Overview
SIST ISO 5667-22:2011 - Water quality - Sampling - Part 22 provides international guidance on the design, construction and installation of groundwater quality monitoring points (GQMPs). The standard helps ensure representative groundwater samples by addressing interactions between installation materials, sample integrity and the surrounding environment. It supports monitoring for baseline studies, contamination investigations and long‑term compliance or remediation monitoring.
Key topics and technical requirements
SIST ISO 5667-22:2011 focuses on practical design and installation considerations rather than prescriptive procedures. Major technical topics include:
- Design planning and conceptual model: developing a monitoring objective-driven plan that considers sources, pathways, receptors and spatial/vertical monitoring needs.
- Drilling methods and installation sizing: selecting appropriate drilling techniques and borehole sizes compatible with the monitoring objective.
- Installation design and well construction: guidance on well screens, annulus management, sand packs, seals and avoiding cross‑contamination between zones (e.g., nested piezometers, multi‑level samplers).
- Construction material selection: assessing the impact of casing, seals and backfill materials on groundwater chemistry and the environment to protect sample integrity.
- Headworks and surface environment: recommendations for protective headworks, surface drainage and security to limit external contamination and physical damage.
- Borehole development and post‑construction activities: best practice for development, record keeping, routine inspection, maintenance and rehabilitation to ensure long‑term data quality.
- Quality assurance / quality control and safety: documentation, QA/QC measures and safety precautions during installation and sampling.
- Supporting annexes (informative) describe common drilling techniques and headwork completion examples.
Practical applications and users
ISO 5667-22 is used by professionals involved in groundwater monitoring and environmental assessment, including:
- Hydrogeologists and environmental consultants designing monitoring networks and sampling programs.
- Remediation engineers and site managers establishing performance monitoring and verifying remedial effectiveness.
- Regulators and compliance officers specifying monitoring requirements and interpreting groundwater data.
- Laboratories and QA managers ensuring upstream sampling integrity supports reliable laboratory results.
Typical applications: baseline groundwater investigations, contaminated site characterization (including LNAPL/DNAPL concerns), migration studies, early‑warning networks, regulatory compliance monitoring and long‑term stewardship.
Related standards
ISO 5667-22 forms part of the ISO 5667 series on water sampling. Related parts commonly used alongside this document include ISO 5667‑1 (sampling programme design) and ISO 5667‑11 (groundwater sampling procedures), plus other parts addressing preservation, QA and specific water environments.