Circular No. 30/2011/TT-BTNMT stipulates the technical procedures for monitoring underground water environment.

CIRCULAR

TECHNICAL PROCEDURE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING OF GROUNDWATER

Pursuant to Decree No. 25/2008/NĐ-CP dated March 4, 2008 of the Government on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, amended and supplemented by Decree No. 19/2010/NĐ-CP dated March 8, 2010 and Decree No. 89/2010/NĐ-CP dated August 16, 2010;

Pursuant to the Government Decree No. 102/2008/NĐ-CP, September 15, 2008, on the collection, management, exploitation, and utilization of data on natural resources and the environment;

Pursuant to Decision No. 16/2007/QĐ-TTg dated January 29, 2007 of the Prime Minister approving the overall planning of the national environmental monitoring network until 2020;

Considering the proposal of the General Director of the Environmental Administration, the Director of the Science and Technology Department, and the Director of the Legal Affairs Department;

c) Enterprises may be granted permission for no more than one block out of the total three dual-frequency blocks (FDD) B

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates the technical procedures for environmental monitoring of groundwater, including: determining the objectives of monitoring, designing the monitoring program, and implementing the monitoring program.

Article 2. Applicability

1. This Circular applies to the following subjects:

a) State management agencies for the environment at central and local levels; stations and centers of the national environmental monitoring network and local environmental monitoring network;

b) Organizations with functions and tasks related to environmental monitoring activities and environmental monitoring service activities to submit reports and data to state management agencies for the environment at central and local levels;

This Circular does not apply to groundwater environmental monitoring activities using automatic and continuous devices.

Article 3. Principles for applying standards and methods

The application of referenced standards and methods must comply with the monitoring and analysis standards and methods prescribed in Chapter II of this Circular;

In case the monitoring and analysis standards and methods prescribed in Chapter II of this Circular are revised, supplemented, or replaced, the new standards and methods shall be applied.

Chapter II

TECHNICAL PROCEDURE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING OF GROUNDWATER

Article 4. Monitoring Objectives

Basic objectives in monitoring groundwater environments include:

1. Tracking changes in physical properties, chemical composition, radioactive activity, microbiological components, etc., of groundwater over space and time under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors;

2. Determining the degree of damage and forecasting short-term and long-term trends in changes in the groundwater environment;

3. Serving as a basis for policy formulation, pollution control, rational utilization, and protection of the groundwater environment.

Article 5. Design of Monitoring Program

After design, the monitoring program must be approved or accepted in writing by the competent authority or the agency managing the monitoring program. The specific design of the groundwater environmental monitoring program is as follows:

1. Type of Monitoring

Based on the monitoring objectives, when designing the monitoring program, it is necessary to determine whether the type of monitoring is background environmental monitoring or impact environmental monitoring.

2. Monitoring Location and Position

Determining the location and position for groundwater environmental monitoring is based on the following provisions:

a) Monitoring locations will be determined on zoning maps;

b) Monitoring positions should be set up in places capable of clearly demonstrating the impact of both natural and anthropogenic factors on the groundwater environment;

c) There must be a monitoring position between the groundwater extraction facility and the pollution source.

3. Determination of Monitoring Parameters

Based on the monitoring program objectives, monitoring locations, and positions, the following parameters should be monitored:

a) Mandatory parameters measured and analyzed on-site:

- Relevant meteorological and hydrological factors;

- Water level and temperature at monitoring wells and dug wells;

- Flow rate and temperature at monitoring points and springs;

- Physical characteristics of water (color, odor, taste, turbidity);

- pH;

- Some easily variable water quality indicators: electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), redox potential (Eh or ORP), alkalinity.

b) Other parameters:

- Total hardness;

- Total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS);

- Compounds: calcium bicarbonate Ca(HCO₃)₂, magnesium bicarbonate Mg(HCO₃)₂, magnesium carbonate MgCO₃, calcium carbonate CaCO₃, magnesium sulfate MgSO₄, calcium chloride CaCl₂, magnesium chloride MgCl₂;₃)₂- Basic ions: calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺), manganese (Mn²⁺), bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻), chloride (Cl⁻), sulfate (SO₄²⁻), carbonate (CO₃²⁻); iodide (I⁻), fluoride (F⁻), cyanide (CN⁻), sulfide (S²⁻), phenol;₃)₂- Metals: iron (Fe), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), selenium (Se), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni); aluminum (Al);₃- Total alpha (α) and beta (β) radioactivity;₃- Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) and chemical oxygen demand (COD);₄- Ammonium (NH₄⁺), nitrate (NO₃⁻), nitrite (NO₂⁻), phosphate (PO₄³⁻);₂- Surfactants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and pesticide residues including: benzene, toluene; DDD, HCB, Dieldrin, Aldrin;₂;

- Total coliforms, fecal coliforms.⁺²4. Monitoring Time and Frequency⁺²Groundwater environmental monitoring time and frequency are as follows:⁺- At least two times per year, once during the dry season and once during the rainy season;⁺- In special cases where non-pumped groundwater in natural conditions changes significantly due to weather changes, the monitoring frequency is once per month.⁺²5. Monitoring Plan Development₃^-The monitoring plan is developed based on the monitoring program and includes the following contents:^-d) Types of samples to be collected, sample volume, and sample storage time;₄^-2e) Laboratory analysis methods.₃^-2iodine (I)^-), fluorine (F)^-), cyanide (CN)^-), sulfide (S)^2-), phenol;

- Metals: iron (Fe), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), selenium (Se), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni); aluminum (Al);

- Total alpha radiation (α), total beta radiation (β);

- Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) and chemical oxygen demand (COD);

- Ammonia (NH₄⁺), nitrate (NO₃^-), nitrite (NO₂^-), phosphate (PO₄^3-);

- Surfactants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and pesticide residues including: benzene, toluene; DDD, HCB, Dieldrin, Aldrin;

- Total coliforms, fecal coliforms.

4. Time and frequency of monitoring

The time and frequency of groundwater environmental monitoring are as follows:

- At least two times per year, once during the dry season and once during the rainy season;

- In special cases for unpressurized groundwater that naturally changes significantly due to weather changes, the monitoring frequency will be once per month.

5. Monitoring plan development

The monitoring plan is based on the monitoring program and includes the following contents:

a) List of personnel responsible for monitoring and assignment of tasks to each participating staff member;

b) List of organizations and individuals participating and cooperating in environmental monitoring (if any);

c) List of field monitoring equipment, tools, chemicals, and laboratory analysis equipment;

d) Safety equipment and measures to ensure safe labor during environmental monitoring activities;

e) Types of samples to be collected, sample volume, and sample retention time;

f) Laboratory analysis methods;

g) Budget for implementing environmental monitoring;

h) Plan to ensure quality and quality control in environmental monitoring.

Article 6. Implementation of the monitoring program

The organization and implementation of the monitoring program includes the following tasks:

1. Preparation work

Prior to conducting monitoring, preparatory work must be carried out as follows:

a) Prepare documents, maps, diagrams, and general information about the area where samples will be taken;

b) Monitor weather conditions and weather trends;

c) Prepare necessary equipment and tools; check, clean, and calibrate sampling, measuring, and analytical equipment before going to the field;

d) Prepare chemicals, materials, and tools for sample collection and preservation;

đ) Prepare sample labels, forms, monitoring and analysis logs as prescribed;

e) Prepare means of transportation and personnel for sample collection activities;

g) Prepare safety equipment and ensure workplace safety;

h) Prepare funding and monitoring personnel;

i) Prepare accommodation facilities for staff working for extended periods;

k) Prepare other relevant documents and forms.

2. Sampling, measurement, and analysis at the site

a) Groundwater sampling shall comply with the national standard TCVN 6663-11:2011 (equivalent to ISO 5667-11:2009 quality standard);

b) For mandatory measurements and analyses conducted on-site: follow the equipment manufacturer's user guides;

c) Specifically, for water springs and self-flowing boreholes: samples are directly collected from their exposed or self-flowing locations;

d) When assessing groundwater contamination from nearby discharge points, samples must also be taken from those discharge points that may seep into the groundwater source;

đ) Quality assurance and control measures at the site shall be implemented according to guidelines issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment regarding quality assurance and control in environmental monitoring;

3. Sample storage and transport

a) Water samples for chemical component analysis must be labeled, placed in sample containers, and kept in well-ventilated, shaded areas away from high temperatures after collection;

b) Water samples for microbiological component analysis must be placed in ice boxes or temperature-controlled devices as directed by health authorities after collection;

c) The time for transporting or storing samples depends on each parameter or whether preservatives are used to fix their state:

- Without preservatives: certain sample storage times are specified in Table 1 below:

Table 1. Sample Storage Time Without Preservatives

- With preservatives: samples are stored and preserved according to the national standard TCVN 6663-3:2008 (equivalent to ISO 5667-3:2003 quality standard).

4. Laboratory Analysis

a) Based on the quality data objectives and laboratory conditions, the analysis of parameters must follow one of the methods specified in Table 2 below:

Table 2. Laboratory Analysis Methods for Parameters

b) If there are no national standards to determine the values of the parameters listed in Table 2 of this Circular, international standards listed in Table 2 or other international standards with equivalent or higher accuracy should be applied;

c) Quality assurance and control measures in the laboratory shall be implemented according to guidelines issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment regarding quality assurance and control in environmental monitoring.

5. Data processing and reporting

a) Data processing

- Data verification: verify the overall reasonableness of the monitoring and analysis data. Verification is based on the sample record (field sampling log, sample handover record, on-site measurement and analysis results record, laboratory analysis result table,...), QC sample data (blank sample, duplicate sample, standard sample,...);

- Statistical processing: based on the number of samples and the content of the report, statistical processing can use different methods and software but must include minimum descriptive statistics (minimum value, maximum value, average value, number of values exceeding standards...);

- Comment on data: comments on the data must be based on the processed, verified monitoring and analysis results and relevant technical standards and regulations.

b) Reporting results

After completing the monitoring program, the monitoring results report must be prepared and submitted to the competent state agency as prescribed.

Chapter III
IMPLEMENTATION

Article 7. Implementation Organization

1. The General Department of Environment is responsible for guiding, inspecting, and supervising the implementation of this Circular;

2. The Minister, Head of a ministry-level agency, Head of a government-affiliated agency, Chairman of People's Committees at all levels, and related organizations and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular.

Article 8. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from September 15, 2011.

2. During the implementation of this Circular, if there are difficulties or obstacles, they should be reported to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (through the General Department of Environment) for timely consideration and resolution./.