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D5410-93 – Standard Test Method Technical Guide
📋 Scope and Role of Usage Descriptors
ASTM D5410-93 (Reapproved 2007) constitutes Part Three of a three-part guide series designed to work in conjunction with Practice D5254. While D5254 defines the minimum set of data elements to identify a groundwater site, D5410 covers the usage descriptors that describe how a site is utilized and what records are kept for it, such as “monitoring.”
Under D5410, a groundwater site is defined broadly in Note 1 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.” This includes facilities such as wells, springs, seeps, and drains. Other excavations, boreholes, or sinkholes that are hydraulically connected to the groundwater system are also appropriate for the intended use of the standard.
💡 Tip: Usage descriptors explicitly distinguish this guide from Part One (D5408—Identification) and Part Two (D5409—Physical Descriptors). D5410 focuses specifically on the dynamic site activities like water level monitoring, discharge measurement, and water-quality sampling records.
⚙️ Data Element Structure and Implementation
D5410 does not mandate that every site uses all data elements. As stated in the scope (Section 1.3), “no single site will need every data element, for example, a monitoring site may not need a long-term water use record.” Instead, the guide provides a flexible framework where specific elements become mandatory only when that specific record is gathered for the site. For example, the date is a mandatory element for a water level record, but only when such a record is collected.
The guide draws heavily on the terminology and coding structures established by the Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey and used in the National Water Information System (NWIS). These data elements are designed for entry into any type of permanent file, not exclusively a computerized database (Note 3).
| 📋 Guide Designation | 🎯 Primary Focus | ⚡ Key Data Element Groups |
|---|---|---|
| D5408 (Part One) | Site Identification | Data Confidence (1), Geographic Location (4), Legal Descriptors (9), Owner (2), etc. |
| D5409 (Part Two) | Physical Descriptors | Construction (56), Lift (16), Geologic (26), Hydraulic (20), Spring (11) |
| D5410 (Part Three) | Usage Descriptors | Monitoring, Water Level, Discharge, Water-Quality Records |
The component and code lists provided with the data elements, such as “method of discharge measurement,” are only suggestions. They can be modified, expanded, or reduced for the purpose intended by the company or agency maintaining the groundwater data file (Note 4). The standard explicitly does not endorse trade names used for identification purposes (Note 5).
📊 Key Application of Usage Descriptors
The usage descriptors in D5410 are defined using terms employed by professional groundwater hydrologists and rely on standard references. The values in the standard are provided in both inch-pound and SI units, allowing application across different regulatory and scientific environments worldwide.
| 📋 Record Type | 🎯 Example Mandatory Element (when record is gathered) | ⚡ Suggested Code List (per Note 4) |
|---|---|---|
| Water Level | Date of measurement | Method of measurement |
| Discharge | Date of measurement | Method of discharge measurement |
| Water Quality | Sample collection date | Sample type / collection method |
| Site Use | Primary use of site (e.g., Monitoring) | Status of site (Active, Inactive) |
⚠️ Important Note: Researchers must not assume every data element is required for every site. The standard explicitly notes that a monitoring site, for instance, may not require a long-term water use record. Mandatory status applies only when a specific record type is created for the site.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
📌 What is the definition of a groundwater site according to D5410?
The standard defines a groundwater site 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.” This includes wells, springs, seeps, drains, tunnels, and other excavations hydraulically connected to groundwater (Note 1).
🔍 How does Part Three (D5410) differ from D5408 and D5409?
D5408 focuses on site identification and legal descriptors (e.g., confidence, location, ownership). D5409 focuses on physical descriptors (e.g., construction, lift, geologic, hydraulic details). D5410 specifically addresses usage descriptors, capturing the operational status, monitoring activities, discharge, and water-quality records associated with a site.
💡 Are the component and code lists in D5410 mandatory?
No. According to Note 4 of the standard, component and code lists (such as for “method of discharge measurement”) are only suggestions. They can be modified, expanded, or reduced as needed for the specific purpose intended by the company or agency maintaining the groundwater data file.
⚡ When are data elements considered mandatory under this guide?
A data element is considered mandatory only when the specific record it belongs to is gathered for the site. Section 1.3 of the scope confirms that “each record for a site has mandatory data elements, such as the date for the water level record,” but these elements are required only when that record is collected.