomeofthespecificneedsofeach.Aftergoalsand
guide suggests and discusses the following process and com-
objectives have been established, a specialist can define the
ponents:
type, frequency, and duration of sampling and measurements.
1.4.1 Establishment of program goals and objectives and
The specialist also will be able to forecast the data analysis
recording of decisions in a written plan (see 6.1),
needed to meet the objectives.
1.4.2 Developing background data and a conceptual model
(see 6.1.12), 1.7 There are related standards currently available or under
development and several documents that prescribe protocols
1.4.3 Establishment of data (quality, quantity, type) objec-
tives (see 6.2), for water monitoring (4–9). See also Section 2.
1.4.4 Design of field measurement and sampling strategies 1.8 This guide suggests that water monitoring programs use
and specification of laboratory analyses and data acceptance standardized documented protocols for all aspects of the
criteria (see 6.3), program. Where they are not available or appropriate, the
1.4.5 Data storage and transfer (see 6.6), methods used should be documented.
1.4.6 Implementation of sampling and analysis strategies 1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the
(see 6.4), safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.4.7 Data quality assessment (see 6.5), responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
1.4.8 Assessment of data (see 6.7), priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
1.4.9 Program evaluation (see 6.8), and bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
D5851–95 (2006)
2. Referenced Documents 5.1.1 The movement of water through the hydrologic cycle
dwarfs other material cycles operating on the earth’s surface,
2.1 ASTM Standards:
such as the carbon and oxygen cycles. Water’s chemical and
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
physical properties enable it to dissolve many substances and
2.2 Other Documents:
physically remove and suspend others. Consequently, as water
Compilation of Scopes of ASTM Standards Relating to
encounters various substances in the atmosphere, on land
Environmental Monitoring, 1994, ASTM, Philadelphia,
surfaces, and below ground, the water’s chemical composition
PA. PCN: 13-600003-16 (700 standards)
changes, and the composition of materials suspended in the
ASTM Standards on Ground Water and Vadose Zone
water changes. Physical and chemical processes further change
Investigations. PCN: 03-418094-38
its composition as water moves through the hydrologic cycle.
2.3 EPA Documents:
5.1.2 Human activities using land and water have greatly
U.S.EPA813/B-92-002 DefinitionsfortheMinimumSet of
altered the kind and amount of substances that water encoun-
Data Elements for Ground Water Quality
ters as it moves through the hydrological cycle. Often, some
U.S. EPA 910/9-91/001 Monitoring Guidelines to Evaluate
substances, including those biological communities living
Effects of Forestry Activities on Streams in the Pacific
within water, are present at concentrations that impair various
Northwest and Alaska
water uses. These substances are regarded as pollutants. Much
of our effort to manage water resources is directed at reducing
3. Terminology
the addition of pollutants in water. Other management efforts
3.1 For definitions of terms used in this guide, refer to
are directed toward altering local pathways of water flow and
Terminology D1129.
maintaining or enhancing aquatic and marine habitats.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
5.1.3 Across the globe or across a county there are large
3.2.1 analyze—to determine the relationship of parts or the
spatial and temporal variations in water flows and volumes, in
value of a particular parameter.
the natural features, which impact water resources, and in the
3.2.2 assess—to determine importance of data.
nature and extent of human land and water uses. Consequently,
3.2.3 evaluate—to determine significance or worth.
there can be large spatial and temporal variations in the
3.2.4 measurement—determining the values of a character-
composition of water. The problem that must be addressed in
istic within a sample or in situ.
water monitoring is how to spatially and temporally character-
3.2.5 metadata—ancillary data that describe the natural
izethecompositionofwaterandthesourceofthiscomposition
conditions under which an environmental data value is mea-
with sufficient accuracy and precision to support local and
sured, the purpose for collection, the methods and standards
regional water uses and management efforts. Monitoring water
employed, and the organization responsible.
as it flows through the hydrologic cycle is not easy.
3.2.6 sampling—the removal of a portion of the water
5.1.4 Reading through the following list of procedures and
which may or may not be representative of the whole. This is
considerations will provide the administrator or planner with
not monitoring.
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
4. Significance and Use
6.1 Establish Program Goals and Objectives:
4.1 The user of this guide is not assumed to be a technical
6.1.1 Define goals and objectives using a multidisciplinary
practitioner in the water field. This guide is an assembly of the
team. This requires a variety of professionals with special
components common to all aspects of water monitoring and
insights in order to prepare a sensible plan.
fulfills a need in the development of a common framework for
6.1.1.1 Review existing data.
a better coordinated and more unified approach to monitoring
6.1.2 Prepare a plan of work from the goals, objectives, and
water.
decisions. This will be an iterating process as progress is made
4.2 Limitations— This guide does not establish a standard
developing the components. The plan can use a pilot approach
proceduretofollowinallcasesanditdoesnotcoverthedetails
or phased-in approach.
necessary to meet a particular monitoring objective.
6.1.2.1 Coordinate activities with other relevant agencies,
groups, and persons.
5. A Primer on Water Monitoring Programs
6.1.3 Develop a project schedule and budget.
5.1 The Problem— Why is water monitoring difficult?
6.1.3.1 Establish budgetary and personnel requirements.
6.1.4 Set timelines.
6.1.5 Set interim goals, checkpoints, and review periods.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
6.1.6 Identify adaptive management parameters in accor-
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
dance with the project’s objectives; these are project specific
Standards volume information, refer
...
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