SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1988
STP44860S

Design Considerations and the Quality of Data from Multiple-Level Ground-Water Monitoring Wells

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The role of design in obtaining ground-water monitoring data is introduced. Several basic aspects of design are considered. These include the spatial distribution and length of monitoring zones and the percentage of the drill hole containing seals. Emphasis is placed upon multiple-level monitoring wells because, for most sites, they appear to be necessary to satisfy the requirements for establishing the three-dimensional distribution of natural piezometric and chemical data, as well as the influence of superimposed local variations. To facilitate the discussion of multiple-level monitoring wells, a proposed classification is presented.

Attention is given to mixing of fluids in the well bore annulus. Errors introduced by such mixing are shown to be related to the length of the monitoring zone with respect to the geometry and uniformity of the ground-water plumes. Analyses of samples affected by fluids mixing prior to and during sampling are shown to lead to significant errors in determining in-situ water quality.

The paper concludes that water samples and fluid pressures from short monitoring zones will generally be of a higher quality (that is, more representative of in-situ conditions) than data from longer monitoring zones.

Author Information

Patton, FD
Westbay Instruments Ltd., North Vancouver, BC, Canada
Rodney Smith, H
Westbay Instruments Ltd., North Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Details
Developed by Committee: D18
Pages: 206–217
DOI: 10.1520/STP44860S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5037-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0968-1