ASTM D5408-93(1998)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation: D 5408 – 93 (Reapproved 1998)
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 D 5408; 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.
be collected for ground-water sites. This does not uniquely imply a
1. Scope
computer data base, but rather data elements for entry into any type of
1.1 This guide is Part One of three guides to be used in
permanent file.
conjunction with Practice D 5254 that delineates the data
NOTE 4—Component and code lists given with some of the data
desirable to describe a ground-water data collection or sam-
elements, for example “Format of Other Data,” are only suggestions.
pling site. This guide describes additional information beyond These lists can be modified, expanded, or reduced for the purpose intended
by the company or agency maintaining the ground-water data file.
the minimum set of data elements that may be needed to
NOTE 5—Use of trade names in this guide is for identification purposes
identify a ground-water site. Part Two identifies physical
only and does not constitute endorsement by ASTM.
descriptors, such as construction, for a site, while Part Three
1.3 This guide includes the data elements desirable to
identifies usage descriptors, such as monitoring, for an indi-
identify a ground-water site beyond those given in the “Mini-
vidual ground-water site.
mum Set of Data Elements.” Some examples of the data
NOTE 1—A ground-water site is defined as any source, location, or
elements are map identification, permitting facts, and support-
sampling station capable of producing water or hydrologic data from a
ing information. No single site will need every data element,
natural stratum from below the surface of the earth. A source or facility
for example, many ground-water sites do not need the data
can include a well, spring or seep, and drain or tunnel (nearly horizontal
in orientation). Other sources, such as excavations, driven devices, bore elements described in the legal record group. Each record
holes, ponds, lakes, and sinkholes, that can be shown to be hydraulically
(group of related data elements) for a site has mandatory data
connected to the ground water, are appropriate for the use intended.
elements, such as the date for the ownership record. However,
NOTE 2—Part Two (Guide D 5409) includes individual site character-
these elements are considered necessary only when that spe-
istic descriptors (7 data elements), construction descriptors (56 data
cific record is gathered for the site.
elements), lift descriptors (16 data elements), geologic descriptors (26 data
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
elements), hydraulic descriptors (20 data elements), and spring descriptors
as the standard. The SI units given in parentheses are for
(11 data elements). Part Three (Guide D 5410) includes monitoring
descriptors (77 data elements), irrigation descriptors (4 data elements),
information only.
waste site descriptors (9 data elements), and decommissioning descriptors
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
(8 data elements). For a list of descriptors in this guide, see 4.
safety problems, 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-
NOTE 3—The purpose of this guide is to suggest data elements that can
sent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of
a given professional service must be judged, nor should this
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-18 on Soil and
document be applied without consideration of a project’s many
Rockand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.21 on Ground Water and
unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this
Vadose Zone Investigations.
document means only that the document has been approved
Current edition approved May 15, 1993. Published November 1993.
through the ASTM consensus process.
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of
the text.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D 5408
2. Referenced Documents
Political Regimes
Congressional District
2.1 ASTM Standards:
Source Identifiers:
D 653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
Mean Greenwich Time Offset
Site Reference in Report
Fluids
Site in a Computer Data Base
D 5254 Practice for the Minimum Set of Data Elements to
Photography/Sketch Available of Site
Identify a Ground-Water Site Repeated Elements
Legal Record Group:
D 5409 Guide for Set of Data Elements to Describe a
Legal Record:
Ground-Water Site; Part Two—Physical Descriptors
Permitting Agency
D 5410 Guide for Set of Data Elements to Describe a Priority Date
Application Number
Ground-Water Site; Part Three—Usage Descriptors
Application Date
Certification Number
3. Terminology
Certification Date
Permit Number
3.1 Definitions:
Permit Date
3.1.1 For definitions of terms applicable to this guide, see
Water Allocation
Supporting Information Record Group
Terminology D 653.
Owner Record:
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
Date of Ownership
3.2.1 code—a suggested abbreviation for a component, for
Owner’s Name
Site Visits Record:
example, “F” is the code suggested for the “Files (Raw Data)”
Date of Visit
component of data element “Format of Other Data.”
Person Who Made Visit
3.2.2 component—a subdivision of a data element, for
Purpose of Visit
Other Identification Record:
example, “Files (Raw Data)” is one of four components
Other Name, Number, or Identification
suggested for data element “Format of Other Data.”
Assigner
3.2.3 data element—an individual segment of information
Other Data Record:
Other Data Type
about a ground-water site, for example, “Format of Other
Other Data Location
Data.” The data element is in the “Other Data Record” record.
Format of Other Data
3.2.4 record—a set of related data elements that may need
Remarks Record:
Remark Date
to be repeated to fully describe a ground-water site. For
Remark
example, a ground-water site that has a series of separate data
Remark Source
files will need more than one “Other Data Record” record (the
record includes data elements, other data type, other data
5. Significance and Use
location, and format of other data) to fully document the
5.1 Data at ground-water sites are gathered for many pur-
history of the site. However, if only a single separate data file
poses, each of which generally requires a specific set of data
exists for the well, the record is utilized once.
elements. For example, when ground-water quality is a con-
3.2.5 record group—a set of related records. For example,
cern, not only are the minimum set of data elements required
the “Supporting Information Record Group” includes the
for the site, but information concerning the sample collection
owner record, site visits record, other identification record,
depth interval, method of collection, and date and time of
other data record, and remarks record. Some record groups
collection are needed to fully qualify the data. Another group
consist of only one record, for example, the “Legal Record
of elements are recommended for each use of the data, such as
Group” includes only the legal record.
aquifer characteristics or water-level records. Normally the
more information that is gathered about a site by field
4. Summary of Guide
personnel, the easier it is to understand the ground-water
4.1 This guide includes the following additional identifica-
conditions and to reach valid conclusions and interpretations
tion descriptor data elements to describe a ground-water site.
regarding the site.
The universal element accompanies any data element requiring
5.2 The data elements listed in this guide and Guides
a confidence classification. Single elements usually need one
D 5409 and D 5410 should assist in planning what information
entry for a site, while repeated elements commonly require
can be gathered for a ground-water site and how to document
several records to fully describe the conditions and history of
these data.
the site:
NOTE 6—Some important data elements may change during the exist-
Universal Element
ence of a site. For example, the elevation of the measuring point used for
Data Confidence Classification
Single Elements the measurement of water levels may be modified because of repair or
Geographic Location:
replacement of equipment. This frequently occurs when the measuring
Land-Net Location
point is an opening in the pump and the pump is modified or replaced.
Location Map
Because changes cannot always be anticipated, it is preferable to reference
Map Scale
the height of the measuring point to a nearby, permanent altitude datum.
Method Altitude Determined
The measuring point is referenced by being the same altitude (zero
correction) or above (negative correction) or below (plus correction) the
altitude datum. All appropriate measurements should be corrected in
reference to the altitude datum before entry into the permanent record.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.09. Care must be exercised to keep the relationship of these data elements
D 5408
consistent throughout the duration of the site.
position on the surface of the earth. This description is used in
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 D 5409, 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
NOTE 7—This guide identifies many sources, lists, etc. of information
method allows for the location of sites to a minimum of a
required to completely document information about any ground-water
1 1
2 ⁄2-acre (one hectare) tract ( ⁄256th of a section) within a
site.
specified section, township, range, and meridian. The meridian
designation must be included to denote where the township and
6. Documentation of Universal Element
range are located in the National grid system. An example of a
6.1 For any element that requires a Confidence Classifica-
1 1
2 ⁄2-acre (one hectare) location is “Northeast ⁄4 of the South-
tion, document the data confidence classification for that
1 1 1
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 and3sof latitude or longitude. Surveying errors are common
surement instrument.
I—Value is judged to be inaccurate due to improper instru- in the original measurements. See FIPS PUB 70-1.
mentation or bias instrumentation or laboratory methods.
NOTE 11—To supplement the description of the location of a ground-
N—Not verified, value was obtained from another source
water site, a common method used is to draw a sketch showing the
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. In addition, a sketch of the measuring point can assist
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
useful. For the purposes of the three guides, the word confidence refers to
documented is that or the best available map of the area where
a subjective professional judgment on data accuracy as represented by the
the site is located. Much of the United States is covered by U.S.
three data confidence classification components, and does not imply the
Geological Survey (USGS) topographic quadrangles. How-
more rigorous confidence limits or interval as used by statisticians.
ever, for those areas without USGS maps, the name of the map
NOTE 9—A
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