Table 1. Medium codes, descriptions, and definitions
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Medium Description Definition Code
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B Solids (street sweepings, Dry unconsolidated materials that are etc.) collected
from a street or paved area, including the total array of materials that are
collected as part of a "clean sweep," and cannot be described by Sample
Medium Codes C-J or 1-9.
C Animal tissue-Any type of tissue that comprises either whole or parts
of insects, fish, or other organisms living in an aquatic environment, or warm
bodied animals that may or may not have been collected from a water body.
D Plant tissue-Any type of non-animal tissue that comprises either whole or
parts of plants, aquatic or non-aquatic.
E Core material-Consolidated or unconsolidated material removed from a pipe
or casing during a drilling (coring) operation.
G Soil-A wet or dry substance composed of unconsolidated fine-grain rock fragments
(minerals) and organic material that has been modified sufficiently by physical,
chemical, or biological processes to support terrestrial plant growth.
H Bottom material-A mixture of mineral and organic matter that compose the top
bed deposits (usually the first few inches) under-lying a body of water.
L-P Taxonomic data Biological data distinct from non-taxonomic data which cannot
be described by Sample Medium Codes A-K or I-9.
(L) Phytoplanktonic species composition and enumeration
(M) Phytoplanktonic species composition
(N) Periphytic species composition
(O) Benthic invertebrates species composition and enumeration
(P) Periphytic diatoms species composition and enumeration
R-Y Quality-assurance sample Blank samples taken to ensure that environmental
samples have not been contaminated by the data-collection process.
(R) Surface water
(S) Ground water
(T) Wet deposition
(V) Suspended sediment
(W) Bottom material
(X) Animal tissue
(Y) Plant tissue
1 Suspended sediment-Sediment carried in suspension by the turbulent components
of the fluid or by the Brownian movement (a law of physics).
6 Ground water-Water below the surface of the earth contained in the saturated
zone. It does not include soil moisture or interstitial water.
7 Wet deposition-Water reaching the earth's surface through precipitation as
rain, snow, sleet, hail or condensation of fog and dew. The water may contain
undissolved particulate and gaseous materials acquired from the atmosphere during
precipitation.
9 Surface water-Water on the surface of the earth stored or transported in rivers,
streams, estuaries, lakes, ponds, swamps, glaciers or other aquatic areas. It
also may refer to water in urban drains and storm-sewer systems.
Table 2. Hydrologic Condition Codes
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Code Description
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A Not determined
4 Stable, low stage
5 Falling stage
6 Stable, high stage
7 Peak stage
8 Rising stage
9 Stable, normal stage
Table 3. Hydrologic Event Code
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Code Description
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A Spring breakup
B Under ice cover
C Glacial lake outbreak
D Mudflow
E Tidal action
H Dambreak
J Storm
1 Drought
2 Spill
3 Regulated flow
4 Snowmelt
5 Earthquake
6 Hurricane
7 Flood
8 Volcanic action
9 Routine sample
Table 4. Sample Type Codes
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Code Description
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A Not determined
B Other QA
H Composite (time)
1 Spike
2 Blank
3 Reference
4 Blind
5 Duplicate
6 Reference Material
7 Replicate
8 Spike solution
9 Regular
Table 5. Analysis Types
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Code Description
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CH Chemical
BI Biological
SE Sediment
NU Nutrients
PE Pesticides
BE Bed material
ME Metals
RA Radiochemical
Table 6. Remark Codes
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Code Description
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-- Not remarked
E Estimated value
< Actual value is known to be less than the value shown.
> Actual value is known to be greater than the value shown.
A Mean value - used primarily with measurements of ground-water levels
V Analyte was detected in both the environmental sample and the associated blanks (see
Office of Water Quality Memorandum 97.8)
S Most probable value - used primarily with measurements of ground-water
levels
X Unknown
Table 7. Primary Use of Site Codes
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Code Description Definition
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A. Anode-Anode is a hole used as an electrical anode. Include in this
category wells used solely to ground pipelines or electronic relays and other
installations.
C. Standby-Standby emergency supply refers to a water-supply emergency
source that is used only when the principal supplier supply of water is unavailable.
D. Drain-Drainage refers to the drainage of surface water underground.
E. Geothermal-Geothermal well is a hole drilled for geothermal energy
development. Use this category for "dry" geothermal wells or wells into which
water is injected for heating. For "wet" geothermal wells, through which water
is withdrawn, use "W - withdrawal of water" for the use of site, and "E - power
generation" for the primary use of water.
G. Seismic-Seismic hole is one drilled for seismic exploration. If it
has been converted to water supply, it is used to withdraw water. A seismic
hole used as an observation well should be in the observation-well category.
H. Heat reservoir-Heat reservoir refers to a well in which a fluid is
circulated in a closed system. Water is neither added to, nor removed from,
the aquifer.
M. Mine-Mine includes any tunnel, shaft, or other excavation constructed
for the extraction of minerals.
O. Observation-Observation well is a cased test-hole or well, drilled
for either water-level or water-quality observations. Do not use this category
for an oil-test hole, or water-supply well used only incidentally as an observation
well.
P. Oil or gas well-Oil or gas well is any well or hole drilled in search
of, or for production of, petroleum or gas. It includes any oil or gas production
well, dry hole, core hole, injection well drilled for secondary recovery of
oil, etc. An oil-test hole converted to a water-supply well should be classified
as withdrawal (W).
R. Recharge-Recharge site is a site constructed or converted for use in
replenishing the aquifer. An irrigation well used to return water to the aquifer
during nonpumping periods is a well for withdrawing water, not a drainage or
recharge well. Use this category for wells that are used to return water to
the aquifer after use, such as those for returning air-conditioning water.
S. Repressurize-Repressurize refers to pumping water into an aquifer in
order to increase the pressure in the aquifer for a specific purpose; for example,
water flood purposes in oil fields.
T. Test-Test hole is an uncased hole (or one cased only temporarily) that
was drilled for water, or for geologic or hydrogeologic testing. It may be equipped
temporarily with a pump in order to make a pumping test, but if the well is
destroyed after testing is completed, it is still a test hole. A core hole drilled
as a part of mining or quarrying exploration work should be in this class.
U. Unused-An unused site is an abandoned water-supply site or one for
which no use is contemplated. At an abandoned farmstead, a well originally used
for domestic purposes may be classed as unused, even though it is equipped with
a pump. Similarly, a stock well with a pump may become unused when a pasture
or corral is put into cultivation. An irrigation well that is not equipped with
a pump, nor used because the yield is too low or the water is too mineralized,
belongs in this class.
W. Withdrawal of-Withdrawal of water refers to a site that supplies water
water for one of the purposes shown under use of water. It includes a dewatering
well, if the dewatering is accomplished by pumping ground water.
X. Waste disposal-A waste-disposal site is one used to convey industrial
waste, domestic sewage, oil-field brine, mine drainage, radioactive waste, or
other waste fluid into an under ground zone. An oil-test or deep-water well
converted to waste disposal should be in this category.
Z. Destroyed-A destroyed site is one that is no longer in existence. The
casing of most destroyed wells will be pulled, but some may be plugged or filled.
Do not use this category for an abandoned site that merely is not in use.
Table 8. Primary Use of Water Codes
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Code Description Definition
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A. Air condition-Air conditioning refers to water supply used solely or
principally for heating or cooling a building. Water used to cool industrial
machinery belongs in the industrial category, not in the air-conditioning category.
B. Bottling-Bottling refers to the storage of water in bottles and use
of the water for potable purposes (see Medicinal).
C. Commercial-Commercial use refers to use by a business establishment
that does not fabricate or produce a product. Filling stations and motels are
examples of commercial establishments. If some product is manufactured, assembled,
remodeled, or otherwise fabricated, use of water for that plant should be considered
industrial, even though the water is not used directly in the product or in
the manufacturing of the product.
D. Dewater-Dewatering means the water is pumped for dewatering a construction
or mining site, or to lower the water table for agricultural purposes. In this
respect, it differs from a drainage well that is used to drain surface water
underground. If the main purpose for which the water is withdrawn is to
provide drainage, dewatering should be indicated even though the water may be
discharged into an irrigation ditch and subsequently used to irrigate land.
E. Power-Power generation refers to use of water for generation of any
type of power.
F. Fire-Fire protection refers to the principal use of the water and should
be indicated if the site was constructed principally for this purpose, even
though the water may be used at times to supplement an industrial or defense
supply, to irrigate a golf course, fill a swimming pool, or for other use.
H. Domestic-Domestic use is water used to supply household needs, principally
for drinking, cooking, washing, and sanitary purposes, but including watering
a lawn and caring for a few pets. Most domestic wells will be at suburban or
farm homes, but wells supplying small quantities of water for domestic purposes
for one-classroom schools, turnpike gates, and similar installations, should
be in the domestic category.
I. Irrigation-Irrigation refers to the use of water to irrigate cultivated
plants. Most irrigation sites will supply water for farm crops, but the category
should include wells used to water the grounds of schools, industrial plants,
or cemeteries, if more than a small amount of water is pumped and that
is the sole use of the water.
J. Industrial-Industrial cooling refers to a water supply used solely
(cooling) for industrial cooling.
K. Mining-Mining refers to a water supply used solely for mining purposes.
M. Medicinal-Medicinal refers to water purported to have therapeutic value.
Water may be used for bathing and/or drinking. If use of water is mainly because
of its claimed therapeutic value, use this category even though the water is
bottled.
N. Industrial-Industrial use is within a plant that manufactures or fabricates
a product. The water may or may not be incorporated into the product being manufactured.
Industrial water may be used to cool machinery, to provide sanitary facilities
for employees, to air-condition the plant, and to irrigate the ground at the
plant.
P. Public supply-Public Supply use is water that is pumped and distributed
to several homes. Such supplies may be owned by a municipality or community,
a water district, or a private concern. In most States, public supplies are
regulated by departments of health which enforce minimum safety and sanitary
requirements. If the system supplies five or more homes, it should be considered
a public supply, as four or less classify use as domestic. Water supplies
for trailer or summer camps with five or more living units should be in this
category, but motels and hotels are classified as commercial. Most public supply
systems also furnish water for a variety of other uses, such as industrial, institutional,
and commercial.
Q. Aquaculture-Aquaculture refers to a water supply used solely for aquaculture,
such as fish farms.
R. Recreation-Recreation refers to water discharged into pools (or channels
which are dammed downstream to form pools), for swimming, boating, fishing,
ice rinks, and other recreational uses.
S. Stock-Stock Supply refers to the watering of livestock.
T. Institutional-Institutional refers to water used in the maintenance
and operation of institutions such as large schools, universities, hospitals,
rest homes, or similar installations. Owners of institutions may
be individuals, corporations, churches, or governmental units.
U. Unused Unused means water is not being removed
from the site for one of the purposes described above. A test hole, oil or gas
well, recharge, drainage, observation, or
waste-disposal well will be in this category. Do not use this classification
for an irrigation, domestic, stock, or other well during "off season" or temporary
periods of nonuse. The use of water from a newly constructed site should be
considered as the use for which it is intended even though it may not yet be
in use when inventoried.
Y. Desalination Desalination refers to water used in a desalting process
whereby dissolved solids are removed to make water potable or suitable for other
uses. Enter the type of use of the desalinated water in the next column, "Secondary
Water Use".
Z. Other Other refers to miscellaneous uses not included in (explain in
the listed categories. remarks)