ASTM D6089-19(2023)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D6089 − 19 (Reapproved 2023)
Standard Guide for
Documenting a Groundwater Sampling Event
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6089; 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.
1. Scope* 1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.1 This guide covers what and how information should be
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
recorded in the field when sampling a groundwater monitoring
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
well. Following these recommendations will provide adequate
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
documentation in most monitoring programs. In some
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
situations, it may be necessary to record additional or different
information, or both, to thoroughly document the sampling
2. Referenced Documents
event. In other cases, it may not be necessary to record all of
2.1 ASTM Standards:
the information recommended in this guide. The level of
D3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies
documentation will be based on site-specific conditions and
Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as
regulatory requirements.
Used in Engineering Design and Construction
1.2 This guide is limited to written documentation of a
D5088 Practice for Decontamination of Field Equipment
groundwater sampling event. Other methods of documentation
Used at Waste Sites
(that is, electronic and audiovisual) can be used but are not
D5608 Practices for Decontamination of Sampling and Non
addressed in this guide. The specific activities addressed in this
Sample Contacting Equipment Used at Low Level Radio-
guide include documentation of static water level
active Waste Sites
measurement, monitoring well purging, monitoring well
D5903 Guide for Planning and Preparing for a Groundwater
sampling, field measurements, groundwater sample
Sampling Event
preparation, and groundwater sample shipment.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the 3. Terminology
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this guide,
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
refer to Terminology D653.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.2.1 chain of custody—the process of maintaining account-
1.4 This guide offers an organized collection of information
ability of the samples for the purpose of identifying potential
or a series of options and does not recommend a specific
breaches in sample integrity.
course of action. This document cannot replace education or
3.2.2 chain of custody record—a record of all individuals
experience and should be used in conjunction with professional
judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all who possess the samples from the time of collection until
analysis.
circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to repre-
sent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of
4. Significance and Use
a given professional service must be judged, nor should this
document be applied without consideration of a project’s many
4.1 When sampling groundwater monitoring wells, it is very
unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this
important to thoroughly document all field activities. Sufficient
document means only that the document has been approved
field data should be retained to allow one to reconstruct the
through the ASTM consensus process.
procedures and conditions that may have affected the integrity
of a sample. The field data generated are vital to the interpre-
tation of the chemical data obtained from laboratory analyses
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.21 on Groundwater and
Vadose Zone Investigations. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2023. Published November 2023. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 2019 as D6089 – 19. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D6089-19R23. the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D6089 − 19 (2023)
of samples. Field data and observations may also be useful to 6.2.2 Record the reference point from which the measure-
analytical laboratory personnel. ment was taken (that is, ground surface, top of well casing, top
of protective casing).
4.2 Due to the changing nature of regulations and other
6.2.3 Document the presence and estimated thickness of an
information, users are advised to thoroughly research require-
immiscible layer.
ments related to packaging and shipping prior to initiating a
6.2.4 Record the total depth of the well from either histori-
sampling event.
cal records or actual measurement.
NOTE 1—The sampling of an individual groundwater monitoring well
6.2.5 Record the units of the measurement (that is, feet or
should be repeated as closely as possible each time the monitoring well is
metres).
sampled. This reduces the variability of the chemical parameters due to
sampling variability which is the desired result. The intent is to detect the
6.2.6 Record the method or equipment (include serial num-
change in chemistry by repeating the sampling protocol at each individual
ber) used for measuring the depth to water in the well.
well. This does not mean that all the wells are sampled the same way, nor
6.2.7 Record the date and time that the water level is
does it prohibit changes in the sampling protocol, provided they are
measured.
planned and documented.
NOTE 2—The quality of the results produced by this standard is
6.2.8 Record any other relevant information (for example,
dependent on the competence of personnel performing it, and the
were any nearby wells being pumped).
suitability of the equipment and facilities used. Agencies that meet the
criteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competent
6.3 Monitoring Well Purging:
and objective testing/sampling/inspection/etc. Users of this standard are
6.3.1 Briefly describe the purging method used.
cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself assure
6.3.2 Record the calculated purge volume (if applicable).
reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors; Practice D3740
provides a means of evaluating some of those factors.
6.3.3 Record the volume of water removed from the well.
Indicate if the well was purged to dryness.
5. Documentation Methods
6.3.4 Record all measurements taken during purging (that
5.1 Field records should be generated by a member of the
is, water levels,
...