Glossary   A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A water point can be used to find out about the quality of the water. Whether it is to find out about France’s natural water heritage or to find about the quality of the water itself for varying uses, including drinking water, the water point is linked to a groundwater quality measuring station: a quality meter.

The groundwater quality measuring station (or quality meter) is a water point or a group of water points where measurements and samples are taken for physicochemical, bacteriological analysis etc., in order to determine the quality of the water from the groundwater body.

When a quality meter is used for a set of water points (for example in a groundwater supply zone), it is then connected to a so-called “main” water point, with the grouping being indicated and all the secondary water points being listed.

As a general rule, a quality meter is linked to a single hydrogeological entity. However, it is acknowledged that water analysed directly above the station can come from several hydrogeological entities (see Hydrogeological Entity).

On a quality meter, one or more measuring points can be set. The measuring points are the various geographic reference spaces in which it is recommended to carry out in situ measuring or take samples for analysis.

Each measuring point characterises a depth level, vertical for wells and horizontal for galleries, where water is taken for sampling. When the station comprises a set of water points, the measuring point is characteristic of an underground volume, with the minimum and maximum depths being envelope curves of the drawing-off carried out on each water point.

Combined with the sampling conditions, the layout and usage conditions of the water point, they also characterise water quality. Indeed, water quality should not be considered as homogeneous throughout the measuring station. It varies depending on:

• The depth of the drawing off.
• The water point usage conditions (does permanent, intermittent or no pumping take place?)
• The layout of the water point: one or more aquiferous layers are used on a greater or smaller head.
• The sampling conditions: the water quality will differ depending on whether it is sampled directly from the installation or if samples are made up using pumping over a long - short period of time.

The data collection system for a group of measuring stations, used for monitoring the water quality of one or more groundwater bodies at different points. This network has a variable reach (departmental, regional, basin level, national). Sampling frequency also varies from network to network (monthly, quarterly, six monthly, annual, over several years).

A groundwater quality network search engine is available on: http://www.sandre.eaufrance.fr/disc...

The data collection system for a group of measuring stations, used for monitoring the piezometry in order to find out the variations in hydraulic head in one or more bodies at different points. This network has a variable reach (departmental, regional, basin level, national). In the same way, measuring frequency varies from network to network (hourly, daily, monthly, annual monitoring).

A groundwater quantity network search engine is available on: http://www.sandre.eaufrance.fr/disceau or on http://ades.eaufrance.fr