Installing Monitoring Wells in Soils - Version 1.0

This technical note provides general guidance on how to install and use piezometers and water-table wells to investigate soil water regimes under conditions commonly encountered in Soil Survey and hydropedology studies. Piezometers and water-table wells installed using these procedures act as lined and unlined bore holes, respectively (Soil Survey Division Staff 1993, page 93), usually at depths that desaturate seasonally. Standard guidelines (Sections 3 and 5) are presented for use in soils where hand augering is practical and saturated hydraulic conductivities are moderate or higher. Alternative methods (Section 6) are provided for problem soils where the standard procedures are impractical or problematic. Limitations: Procedures described here are appropriate only to monitor changes in water level and hydraulic head. They are not intended for water quality sampling, water supply, or determination of saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat).