ASTM D5254-92(1998)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation: D 5254 – 92 (Reapproved 1998)
Standard Practice for
Minimum Set of Data Elements to Identify a Ground-Water
Site
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5254; 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.
1. Scope 1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.1 This practice specifies what information should be
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
obtained for any individual ground-water site, also known as
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
monitoring location or sampling station. As used in this
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
practice, a site is meant to be a single point, not a geographic
1.5 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing
area or property. A ground-water site is defined as any source,
one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
location, or sampling station capable of producing water or
education or experience and should be used in conjunction
hydrologic data from a natural stratum from below the surface
with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may
of the earth. A source or facility can include a well, spring or
be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not
seep, and drain or tunnel (nearly horizontal in orientation).
intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which
Other sources, such as excavations, driven devices, bore holes,
the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged,
ponds, lakes, and sinkholes, that can be shown to be hydrau-
nor should this document be applied without consideration of
lically connected to the ground water, are appropriate for the
a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the
use intended (see 6.4.2.3).
title of this document means only that the document has been
NOTE 1—There are many additional data elements that may be neces-
approved through the ASTM consensus process.
sary to identify a site, but are not included in the minimum set of data
elements. An agency or company may require additional data elements as
2. Referenced Documents
a part of their minimum set.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.2 This practice includes those data elements that will
D 653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
distinguish a site as to its geographical location on the surface 3
Fluids
of the earth, political regimes, source identifiers, and individual
site characteristics. These elements apply to all ground-water 3. Terminology
sites. Each category of site, such as a well or spring, may
3.1 Definitions:
individually require additional data elements to be complete.
3.1.1 For definitions of terms applicable to this practice
Many of the suggested components and representative codes
refer to Terminology D 653.
for coded data elements are those established by the Water
Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey and used in 4. Summary of Practice
the National Water Information Systems computerized data
4.1 This practice includes the following data elements to
base (1).
identify a ground-water site:
4.1.1 Geographic Location—Including latitude, longitude,
NOTE 2—The data elements presented in this practice do not uniquely
latitude-longitude coordinate accuracy, altitude, and altitude
imply a computer data base, but rather the minimum set of ground-water
data elements that should be collected for entry into any type of permanent
accuracy.
file.
4.1.2 Political Regimes—Including state or country identi-
fication, and county or county equivalent.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
4.1.3 Source Identifiers—Including owner’s name, source
standard. The inch-pound units given in parentheses are for
agency or company and address, unique identification, and date
information only.
of first record for the ground-water site.
4.1.4 Individual Site Characteristics— Including hydro-
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-18 on Soil and
logic unit, setting, type of ground-water site, use of site, use of
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.21 on Ground Water and
water from site, reason for data collection.
Vadose Zone Investigations.
Current edition approved July 15, 1992. Published November 1992.
The boldface numbers given in parentheses refer to a list of references at the
end of the text. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D 5254
5. Significance and Use coordinate accuracy components and representative codes are
as follows (1, 6, 7, 8):
5.1 Normally, the basic ground-water data are gathered by
H — The measurement is accurate to 60.01 s.
trained personnel during the field investigation phase of a
U — The measurement is accurate to 60.1 s.
study. Each agency or company has its own methods of
S — The measurement is accurate to 61s.
obtaining, recording, and storing the information. Usually,
F — The measurement is accurate to 65s.
T — The measurement is accurate to 610 s.
these data are recorded onto forms that serve both in organizing
M — The measurement is accurate to 61 min.
the information in the field and the office, and many times as
NOTE 4—Components and corresponding codes listed under data ele-
entry forms for a computer data base. For ground-water data to
ments, such as latitude-longitude coordinate accuracy and setting, are only
be of maximum value to the current project and any future
suggestions. An agency or company may require additional components to
studies, it is essential that a minimum set of key data elements
fully describe their ground-water sites. Also, having the data element
be recorded for each site. The data elements presented in this
components written out, for example, “accurate to within 1 s” for the
practice do not uniquely imply a computer data base, but rather
latitude-longitude accuracy, may be preferred to the use of codes. The
the minimum set of ground-water data elements that should be
important factor is that each data element in the “minimum set of data
elements” be included with every ground-water site.
collected for entry into any type of permanent file.
5.2 When obtaining basic data concerning a ground-water
6.1.2.4 Altitude—Record the altitude of land surface or
site, it is necessary to identify thoroughly that site so that it
measuring point. Altitude of the land surface is the vertical
may be readily field located again with minimal uncertainty
distance in feet (or metres) either above or below a reference
and that it may be accurately plotted and interpreted for data
datum surface. The reference datum surface must be noted.
parameters in relationship to other sites. For example, infor-
NOTE 5—In the United States, this reference surface should be the
mation can be presented on scientific maps and in summary
North American Vertical Datum (NAVD) of 1988 or National Geodetic
tables.
Vertical Datum (NGVD) of 1929. If another vertical reference datum is
used to determine the altitude, describe the system. Altitudes below the
6. Documentation
reference datum must be preceded by a minus sign (−) (1, 2, 4, 7, 8).
6.1 Geographic Location:
NOTE 6—The measuring point is usually a clearly defined mark or
6.1.1 Introduction—The universally accepted coordinates
permanently fixed object at a ground-water site that is used for conducting
defining the absolute two-dimensional location of a site on the
repeated evaluations, such as water levels in a monitoring well.
Earth’s surface are latitude and longitude. The coordinates are
6.1.2.5 Altitude Accuracy—Record the accuracy of the alti-
determined by careful measurement from an accurate map or
tude. As an example, record 1.0 for an accuracy of 61mor0.1
by survey. The third-dimension of the location is established by
for 6 0.1“th” m to denote the judged error of the measurement
determining the altitude at the site, usually from topographic
(1, 3).
maps or by surveying techniques (2).
6.2 Political Regimes:
NOTE 3—If sites are located by plane coordinates, plant location grids,
6.2.1 Introduction—The placement of the ground-water site
or referenced to recoverable benchmarks, they may be recorded if the
into a political jurisdiction assists in the proper identification of
position is converted to absolute location coordinates by an acceptable
the site.
method.
6.2.2 Documentation Procedures:
6.1.2 Documentation Procedures:
6.2.2.1 State or Country Identification— Record the state or
6.1.2.1 Latitude—Latitude is a coordinate representation
country in which the site is physically located. The common
that indicates locations on the surface of the earth using the
systems for identifying states and countries are the Federal
earth’s equator as the respective latitudinal origin. Record the
Information Processing Standard code (FIPS), a two-digit
best available value for the latitude of the site in degrees,
numeric code or the American National Standard abbreviation
minutes, seconds and fractions of a second (DDMMSSss). If
two-letter code. The country codes are a two-character and a
latitude of the site is south of the Equator, precede the numbers
set of three-character alphabetic codes (1, 3, 9, 10, 11).
with a minus sign (−). The use of N or S is also appropriate (1,
NOTE 7—The publications (9, 10, 12) containing the codes for coun-
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8).
tries, states, and counties are available from the address given in Footnote
6.1.2.2 Longitude—Longitude is a coordinate representa-
4.
tion that indicates locations on the surface of the Earth using
6.2.2.2 County and County Equivalent—Record the county
the prime meridian (Greenwich, England) as the longitudinal
origin. Record the best available value for the longitude of the or county equivalent in which the site is physically located. The
common code system for identifying counties is the FIPS code,
site, in degrees, minutes, seconds, and fractions of a second
(DDDMMSSss). If longitude of the site is measured east of the a three-digit numeric code. The documentation of political
subdivisions will depend on the system used in each individual
Greenwich Meridian, precede the numbers with a minus sign
(−). The use of E or W is also appropriate (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, country (1, 3, 7, 11).
8).
NOTE 8—In many cases it is necessary to record a subdivision of the
6.1.2.3 Latitude-Longitude Coordinate Accuracy—Record
local government to further identify the area where the ground-water site
the accuracy of the latitude and longitude values. Suggested
is located. Some of the local subdivisions are a city, town, village,
municipality, township, or borough. Identify the local subdivision, for
example “City of Rockville”, to clearly denote the unit.
Available from National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161. 6.3 Source Identifiers:
D 5254
is the Skunk River Basin of Iowa.
6.3.1 Introduction—The ground-water site must be identi-
NOTE 10—State hydrologic unit maps delineating the hydrographic
fied as to the owner, the agency or company that recorded data,
6 4
boundaries of these units are available (see Ref (13)).
and its distinctive classification.
6.4.2.2 Setting—Record the information that best describes
6.3.2 Documentation Procedures:
6.3.2.1 Owner’s Name—Record the name of the property the setting in which the site is located. Setting refers to the
topographic or geomorphic features in the vicinity of the site.
owner of the ground-water site. The recommended format for
an individual’s name is: last name, first name, middle initial. If Suggested setting components and representative codes are as
follows (1, 8):
a company’s name is lengthy, use meaningful abbreviations (1,
8).
A — Alluvial fan
B — Playa
6.3.2.2 Source Agency or Company and Address—Record
C — Stream channel
the name and address of the agency or company that collected
D — Local depression
the data for the ground-water site. This data element is E — Dunes
F — Flat surface
necessary to determine the original source of the data for the
G — Flood plain
site. A coded list of agency and company names is available
H — Hilltop
through National Water Data Exchange (NAWDEX); the list I — Inland wetlands
J — River delta
has over 1200 organizations that actively collect and store
K — Sinkhole
water data throughout the United States (1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12).
L — Lake
6.3.2.3 Unique Identification—Record the unique naming M — Mangrove swamp or coastal wetlands
O — Offshore (estuary)
that the agency or company uses to identify the ground-water
P — Pediment
site. This identification is called by several terms such as “local
S — Hillside (slope)
site number”, “site identification”, “well number”, etc. The T — Alluvial or marine terrace
U — Undulating
description is commonly a combination of letters and numbers
V — Valley flat (valleys of all sizes)
that could represent a land-net location or a sequential assign-
W — Upland draw
ment for a site in a county, city, or company. This identification X — Unknown
Y — Wetlands
is very important to precisely differentiate a site in the records
Z — Other (describe)
of an agency or company (1, 5, 6, 7, 8).
6.4.2.3 Type of Ground-Water Site—This data element helps
6.3.2.4 Date of First Record for the Ground-Water Site—
to identify the physical type of ground-water site. Record the
Record the date that the first valid transaction occurred for any
type of site to which these data apply. Suggested site type
element of the specified site. This could be the date of permit
components and representative codes are as follows (1, 8):
application, start of construction, or first used as a monitoring
C — Collector (radial-collector) well
site. This element is important to facilitate in the proper
D — Drain dug to intercept the water table or potentiometric surface to
identification of the record (1, 3, 12).
either lower the ground-water level or serve as a water supply
6.4 Individual Characteristics of the Site:
E — Excavation
H — Sinkhole
6.4.1 Introduction—Each ground-water site has very spe-
I — Interconnected wells, also called connector or drainage wells; that is, a
cific features that, in combination, uniquely identify that site,
well interconnected via an underground lateral
that is, water from a ground-water sustained pond used for
M — Multiple wells—Use only for well field consis
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