Abstract

A proper design of groundwater monitoring networks on provincial level requires well defined objectives and information on the areas to be monitored. Basically these networks have the same objectives as the national groundwater quality monitoring network. Since the start at about 1980 the national network is methodologically organizationally and administratively controlled and operated by the National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection. To take fully advantage of the results of the national network it is quite clear that the provincial groundwater monitoring networks must be compatible with the national network. Compatability concerns the following aspects: boreholes in which the screens are installed, method of sampling and analysis, choice of parameters and quality control data handling and database systems. This report treats the above mentioned subjects and indicates the standardized procedures in the establishment of the national network and pays attention to sampling techniques and methods for analysing the samples.