ASTM D5092-02 - 10.7.2002
 
1. Scope

1.1 This practice considers the selection and characterization (that is, defining soil, rock types, and hydraulic gradients) of the target monitoring zone as an integral component of monitoring well design and installation. Hence, the development of a conceptual hydrogeologic model for the intended monitoring zone(s) is recommended prior to the design and installation of a monitoring well.

1.2 These guidelines are based on recognized methods by which monitoring wells may be designed and installed for the purpose of detecting the presence or absence of a contaminant, and collecting representative ground water quality data. The design standards and installation procedures herein are applicable to both detection and assessment monitoring programs for facilities.

1.3 The recommended monitoring well design, as presented in this practice, is based on the assumption that the objective of the program is to obtain representative ground water information and water quality samples from aquifers. Monitoring wells constructed following this practice should produce relatively turbidity-free samples for granular aquifer materials ranging from gravels to silty sand and sufficiently permeable consolidated and fractured strata. Strata having grain sizes smaller than the recommended design for the smallest diameter filter pack materials should be monitored by alternative monitoring well designs which are not addressed in this practice.

1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values in parentheses are for information only.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.6 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Nat all aspects of this practice 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.5092

 
2. Referenced Documents

D2217-85(1998)

Standard Practice for Wet Preparation of Soil Samples for Particle-Size Analysis and Determination of Soil Constants (Withdrawn 2007)

D2487-17(2025)

Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)

D2488-26

Standard Practice for Description and Identification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Visual-Manual Procedures)

D3282-24

Standard Practice for Classification of Soils and Soil-Aggregate Mixtures for Highway Construction Purposes

D3441-25

Standard Test Method for Mechanical Cone Penetration Testing of Soils

D3550-01

Standard Practice for Thick Wall, Ring-Lined, Split Barrel, Drive Sampling of Soils

D4220-95(2000)

Standard Practices for Preserving and Transporting Soil Samples

D4700-15

Standard Guide for Soil Sampling from the Vadose Zone (Withdrawn 2024)

D4750-87(2001)

Standard Test Method for Determining Subsurface Liquid Levels in a Borehole or Monitoring Well (Observation Well) (Withdrawn 2010)

D5079-25

Standard Practices for Preserving and Transporting Rock Core Samples

D5088-20

Standard Practice for Decontamination of Field Equipment Used at Waste Sites

D5254-92(1998)

Standard Practice for Minimum Set of Data Elements to Identify a Ground-Water Site

D5299-99

Standard Guide for Decommissioning of Ground Water Wells, Vadose Zone Monitoring Devices, Boreholes, and Other Devices for Environmental Activities

D5434-25

Standard Guide for Field Logging of Subsurface Explorations of Soil and Rock

D5518-94e1

Standard Guide for Acquisition of File Aerial Photography and Imagery for Establishing Historic Site-Use and Surficial Conditions (Withdrawn 2003)

D1587-08

Standard Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling of Soils for Geotechnical Purposes

D2113-14

Standard Practice for Rock Core Drilling and Sampling of Rock for Site Exploration (Withdrawn 2023)

C150-07

Standard Specification for Portland Cement

C294-24

Standard Descriptive Nomenclature for Constituents of Concrete Aggregates

D421-85(1998)

Standard Practice for Dry Preparation of Soil Samples for Particle-Size Analysis and Determination of Soil Constants

D422-63(1998)

Standard Test Method for Particle-Size Analysis of Soils

D653-26a

Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids (Includes all amendments and changes 6/15/2026).

D1452-09

Standard Practice for Soil Exploration and Sampling by Auger Borings

D1586-11

Standard Test Method for Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils

D5979-96(2019)e1

Standard Guide for Conceptualization and Characterization of Groundwater Systems (Includes all amendments and changes 9/4/2019).

D6001-05

Standard Guide for Direct-Push Groundwater Sampling for Environmental Site Characterization

D6235-25

Standard Practice for Expedited Site Characterization of Vadose Zone and Groundwater Contamination at Hazardous Waste Contaminated Sites

D6274-18

Standard Guide for Conducting Borehole Geophysical Logging - Gamma

D6282-98

Standard Guide for Direct Push Soil Sampling for Environmental Site Characterizations

D6286-19

Standard Guide for Selection of Drilling and Direct Push Methods for Geotechnical and Environmental Subsurface Site Characterization

D6429-23

Standard Guide for Selecting Surface Geophysical Methods

D6067-10

Standard Practice for Using the Electronic Piezocone Penetrometer Tests for Environmental Site Characterization

D6167-19

Standard Guide for Conducting Borehole Geophysical Logging: Mechanical Caliper

D6169-98

Standard Guide for Selection of Soil and Rock Sampling Devices Used With Drill Rigs for Environmental Investigations

D6431-25

Standard Guide for Using the Direct Current Resistivity Method for Geophysical Site Investigation

D6432-19

Standard Guide for Using the Surface Ground Penetrating Radar Method for Subsurface Investigation

D6519-15

Standard Practice for Sampling of Soil Using the Hydraulically Operated Stationary Piston Sampler

D6639-25

Standard Guide for Using the Frequency Domain Electromagnetic Method for Subsurface Site Investigations

D5876-95(2000)

Standard Guide for Use of Direct Rotary Wireline Casing Advancement Drilling Methods for Geoenvironmental Exploration and Installation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices

D6725-04

Standard Practice for Direct Push Installation of Prepacked Screen Monitoring Wells in Unconsolidated Aquifers

D6430-18

Standard Guide for Using the Gravity Method for Subsurface Site Characterization

D6640-21

Standard Practice for Collection and Handling of Soils Obtained in Core Barrel Samplers for Environmental Investigations

D6771-21

Standard Practice for Low-Flow Purging and Sampling Used for Groundwater Monitoring

D5521-05

Standard Guide for Development of Groundwater Monitoring Wells in Granular Aquifers

D5608-16

Standard Practices for Decontamination of Sampling and Non Sample Contacting Equipment Used at Low Level Radioactive Waste Sites (Withdrawn 2025)

D5730-04

Standard Guide for Site Characterization for Environmental Purposes With Emphasis on Soil, Rock, the Vadose Zone and Groundwater (Withdrawn 2013)

D5753-18

Standard Guide for Planning and Conducting Geotechnical Borehole Geophysical Logging

D5782-18(2026)

Standard Guide for Use of Direct Air-Rotary Drilling for Geoenvironmental Exploration and the Installation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices

D5787-20

Standard Practice for Monitoring Well Protection At or Near Land Surface

D5978-96e1

Standard Guide for Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Ground-Water Monitoring Wells

F480-25

Standard Specification for Thermoplastic Well Casing Pipe and Couplings Made in Standard Dimension Ratios (SDR), SCH 40 and SCH 80

D6724-04

Standard Guide for Installation of Direct Push Ground Water Monitoring Wells

D5781-95(2000)

Standard Guide for Use of Dual-Wall Reverse-Circulation Drilling for Geoenvironmental Exploration and the Installation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices

D5783-18(2025)

Standard Guide for Use of Direct Rotary Drilling with Water-Based Drilling Fluid for Geoenvironmental Exploration and the Installation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices

D5784-95(2000)

Standard Guide for Use of Hollow-Stem Augers for Geoenvironmental Exploration and the Installation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices

D5777-18

Standard Guide for Using the Seismic Refraction Method for Subsurface Investigation

D5872-95(2000)

Standard Guide for Use of Casing Advancement Drilling Methods for Geoenvironmental Exploration and Installation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices

D5875-95(2000)

Standard Guide for Use of Cable-Tool Drilling and Sampling Methods for Geoenvironmental Exploration and Installation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices