1.1 This guide covers the category of water-analysis diagrams that use pictorial or pattern methods (for example, bar, radiating vectors, pattern, and circular) as a basis for displaying each of the individual chemical components that were determined from the analysis of a single sample of natural ground water (see Terminology).

1.2 This guide on single-analysis diagrams is the second of several standards to inform the professionals in the field of hydrology with the traditional graphical methods available to display ground-water chemistry.

Note 1--The initial guide described the category of water-analysis diagrams that use two-dimensional trilinear graphs to display, on a single diagram, the common chemical components from two or more complete analyses of natural ground water.

1.2.1 A third guide will be for diagrams based on data analytical calculations that include those categories of water analysis graphs where multiple analyses are analyzed statistically and the results plotted on a diagram (for example, the box, and so forth).

1.3 Numerous methods have been developed to display, on single-analyses diagrams, the ions dissolved in water. These methods were developed by investigators to assist in the interpretation of the origin of the ions in the water and to simplify the comparison of analyses, one with another.

1.4 This guide presents a compilation of diagrams from a number of authors that allows for transformation of numerical data into visual, usable forms. It is not a guide to selection or use. That choice is program or project specific.

Note 2--Use of tradenames in this guide is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by ASTM.

1.5 This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course of action. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this guide 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.