Groundwater Sampling Guidance

Groundwater sampling is used for measuring the quality of ground water. The documents available below help define the procedures for collecting and handling samples from both monitoring wells and water-supply wells.

Important: Before sampling ground water at a regulated site, check with the appropriate MPCA regulatory program. Each program may have its own program-specific guidance information and procedures.

On this page, you'll find two types of groundwater sampling guidance documents:

• Part 1: MPCA groundwater sampling. (Established in 1995 and still valid.) Contains detailed technical information, recommendations and alternatives for obtaining reliable groundwater samples based on your data-quality objectives.
  
  
• Part 2: Program-specific guidance documents. These documents are based on the 1995 agency-wide guidance. However, the program-specific documents are more concise and reflect program-specific goals, recommendations and requirements.

Part 1: MPCA Agency-wide Groundwater Sampling Guidance

Note: This guidance was established in 1995 and is still valid.

To order the complete 1995 MPCA Groundwater Sampling Guidance Document, you may download a description of the guidance document and ordering information, along with an order form. These are available below.

• Description and ordering information
• Document order form

Groundwater Sampling Guidance: Appendices A, B and C

To provide you access to updates, the most recent version of Appendices A, B and C of the Groundwater Sampling Guidance document are available below. Please note that these appendices are designed to be used as a component of the complete 1995 MPCA Ground Water Sampling Guidance Document. They are not intended as stand-alone documents. Please see the complete guidance document (see ordering information above) for important cautions, recommendations, disclaimers and other legal information.

• Appendix A - Example sampling protocol for monitoring wells
• Purging and Sampling Rate Test Form
  • page 1
  • page 2
• Water Level Data Form
  • page 1
  • page 2
• Well Purging & Field Water-Quality Measurements Form
  • page 1
  • page 2
• Groundwater Sampling Information Form
  • page 1
  • page 2
• Chain of Custody Sheet
• Sample Identification & Field Chain of Custody Record
  • page 1
  • page 2
    
    
• Appendix B
  • Cover Page
  • Master template for ground water analysis
  • Master template for ground water analysis
    
    
• Appendix C - Ground water sampling field work checklist.

Appendices A and B are in a word processing format to eliminate the need to retype a sampling protocol and related documents. Moderate editing is required of the sampling protocol in Appendix A to produce a final protocol. The field work checklist in Appendix C can be customized to suit individual needs.

If you have questions about the 1995 MPCA (agency-wide) guidance document, you may contact the author, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at 651-757-2782.

Part 2: Program-specific Groundwater Sampling Guidance

You may access guidance documents or additional information about groundwater sampling for the following MPCA programs:

• Former Water Quality Division Guidance Document. This document pertains specifically to the following programs:
  • National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program
  • State Disposal System (SDS) Program
  • Feedlot Program
• Tanks and Emergency Response Section Guidance, see document 4-05.
• Voluntary Investigation and Cleanup Program and Superfund Program Guidance, Site Characterization and Sampling Document.
  • The example Sampling Protocol Template is available for downloading and editing in MS Word format.

Information and assistance

For assistance with the groundwater sampling guidance documents above, please contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at 651-757-2782.