• There are no items in your cart

ASTM D 6000/D6000M : 2015 : EDT 1

Current
Current

The latest, up-to-date edition.

Standard Guide for Presentation of Water-Level Information from Groundwater Sites (Withdrawn 2024)
Published date

09-25-2015

1.1This guide covers and summarizes methods for the presentation of water-level data from groundwater sites.

1.2The study of the water table in aquifers helps in the interpretation of the amount of water available for withdrawal, aquifer tests, movement of water through the aquifers, and the effects of natural and human-induced forces on the aquifers.

1.3A single water level measured at a groundwater site gives the height of water at one vertical position in a well or borehole at a finite instant in time. This is information that can be used for preliminary planning in the construction of a well or other facilities, such as disposal pits. Hydraulic head can also be measured within a short time from a series of points, depths, or elevation at a common (single) horizontal location, for example, a specially constructed multi-level test well, indicates whether the vertical hydraulic gradient may be upward or downward within or between the aquifer.

Note 1:The phrases “short time period” and “finite instant in time” are used throughout this guide to describe the interval for measuring several project-related groundwater levels. Often the water levels of groundwater sites in an area of study do not change significantly in a short time, for example, a day or even a week. Unless continuous recorders are used to document water levels at every groundwater site of the project, the measurement at each site, for example, use of a steel tape, will be at a slightly different time (unless a large staff is available for a coordinated measurement). The judgment of what is a critical time period must be made by a project investigator who is familiar with the hydrology of the area.

1.4Where hydraulic heads are measured in a short period of time, for example, a day, from each of several horizontal locations within a specified depth range, or hydrogeologic unit, or identified aquifer, a potentiometric surface can be drawn for that depth range, or unit, or aquifer. Water levels from different vertical sites at a single horizontal location may be averaged to a single value for the potentiometric surface when the vertical gradients are small compared to the horizontal gradients. The potentiometric surface assists in interpreting the gradient and horizontal direction of movement of water through the aquifer. Phenomena such as depressions or sinks caused by withdrawal of water from production areas and mounds caused by natural or artificial recharge are illustrated by these potentiometric maps.

1.5Essentially all water levels, whether in confined or unconfined aquifers, fluctuate over time in response to natural- and human-induced forces. The fluctuation of the water table at a groundwater site is caused by several phenomena. An example is recharge to the aquifer from precipitation. Changes in barometric pressure cause the water table to fluctuate because of the variation of air pressure on the groundwater surface, open bore hole, or confining sediment. Withdrawal of water from or artificial recharge to the aquifer should cause the water table to fluctuate in response. Events such as rising or falling levels of surface water bodies (nearby streams and lakes), evapotranspiration induced by phreatophytic consumption, ocean tides, moon tides, earthquakes, and explosions cause fluctuation. Heavy physical objects that compress the surrounding sediments, for example, a passing train or car or even the sudden load effect of the starting of a nearby pump, can cause a fluctuation of the water table (1).2

1.6This guide covers several techniques developed to assist in interpreting the water table within aquifers. Tables and graphs are included.

1.7This guide includes methods to represent the water table at a single groundwater site for a finite or short period of time, a single site over an extended period, multiple sites for a finite or short period in time, and multiple sites over an extended period.

1.8This guide does not include methods of calculating or estimating water levels by using mathematical models or determining the aquifer characteristics from data collected during controlled aquifer tests. These methods are discussed in Guides D4043, D5447, and D5490, Test Methods D4044, D4050, D4104, D4105, D4106, D4630, D4631, D5269, D5270, D5472, and D5473.

1.9Many of the diagrams illustrated in this guide include notations to help the reader in understanding how these diagrams were constructed. These notations would not be required on a diagram designed for inclusion in a project document.

1.10This guide covers a series of options, but does not specify a course of action. It should not be used as the sole criterion or basis of comparison, and does not replace or relieve professional judgment.

1.11The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.

1.12This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course of action. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project's many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.

Committee
D 18
DocumentType
Guide
PublisherName
American Society for Testing and Materials
Status
Current
Supersedes

ASTM D 5269 : 2015 Standard Test Method for Determining Transmissivity of Nonleaky Confined Aquifers by the Theis Recovery Method (Withdrawn 2024)
ASTM D 5269 : 1996 Standard Test Method for Determining Transmissivity of Nonleaky Confined Aquifers by the Theis Recovery Method
ASTM D 5447 : 2004 Standard Guide for Application of a Ground-Water Flow Model to a Site-Specific Problem
ASTM D 653 : 2007 Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
ASTM D 4630 : 1996 Standard Test Method for Determining Transmissivity and Storage Coefficient of Low-Permeability Rocks by In Situ Measurements Using the Constant Head Injection Test
ASTM D 4043 : 1996 : EDT 1 Standard Guide for Selection of Aquifer-Test Method in Determining of Hydraulic Properties by Well Techniques
ASTM D 4106 : 1996 : R2008 Standard Test Method for (Analytical Procedure) for Determining Transmissivity and Storage Coefficient of Nonleaky Confined Aquifers by the Theis Nonequilibrium Method
ASTM D 5474 : 1993 : R2000 Standard Guide for Selection of Data Elements for Ground-Water Investigations
ASTM D 4631 : 1995 : R2000 Standard Test Method for Determining Transmissivity and Storativity of Low Permeability Rocks by In Situ Measurements Using Pressure Pulse Technique
ASTM D 5409 : 1993 : R1998 Standard Guide for Set of Data Elements to Describe a Ground-Water Site; Part Two-Physical Descriptors
ASTM D 5609 : 1994 : R2008 Standard Guide for Defining Boundary Conditions in Groundwater Flow Modeling
ASTM D 5472 : 1993 : R1999 : EDT 1 Standard Test Method for Determining Specific Capacity and Estimating Transmissivity at the Control Well
ASTM D 4050 : 2020 Standard Test Method for (Field Procedure) for Withdrawal and Injection Well Testing for Determining Hydraulic Properties of Aquifer Systems
ASTM D 5609 : 2016 Standard Guide for Defining Boundary Conditions in Groundwater Flow Modeling
ASTM D 4044 : 1996 Standard Test Method for (Field Procedure) for Instantaneous Change in Head (Slug) Tests for Determining Hydraulic Properties of Aquifiers
ASTM D 5609 : 1994 : R2002 Standard Guide for Defining Boundary Conditions in Ground-Water Flow Modeling
ASTM D 4106 : 1996 Standard Test Method (Analytical Procedure) for Determining Transmissivity and Storage Coefficient of Nonleaky Confined Aquifers by the Theis Nonequilibrium Method
ASTM D 4104 : 1996 Standard Test Method (Analytical Procedure) for Determining Transmissivity of Nonleaky Confined Aquifers by Overdamped Well Response to Instantaneous Change in Head (Slug Tests)
ASTM D 5410 : 1993 : R1998 Standard Guide for Set of Data Elements to Describe a Ground-Water Site; Part Three-Usage Descriptors
ASTM D 4106 : 2020 Standard Practice for (Analytical Procedure) for Determining Transmissivity and Storage Coefficient of Nonleaky Confined Aquifers by the Theis Nonequilibrium Method
ASTM D 4044 : 1996 : R2008 Standard Test Method for (Field Procedure) for Instantaneous Change in Head (Slug) Tests for Determining Hydraulic Properties of Aquifers
ASTM D 4044 : 1996 : R2002 Standard Test Method for (Field Procedure) for Instantaneous Change in Head (Slug) Tests for Determining Hydraulic Properties of Aquifiers
ASTM D 5270 : 1996 : R2008 Standard Test Method for Determining Transmissivity and Storage Coefficient of Bounded, Nonleaky, Confined Aquifers
ASTM D 4631 : 2018 Standard Test Method for Determining Transmissivity and Storativity of Low Permeability Rocks by In Situ Measurements Using Pressure Pulse Technique
ASTM D 5269 : 1996 : R2002 Standard Test Method for Determining Transmissivity of Nonleaky Confined Aquifers by the Theis Recovery Method
ASTM D 4104 : 1996 : R2004 Standard Test Method (Analytical Procedure) for Determining Transmissivity of Nonleaky Confined Aquifers by Overdamped Well Response to Instantaneous Change in Head (Slug Tests)
ASTM D 4631 : 1995 : R2008 Standard Test Method for Determining Transmissivity and Storativity of Low Permeability Rocks by In Situ Measurements Using Pressure Pulse Technique (Withdrawn 2017)
ASTM D 5410 : 1993 : R2007 Standard Guide for Set of Data Elements to Describe a Groundwater Site;<br> Part Three<char: emdash>Usage Descriptors (Withdrawn 2016)
ASTM D 5609 : 1994 : EDT 1 Standard Guide for Defining Boundary Conditions in Ground-Water Flow Modeling
ASTM D 4104 : 2017 Standard Test Method (Analytical Procedure) for Determining Transmissivity of Nonleaky Confined Aquifers by Overdamped Well Response to Instantaneous Change in Head (Slug Tests)
ASTM D 4050 : 1996 : R2002 Standard Test Method (Field Procedure) for Withdrawal and Injection Well Tests for Determining Hydraulic Properties of Aquifer Systems
ASTM D 4630 : 2019 Standard Test Method for Determining Transmissivity and Storage Coefficient of Low-Permeability Rocks by In Situ Measurements Using the Constant Head Injection Test
ASTM D 5270 : 1996 Standard Test Method for Determining Transmissivity and Storage Coefficient of Bounded, Nonleaky, Confined Aquifers
ASTM D 5254 : 1992 : R1998 Standard Practice for Minimum Set of Data Elements to Identify a Ground-Water Site
ASTM D 5408 : 1993 : R2004 Standard Guide for Set of Data Elements to Describe a Ground-Water Site; Part One-Additional Identification Descriptors
ASTM D 5474 : 1993 : R2006 Standard Guide for Selection of Data Elements for Groundwater Investigations
ASTM D 5447 : 2017 Standard Guide for Application of a Numerical Groundwater Flow Model to a Site-Specific Problem
ASTM D 653 : 2022 Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
ASTM D 5447 : 2004 : R2010 Standard Guide for Application of a Groundwater Flow Model to a Site-Specific Problem
ASTM D 5474 : 1993 : R2012 Standard Guide for Selection of Data Elements for Groundwater Investigations (Withdrawn 2021)
ASTM D 5490 : 1993 : R2014 : EDT 1 Standard Guide for Comparing Groundwater Flow Model Simulations to Site-Specific Information (Withdrawn 2023)
ASTM D 653 : 2020 : EDT 1 Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
ASTM D 4106 : 1996 : R2002 Standard Test Method (Analytical Procedure) for Determining Transmissivity and Storage Coefficient of Nonleaky Confined Aquifers by the Theis Nonequilibrium Method
ASTM D 5490 : 1993 : EDT 1 Standard Guide for Comparing Ground-Water Flow Model Simulations to Site-Specific Information
ASTM D 5473 : 1993 : R2006 Standard Test Method for (Analytical Procedure for) Analyzing the Effects of Partial Penetration of Control Well and Determining the Horizontal and Vertical Hydraulic Conductivity in a Nonleaky Confined Aquifer (Withdrawn 2015)
ASTM D 5609 : 1994 : R2015 : EDT 1 Standard Guide for Defining Boundary Conditions in Groundwater Flow Modeling
ASTM D 4630 : 1996 : R2002 Standard Test Method for Determining Transmissivity and Storage Coefficient of Low-Permeability Rocks by In Situ Measurements Using the Constant Head Injection Test
ASTM D 4050 : 1996 Standard Test Method (Field Procedure) for Withdrawal and Injection Well Tests for Determining Hydraulic Properties of Aquifer Systems
ASTM D 653 : 2021 : REV A Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
ASTM D 4105 : 1996 : R2008 Standard Test Method for (Analytical Procedure) for Determining Transmissivity and Storage Coefficient of Nonleaky Confined Aquifers by the Modified Theis Nonequilibrium Method
ASTM D 5408 : 1993 : R1998 Standard Guide for Set of Data Elements to Describe a Ground-Water Site; Part One-Additional Identification Descriptors
ASTM D 5472 : 1993 : R2005 Standard Test Method for Determining Specific Capacity and Estimating Transmissivity at the Control Well (Withdrawn 2014)
ASTM D 5270 : 1996 : R2014 Standard Test Method for Determining Transmissivity and Storage Coefficient of Bounded, Nonleaky, Confined Aquifers
ASTM D 653 : 2021 Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
ASTM D 653 : 2021 : REV B Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
ASTM D 4043 : 1996 : R2010 : EDT 1 Standard Guide for Selection of Aquifer Test Method in Determining Hydraulic Properties by Well Techniques
ASTM D 5490 : 1993 : R2008 Standard Guide for Comparing Groundwater Flow Model Simulations to Site-Specific Information
ASTM D 5473 : 1993 : R2000 Standard Test Method for (Analytical Procedure for) Analyzing the Effects of Partial Penetration of Control Well and Determining the Horizontal and Vertical Hydraulic Conductivity in a Nonleaky Confined Aquifer
ASTM D 5409 : 1993 : R2004 Standard Guide for Set of Data Elements to Describe a Ground-Water Site; Part Two-Physical Descriptors
ASTM D 4106 : 2015 Standard Test Method for (Analytical Procedure) for Determining Transmissivity and Storage Coefficient of Nonleaky Confined Aquifers by the Theis Nonequilibrium Method
ASTM D 5254 : 1992 : R2004 Standard Practice for Minimum Set of Data Elements to Identify a Ground-Water Site
ASTM D 4105 : 2015 Standard Test Method for (Analytical Procedure) for Determining Transmissivity and Storage Coefficient of Nonleaky Confined Aquifers by the Modified Theis Nonequilibrium Method
ASTM D 4105 : 1996 Standard Test Method (Analytical Procedure) for Determining Transmissivity and Storage Coefficient of Nonleaky Confined Aquifers by the Modified Theis Nonequilibrium Method
ASTM D 4050 : 2014 Standard Test Method for (Field Procedure) for Withdrawal and Injection Well Testing for Determining Hydraulic Properties of Aquifer Systems
ASTM D 5270 : 1996 : R2002 Standard Test Method for Determining Transmissivity and Storage Coefficient of Bounded, Nonleaky, Confined Aquifers
ASTM D 5447 : 1993 : EDT 1 Standard Guide for Application of a Ground-Water Flow Model to a Site-Specific Problem (Withdrawn 2002)
ASTM D 5408 : 1993 : R2010 : EDT 1 Standard Guide for Set of Data Elements to Describe a Groundwater Site;<br> Part One<char: emdash>Additional Identification Descriptors (Withdrawn 2019)
ASTM D 4105 : 1996 : R2002 Standard Test Method (Analytical Procedure) for Determining Transmissivity and Storage Coefficient of Nonleaky Confined Aquifers by the Modified Theis Nonequilibrium Method
ASTM D 5269 : 1996 : R2008 Standard Test Method for Determining Transmissivity of Nonleaky Confined Aquifers by the Theis Recovery Method
ASTM D 4104 : 1996 : R2010 : EDT 1 Standard Test Method (Analytical Procedure) for Determining Transmissivity of Nonleaky Confined Aquifers by Overdamped Well Response to Instantaneous Change in Head (Slug Tests)
ASTM D 4043 : 1996 : R2004 Standard Guide for Selection of Aquifer Test Method in Determining Hydraulic Properties by Well Techniques
ASTM D 4050 : 1996 : R2008 Standard Test Method for (Field Procedure) for Withdrawal and Injection Well Tests for Determining Hydraulic Properties of Aquifer Systems
ASTM D 4630 : 1996 : R2008 Standard Test Method for Determining Transmissivity and Storage Coefficient of Low-Permeability Rocks by In Situ Measurements Using the Constant Head Injection Test (Withdrawn 2017)
ASTM D 4043 : 2017 Standard Guide for Selection of Aquifer Test Method in Determining Hydraulic Properties by Well Techniques
ASTM D 5490 : 1993 : R2002 Standard Guide for Comparing Ground-Water Flow Model Simulations to Site-Specific Information

View more information
Sorry this product is not available in your region.

Access your standards online with a subscription

Features

  • Simple online access to standards, technical information and regulations.

  • Critical updates of standards and customisable alerts and notifications.

  • Multi-user online standards collection: secure, flexible and cost effective.