Last Update:
15:59:02 Fri 17 May 2002
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Water-Quality Data Elements
Many entities collect water-quality data. Often the data is stored in databases that allow it to be accessible to other entities. It is important that the data in these databases includes sufficient information
about the data ("metadata") so that the non-collecting data user can assess
the comparability of data collected by various entities. Metadata includes
information about Who collected and analyzed the data, What data were collected,
Where the data was collected, When the data was collected and analyzed, Why the data was collected, and How the data was collected and analyzed. The Methods and Data Comparability Board and The National Water-Quality Monitoring Council have prepared a list of what we believe to be the
necessary or "core metadata" to allow comparability assessments. The list proposed is not a set of required information, rather, it is intended as a means
to help data collectors more easily consider the most important water-quality data elements needed to assess data comparability. The list has been developed in conjunction with numerous Local, State, Federal, and private sector water-quality sampling entities to assure that the use of the data elements listed are compatible with the majority of existing databases.
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