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Baseline Data Sets (1992-1996)

In 1991, a study (baseline study) was begun within the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's (MPCA) Ground Water Monitoring and Assessment Program (GWMAP) to establish baseline ground water quality in Minnesota's principal aquifers. You may view or download the data from the 1992-1996 field work in varied formats and subsets as indicated below.

Technical Description

A randomized grid design was established across the state, with a grid node spacing of 11 miles. A well from each principal aquifer that is used as a source of drinking water was selected within a nine-mile target area centered on each grid node Between 1992 and 1996, 954 drinking water wells were sampled for analysis of major cations and anions, trace inorganics, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), total organic carbon, total and dissolved solids. Field measurements were made for pH, oxidation-reduction potential, dissolved oxygen, temperature, alkalinity, and specific conductivity.

Data Files

Select a 1992-1996 data file by format or subset type in the table below.

• Examples of how to apply GWMAP data to solve ground water problems
• View the entire report: Baseline Water Quality of Minnesota's Principal Aquifers