Metadata: Groundwater Atlas Statewide Water Chemistry

Groundwater Atlas Statewide Water Chemistry

This page last updated: 04/09/2026
Metadata created using Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines


Go to Section:
  1. Overview
  2. Data Quality
  3. Data Organization
  4. Coordinate System
  5. Attributes
  6. Distribution - Get Data
  7. Metadata Reference

Section 1: Overview

Originator:Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Title: Groundwater Atlas Statewide Water Chemistry

Abstract: The Groundwater Atlas Program statewide water chemistry database includes analytical results from well, spring, surface water, and atmospheric sampling by DNR staff. Most of the data were collected for Groundwater Atlas studies with additional data from special projects. Chemical parameters analyzed include the following: major cations and anions, trace elements, field parameters, tritium, stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen, and carbon-14.

Purpose: Groundwater Atlas Program

Time Period of Content Date: 03/31/2026

Currentness Reference: Time Period of Content date indicates the date which the user can be confident of accuracy and completeness of the dataset.

Progress: Complete

Maintenance and Update Frequency: Irregular

Spatial Extent of Data: Minnesota

Bounding Coordinates: -97.23
-89.53
49.37
43.5

Place Keywords: Minnesota

Theme Keywords: Groundwater, water chemistry, residence time, stable isotopes, wells, springs, surface water, atmospheric

Theme Keyword Thesaurus: None

Access Constraints: None

Use Constraints: None

Contact Person Information: CGA, GIS Specialist
Minnesota DNR - Ecological and Water Resources
500 Lafayette Rd
Saint Paul, MN  55155-4025
Phone: 651-259-5693
Email: county.groundwater.atlas.dnr@state.mn.us

Browse Graphic: None available

Associated Data Sets: County Geologic Atlas, Part A, published by the Minnesota Geological Survey (MGS). More information and downloadable data for Part A available on the MGS site: http://www.mngs.umn.edu/county_atlas/countyatlas.htm

County Groundwater Atlas, Part B, published by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). More information and downloadable data for Part B available on the DNR site:
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/groundwater_section/mapping/county-geo-atlas.html

Section 2: Data Quality

Attribute Accuracy: 1:100,000

Logical Consistency:

Completeness: Complete

Horizontal Positional Accuracy:

Vertical Positional Accuracy: NA

Lineage: This file primarily contains well and spring locations and associated inorganic and isotope chemistry sample analyses for sites sampled for the Groundwater Atlas Program. Data also include surface water and atmospheric samples. Due to security concerns, coordinates are not included for wells supplying public water systems.

Section 3: Spatial Data Organization (not used in this metadata)


Section 4: Coordinate System

Horizontal Coordinate Scheme: Universal Transverse Mercator

UTM Zone Number: 15

Horizontal Datum: NAD83

Horizontal Units: meters

Vertical Datum:

Vertical Units:

Depth Datum:

Depth Units:

Section 5: Attributes

Overview:

Detailed Citation:

Table Detail:
groundwater_atlas_statewide_water_chemistry
Field NameValid ValuesDefinitionDefinition Source
SYS_LOC_CODE
-
Unique identifier used in EQuIS database
RelateID
-
Unique number: created by County Well Index for wells, Department of Waters (DOW) number from DNR for lakes, Minnesota Spring Inventory from DNR for springs, from EQuIS for atmospheric samples and river/stream samples
LOC_COUNTY_CODE
-
County where sample site is located
PROJECT
-
Project for which the data were collected
LOC_TYPE
-
Type of sample site (well, spring, lake, river/stream, or atmosphere)
LOC_TYPE_2
-
If a well was sampled, type of well if specified (domestic, public water supply, observation, commercial, irrigation, industrial, piezometer, dewatering, monitoring, other)
UTME
-
UTM Easting of sample site (meters)
UTMN
-
UTM Northing of sample site (meters)
aquifer
-
4-letter aquifer code from the Minnesota County Well Index (CWI). Data added March 2026.https://mgsweb2.mngs.umn.edu/cwi_doc/aquifer.asp
depth_comp
-
Depth a well is completed to in feet, from the CWI. Data added March 2026.
Date
-
Date sample was collected (MM/DD/YYYY)
Alkalinity_ppm
-
Alkalinity in parts per million, text format
Alkalinity_NUM
-
Alkalinity in parts per million, numeric format
Aluminum_ppb
-
Aluminum concentration in parts per billion, text format
Aluminum_NUM
-
Aluminum concentration in parts per billion, number format
Ammonium_ppm
-
Ammonium concentration in parts per million, text format
Ammonium_NUM
-
Ammonium concentration in parts per million, numeric format
Antimony_ppb
-
Antimony concentration in parts per billion, text format
Anitmony_NUM
-
Antimony concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
Arsenic_ppb
-
Arsenic concentration in parts per billion, text format
Arsenic_NUM
-
Arsenic concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
Barium_ppb
-
Barium concentration in parts per billion, text format
Barium_NUM
-
Barium concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
Beryllium_ppb
-
Beryllium concentration in parts per billion, text format
Beryllium_NUM
-
Beryllium concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
Boron_ppb
-
Boron concentration in parts per billion, text format
Boron_NUM
-
Boron concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
Bromide_ppm
-
Bromide concentration in parts per million, text format. Values denoted with a ‘^’ are less than the reporting limit and above the detection limit. These values should be used with care.
Bromide_NUM
-
Bromide concentration in parts per million, numeric format
Cadmium_ppb
-
Cadmium concentration in parts per billion, text format
Cadmium_NUM
-
Cadmium concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
Calcium_ppm
-
Calcium concentration in parts per million, text format
Calcium_NUM
-
Calcium concentration in parts per million, numeric format
Cesium_ppb
-
Cesium concentration in parts per billion, text format
Cesium_NUM
-
Cesium concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
Chloride_ppm
-
Chloride concentration in parts per million, text format
Chloride_NUM
-
Chloride concentration in parts per million, numeric format
Chronium_ppb
-
Chronium concentration in parts per billion, text format
Chronium_NUM
-
Chronium concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
Cobalt_ppb
-
Cobalt concentration in parts per billion, text format
Cobalt_NUM
-
Cobalt concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
Copper_ppb
-
Copper concentration in parts per billion, text format
Copper_NUM
-
Copper concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
DeltaH_permil
-
Deuterium (permil), text format
DeltaH_NUM
-
Deuterium (permil), numeric format
DO_ppm
-
Dissolved oxygen in parts per million, text format
DO_NUM
-
Dissolved oxygen in parts per million, numeric format
Fluoride_ppm
-
Fluoride concentration in parts per million, text format
Fluoride_NUM
-
Fluoride concentration in parts per million, numeric format
Iron_ppm
-
Iron concentration in parts per million, text format
Iron_NUM
-
Iron concentration in parts per million, numeric format
Lead_ppb
-
Lead concentration in parts per billion, text format
Lead_NUM
-
Lead concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
Lithium_ppb
-
Lithium concentration in parts per billion, text format
Lithium_NUM
-
Lithium concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
Magnesium_ppm
-
Magnesium concentration in parts per million, text format
Magnesium_NUM
-
Magnesium concentration in parts per million, numeric format
Manganese_ppb
-
Manganese concentration in parts per billion, text format
Manganese_NUM
-
Manganese concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
Molybdenum_ppb
-
Molybdenum concentration in parts per billion, text format
Molybdenum_NUM
-
Molybdenum concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
Nickel_ppb
-
Nickel concentration in parts per billion, text format
Nickel_NUM
-
Nickel concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
Nitrate_ppm
-
Nitrate concentration in parts per million, reported as nitrogen, text format
Nitrate_NUM
-
Nitrate concentration in parts per million, reported as nitrogen, numeric format
Nitrite_ppm
-
Nitrite concentration in parts per million, reported as nitrogen, text format
Nitrite_NUM
-
Nitrite concentration in parts per million, reported as nitrogen, numeric format
Nitrate_Nitrite_ppm
-
Calculated field that combines Nitrate_Nitrite_NUM or Nitrate_NUM + Nitrite_NUM into one field, reported in parts per million, numeric format
Nitrate_Nitrite_NUM
-
Nitrate + nitrite concentration in parts per million, reported as nitrogen, numeric format
Nitrate_All_NUM
-
Combined field; nitrate + nitrite OR nitrate concentration in parts per million, reported as nitrogen, numeric format
ORP_mV
-
Oxidation reduction potential in millivolts, text format
ORP_NUM
-
Oxidation reduction potential in millivolts, numeric format
Delta18O_permil
-
Oxygen-18 (permil), text format
Delta18O_NUM
-
Oxygen-18 (permil), numeric format
pH
-
pH, text format
pH_NUM
-
pH, numeric format
Phosphate-phosphorus_ppm
-
Phosphate concentration in parts per million, reported as phosphorus, text format
Phosphate-phosphorus_NUM
-
Phosphate concentration in parts per million, reported as phosphorus, numeric format
Phosphorus_ppm
-
Total phosphorus concentration in parts per million, text format. Values denoted with a ‘^’ are less than the reporting limit and above the detection limit. These values should be used with care.
Phosphorus_NUM
-
Total phosphorus concentration in parts per million, numeric format
Potassium_ppm
-
Potassium concentration in parts per million, text format
Potassium_NUM
-
Potassium concentration in parts per million, numeric format
Rubidium_ppb
-
Rubidium concentration in parts per billion, text format
Rubidium_NUM
-
Rubidium concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
Selenium_ppb
-
Selenium concentration in parts per billion, text format
Selenium_NUM
-
Selenium concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
Silicon_ppm
-
Silicon concentration in parts per million, text format
Silicon_NUM
-
Silicon concentration in parts per million, numeric format
Sodium_ppm
-
Sodium concentration in parts per million, text format
Sodium_NUM
-
Sodium concentration in parts per million, numeric format
SC_uS
-
Specific conductivity in microsiemens per centimeter, text format
SC_NUM
-
Specific conductivity in microsiemens per centimeter, numeric format
Strontium_ppb
-
Strontium concentration in parts per billion, text format
Strontium_NUM
-
Strontium concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
Sulfate_ppm
-
Sulfate concentration in parts per million, text format
Sulfate_NUM
-
Sulfate concentration in parts per million, numeric format
Sulfur_ppm
-
Sulfur concentration in parts per million, text format
Sulfur_NUM
-
Sulfur concentration in parts per million, numeric format
Temp_C
-
Temperature in degrees Celsius, text format
Temp_NUM
-
Temperature in degrees Celsius, numeric format
Thallium_ppb
-
Thallium concentration in parts per billion, text format
Thallium_NUM
-
Thallium concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
Thiosulfate_ppm
-
Thiosulfate concentration in parts per million, text format
Thiosulfate_NUM
-
Thiosulfate concentration in parts per million, numeric format
Tin_ppb
-
Tin concentration in parts per billion, text format
Tin_NUM
-
Tin concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
Titanium_ppb
-
Titanium concentration in parts per billion, text format
Titanium_NUM
-
Titanium concentration in parts per billion, text format
Tritium_TU
-
Tritium in tritium units (TU), text format
Tritium_NUM
-
Tritium in tritium units (TU), numeric format
Trit_AgeenumeratedResidence time based on tritium valuehttps://files.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/groundwater_section/mapping/gw/gw-05-minnesota-tritium-age.pdf
modernwater entered the ground since about 1953
mixedwater is a mixture of modern and premodern
mostly premoderntritium not detected and the premodern threshold is below the detection limit
premodernwater entered the ground before 1953
Tungsten_ppb
-
Tungsten concentration in parts per billion, text format
Tungsten_NUM
-
Tungsten concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
Uranium-238_ppb
-
Uranium-238 concentration in parts per billion, text format
Urainium-238_NUM
-
Uranium-238 concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
Vanadium_ppb
-
Vanadium concentration in parts per billion, text format
Vanadium_NUM
-
Vanadium concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
Zinc_ppb
-
Zinc concentration in parts per billion, text format
Zinc_NUM
-
Zinc concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
Zirconium_ppb
-
Zirconium concentration in parts per billion, text format
Zirconium_NUM
-
Zirconium concentration in parts per billion, numeric format
C14_Age
-
Groundwater residence time in years, estimated using the results of carbon-14 isotope analysis
C14_Date
-
Date carbon-14 sample was collected (MM/DD/YYYY)

Section 6: Distribution

Publisher: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Ecological and Water Resources Division

Publication Date: 04/09/2026

Contact Person Information: CGA, GIS Specialist
Minnesota DNR - Ecological and Water Resources
500 Lafayette Rd
Saint Paul, MN  55155-4025
Phone: 651-259-5693
Email: county.groundwater.atlas.dnr@state.mn.us

Distributor's Data Set Identifier: groundwater_atlas_statewide_water_chemistry

Distribution Liability: These data were prepared from publicly available information only. Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the factual data on which these files are based. However, the Department of Natural Resources does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or any implied uses of these data. Users may wish to verify critical information; sources include both the references here and information on file in the offices of the Department of Natural Resources.

Ordering Instructions: Please visit the download page for this dataset on the Minnesota Geospatial Commons website using the web link below (Online Linkage).

Online Linkage: None available

Section 7: Metadata Reference

Metadata Date: 04/09/2026

Contact Person Information: CGA, GIS Specialist
Minnesota DNR - Ecological and Water Resources
500 Lafayette Rd
Saint Paul, MN  55155-4025
Phone: 651-259-5693
Email: county.groundwater.atlas.dnr@state.mn.us

Metadata Standard Name: Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines

Metadata Standard Version: 1.2



This page last updated: 04/09/2026
Go back to top

Created with MGMG stylesheet version 2017.04.25.1