5.1 Environmental data are often required for making regulatory and programmatic decisions. These data must be of known quality commensurate with their intended use.

5.2 Certain minimal criteria must be met by the field organizations in order to meet the objectives of the water monitoring activities.

5.3 This guide defines the criteria for organizations taking water samples and generating environmental data and identifies other activities that may be required based on the DQOs.

5.4 This guide emphasizes the importance of communication among those involved in establishing the DQOs, planning, and implementing the sampling and analysis aspects of environmental data generation activities, and assessing data quality.

1.1 This guide covers planning and implementation of the sampling aspects of environmental data generation activities. Environmental data generation efforts are comprised of four parts: (1) establishment of data quality objectives (DQOs); (2) design of field sampling and measurement strategies and specification of laboratory analyses and data acceptance criteria; (3) implementation of sampling and analysis strategies; and (4) data quality assessment.

1.2 This guide defines the criteria that must be considered to ensure the quality of the field aspects of environmental data and sample generation activities.

1.3 DQOs should be adopted prior to the application of this guide. The data generated in accordance with this guide are subject to a final assessment to determine whether the DQOs were met. For example, many screening activities do not require all of the quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) steps found in this guide to generate data adequate to meet the project needs. The extent to which all of the requirements must be met remains a matter of technical judgement as it relates to the established DQOs.

1.4 This guide presents extensive management requirements designed to ensure high-quality samples and data. The words “must,” “shall,” “may,” and “should” have been selected carefully to reflect the importance placed on many of the statements made in this guide.

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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.