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Groundwater Intranet > Furnished Records

Furnished Record Policy: Supplemental Information for Groundwater Level Data

It is a long-standing policy and practice that the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will accept data (discrete and time series) into our database that are collected (in all or in part) by other agencies, provided that the USGS quality assures the data; can attest that the data are collected using methods that result in data that have an accuracy comparable to the data collected by the USGS; and the data contribute useful information about the water resources of the Nation. Office of Groundwater Technical Memo 2016.01 [70KB PDF] documents the USGS policy and standards for accepting these furnished records. The supplemental information below provides Water Science Centers with details on how to comply with the policy for groundwater data. Similar information is available for surface water and water quality data.

USGS Standards

Data Quality

• The Data Provider should follow USGS groundwater data collection methods, procedures, and policies. Groundwater Technical Procedures documents outline proper data collection methods that should be followed by the USGS and Data Provider. If Data Provider's data collection procedures vary from USGS standards, deviations should be a.) acceptable to the Water Science Center accepting the data and b.) documented in the project and Center Groundwater Quality Assurance and Data Management Plans.
• USGS should verify proper Data Provider data collection procedures at regular intervals to assure the data quality. Generally, this means, at a minimum, an annual site visit(s) with the Data Provider.
• Data Providers should provide well integrity information that is comparable to USGS well integrity procedures (i.e. annual well depth soundings, annual hydrograph inspection). Reference: OGW Tech Memo 2012.01.
• Water-level measurement equipment including pressure transducers, steel tapes, and electric tapes should have a regular calibration check to assure data quality has not been compromised. Data Providers should participate in the USGS tape-calibration program [195KB PDF] for steel and electric water level tapes. Water-level tape-calibration program frequently asked questions are available.

Site and Data Documentation

The Data Provider should provide a complete site description and all necessary field data to aide in data processing, review, and interpretation. Required information includes:

Station Description

• Site location
• Well characteristics (depth, open interval, diameter)
• Site/well diagram
• Description of location of the land surface datum
• Description of location of measuring point and height or offset from land surface datum
• Description of other site reference marks
• Documentation of levels run or other check of vertical relationship between the measuring point and the land surface datum and other reference marks
• Description of data collection, storage, and transmission equipment installed at the site, if applicable

Field Observations

• Measurement date, time, time datum
  • If providing a calculated value, the Data Provider should include all raw data used in the calculation.
• Description of measuring point used
• Description of water level method (electric tape, steel tape, etc.)
• Measuring equipment identification
• Site status at the time of the measurement
• Name and association of the individual making the measurement
• Corrections to the data (tape calibration correction, MP height, offsets, etc)

Field forms, spreadsheets, and software

All of the information that needs to be provided under "Field Observations" can be electronically recorded in the field on a handheld device by use of the MONKES field computing application. The Office of Groundwater encourages the use of this software for field data collection by Data Providers. The PC/tablet version in SVMobile will be available later this year.

• MONKES field computing software

Often, Data Providers enter much of the information needed into field notes, field forms, or spreadsheets. Examples below can be shared with Data Providers for data collection. Along with the field notes, the Site-Specific Water-Use Data System (SWUDS) spreadsheet forms or the Technical Procedures field forms can insure all the necessary information is available for data review. The SWUDS template also provides an easy way to batch process water level records.

• Field forms can be found in the Groundwater Technical Procedures Document
• SWUDS furnished records template #1 [60KB XLSX]
• SWUDS furnished records template #2 [60KB XLSX]

Data Timeliness

• Data Providers should provide the data to the USGS in a timely manner in accordance with the agreement, but as soon after collection as possible.
• USGS must review and approve the data in a timely manner upon receipt as described in continuous record processing guidelines for time-series data (WMA Policy Memo 2010.02) and discrete groundwater-level data (OGW Tech Memo 2015.01 [70KB PDF]).

Records Processing and Review

Data review and approval procedures for furnished groundwater-level records should be the same as for Center-collected groundwater-level data. Data Providers should provide enough documentation for the Center to check, approve, and publish the records.

• Groundwater records processing guidelines provide guidance on specific tasks for each stage of the USGS groundwater-level records processing routine. Groundwater records processing guidelines [30KB DOCX]
• Time-series record approval should be tracked in the Records Management System (RMS). Furnished records should be assigned the most appropriate record management category for approval per policy guidelines. In general, records should be assigned Category 1 (approved within 150 days of receipt). An explanation should be provided if selecting a different record management category in RMS.
• The Center should develop a communication plan for the revision of approved records by the Data Provider or by USGS.
• Data should not be accepted if there is no intent to quality assure and publish.

Data Publication

Generally, USGS will publish the furnished record on NWISWeb. Discrete water-level data should be coded in GWSI such that the appropriate data source/provider information is available for display. If, for any reason, there is a compelling and defensible reason for not publishing the data, it should be documented in the Center Groundwater QA Plan. Exceptions should be reevaluated periodically.

Training, Instructions, Tip Sheets

Groundwater Technical Procedure Videos

These videos demonstrate a few of the standardized procedures for data collection described in the Groundwater Technical Procedures Document.