Site

Site File Components

The National Water Information System (NWIS) is comprised of the Ground-Water Site-Inventory (GWSI), Site-Specific Water-Use Data System (SWUDS), Automated Data Processing System (ADAPS), and the Water-Quality System (QWDATA). Site-Specific refers to a specific water source, location of withdrawal, water quantity, and category of use.

The Site file acts as the unifying element of NWIS. It stores the location and general attributes about a site (for all disciplines).

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Important Links:

• Site template
• GWSI Site File Inventory Coding Instructions
• NWIS User Manual

Mandatory Information*	Non-Mandatory Data	Conditional Mandatory Data**

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SWUDS Variables

Agency Code (C4)*	Site Number (C1)*	Station Name (C12)*	Site Type Code (C802)*	Latitude (C9)**	Longitude (C10)**	Coordinate Accuracy (C11)**	Coordinate Datum (C36)**	Coordinate Method (C35)**	Altitude (C16)	Altitude Datum Code** (C22)	Altitude Method Code (C17)**	Altitude Accuracy Value (C18)**	District Code (C6)*	Country Code (C41)*	State Fips Code (C7)*	County Fips Code (C8)*	Minor Civil Division Code (C42)	Hydrologic Unit Code (C20)	Basin Code (C801)	National Aquifer Code (C715)	Aquifer Code (C714)	Aquifer Type Code (C713)	Agency Use Code (C803)	Data Reliability Code (C3)**	Land Net (C13)	Map Name (C14)	Map Scale (C15)	National Water Use Code (C39)*	Primary Use of Site (C23)**	Secondary Use of Site (C301)	Tertiary Use of Site Code (C302)	Primary Use of Water Code (C24)	Secondary Use of Water Code (C25)	Tertiary Use of Water Code (C26)	Topographic Code (C19)	Instruments (C805)	Data Types (C804)	Contributing Drainage Area (C809	Drainage Area (C808)	First Construction Date (C21)	Site Establishment Date (C711)	Hole Depth (C27)	Well Depth (C28)	Source of Depth (C29)	Project Number (C5)	Time Zone Code (C813)*	Daylight Savings Time Flag (C814)*	Remarks (C806)	Site Web Ready Code (C32)
VDEQ: VA087 EPA: USEPA	Well ID: WELLNO Private Wells: vdh_hdin hydrocode hydroid?	name	ftype (but reclassify to USGS terms)	dh_geofield:lat	dh_geofield_lon	Level 1 SGPS Level 2 SGPS Level 3 SGPS Level 4 SGPS hndrth second tenth second half second 3 seconds 5 seconds 10 seconds minute unknown	WGS84 (I think! it's what the outfalls are in at least)	Reported	elev_ft_asl (in geospatial)	NGVD29	Reported	unknown	51	US	51	usafips_stcofips (in water_use)		huc (in nhd)						Checked Poor Location Minimal Unchecked				ftype (reclassify to national water use codes)	Use ftype to reclassify: Anode, standy, drain, geothermal, seismic, heat reservoir, mine, unknown, observation, oil or gas, recharge, repressurize, test, unused, wthdrwl/rtrn, withdrawal, waste-disposal, destroyed																	EST	Y

Mandatory Variables

Agency Code (C4)*	Site Number (C1)*	Station Name (C12)*	Site Type Code (C802)*	District Code (C6)*	Country Code (C41)*	State Fips Code (C7)*	County Fips Code (C8)*	National Water Use Code (C39)*	Time Zone Code (C813)*	Daylight Savings Time Flag (C814)*
Post-processing: VDEQ: VA087	DH Feature: HydroID--relationship with facility	DH Feature: Feature Name--relationship with facility	DH Feature: ftype and source type--relationship with facility	Post-processing: 51	Post-processing: US	Post-processing: 51	dH Feature: FIPS Code--relationship with facility	Post-processing: based on Site Type Code	Post-processing: EST	Post-processing: Y

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Site Attribute Dictionary

Attribute Name	Definition	Data Entry Rules
Agency Code (C4)*	Source agency code identifies the agency that is the source of the data. The code must exist in the NWIS reference list AGENCY.	The agency code is mandatory and must be a valid agency. Contact GS-W HELP GWSI to request changes to the reference lists AGENCY.
Site Number (C1)*	Site identification number when combined with the source agency code uniquely identifies the site.	The site identification number is mandatory. See the GWSI User's Manual, or the SWUDS manual, section on Assigning Site Identification Numbers to get the list of rules used to assign site numbers.
Station Name (C12)*	Station name is locally assigned by the originating agency.	See the GWSI User's Manual for additional information.
Site Type Code (C802)*	A site type is a generalized location in the hydrologic cycle, or a man-made feature thought to affect the hydrologic conditions measured at a site. All sites are associated with a primary site type, and may additionally be associated with a secondary site type that further describes the location. For example, FA-DV for diversion or GW for well.	See the GWSI User's Manual for additional information.
Latitude (C9)**	Latitude is the best available value for the latitude entered as degrees, minutes, and decimal seconds.	The latitude must be entered for all sites except sites having one of the following site types: AG, AS, AW, FA, FA-CS, FA-FON, FA-GC, FA-HP, FA-SEW, FA-STS, FA-TEP, FA-WDS, FA-WTP, FA-WU, FA-WWD, and FA-WWTP. If the latitude is entered, then its respected accuracy, datum, method code, and longitude must also be entered.
Longitude (C10)**	Longitude is the best available value for the longitude entered as degrees, minutes, and decimal seconds.	The longitude must be entered for all sites except sites having one of the following site types: AG, AS, AW, FA, FA-CS, FA-FON, FA-GC, FA-HP, FA-SEW, FA-STS, FA-TEP, FA-WDS, FA-WTP, FA-WU, FA-WWD, and FA-WWTP. If the latitude is entered, then its respected accuracy, datum, method code, and latitude must also be entered.
Coordinate Accuracy (C11)**	Latitude/longitude accuracy code indicates the accuracy of the latitude longitude values.	The user must enter this value if a latitude and longitude are entered for the site
Coordinate Datum (C36)**	Latitude/longitude datum code indicates the horizontal datum for the latitude/longitude values.	The user must enter the datum code if a latitude and longitude are entered for the site.
Coordinate Method (C35)**	Latitude/longitude method code indicates the method used to determine latitude-longitude values.	The user must enter the method code if a latitude and longitude are entered for the site.
Altitude (C16)	Altitude of land surface in feet above mean sea level.	The user may enter an altitude for a given site. See the GWSI User's Manual for additional information.
Altitude Datum Code (C22)**	Altitude datum code indicates the vertical datum for the altitude values.	The user must enter an altitude datum code if an altitude value is entered.
Altitude Method Code (C17)**	Altitude method code indicates the method used to determine the altitude.	The user must enter an altitude method code if an altitude value is entered.
Altitude Accuracy Value (C18)**	Altitude accuracy code in terms of the possible error in feet.	The user must enter an altitude accuracy value if an altitude value is entered.
District Code (C6)*	District code identifies the USGS District that is the source of the data. If data are collected by a Sub-district office, a one-character code assigned by the District may be entered in the third position to identify the Sub-district office.	The user must enter the district code for a given site.
Country Code (C41)*	Country FIPS code is the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) alpha code for the Country in which the site is located.	The user is required to enter the FIPS country code for a given site as defined by FIPS PUB 10-4: Countries, Dependencies, Areas of Special Sovereignty, and Their Principal Administrative Divisions.
State Fips Code (C7)*	State FIPS code is the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) numeric code for the State in which the site is located.	The user is required to enter the state code for a given site. These codes are found in FIPS PUB5-2.
County Fips Code (C8)*	County FIPS code is the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) numeric code for the county or county equivalent in which the site is located.	The user is required to enter the county code for a given site. These codes are found in FIPS PUB6-4.
Minor Civil Division Code (C42)	Minor Civil Division code (mcd_cd) is the Census Bureau's code (5-digit number) that are available for states that the Census Bureau does MCD population estimates for. See http://www.census.gov for additional information. The code must be consistent with the state and county FIPS codes that were entered in the site file.	The system validates that the MCD code entered is consistent with the state and county FIPS codes that were entered in the NWIS site file. The NWIS table MCD contains a list of valid Minor Civil Division codes. The MCD table is a nationally maintained reference list. One Minor Civil Division may be entered for each site. If the Minor Civil Division code entered is not in the state or county as was entered in the site file then the water-use site record is rejected. A $ can be entered on an modify transaction to blank out any entered value.
Hydrologic Unit Code (C20)	Hydrologic-unit code (HUC) defines the watershed in which the site is located. The system checks for the existence of the HUC in NWIS table STATE_HUC, and validates that the HUC is a valid code based on the state FIPS code that was entered for the site in the Site File. If the site does not lie within a currently designated hydrologic unit (e.g., offshore wells), the eight-digit code 99999999 may be entered in this field.	The system validates that the hydrologic-unit code (HUC) is a valid code based on the state FIPS code that was entered for the site in the Site File. The system checks for the existence of the HUC in NWIS table STATE_HUC.
Basin Code (C801)	Drainage-Basin Code is a two-digit code that further subdivides the hydrologic-unit code.	This two-digit code is defined by the District.
National Aquifer Code (C715)	National Aquifer code is a ten-character code that identifies the national aquifer from which the water is obtained. More information is available on the National Aquifer Code reference list Web page: http://water.usgs.gov/ogw/NatlAqCode-reflist.html.	The user may enter a national aquifer code for a given site. GWSI will validate the code against the national aquifer reference list.
Aquifer Code (C714)	Aquifer code is a eight-character code that identifies the primary aquifer unit from which the water is obtained. Codes are defined by the "Catalog of Aquifer Names and Geologic Unit Codes used by the Water Resources Division.	The user may enter an aquifer code for a given site. GWSI will validate the code against the aquifer reference list.
Aquifer Type Code (C713)	Aquifer-type code describes the type of aquifer(s) penetrated by the well.	The user may enter an aquifer-type code for a given site. GWSI will validate the code.
Agency Use Code (C803)	Agency use of site code indicates status of site.	The user may enter an agency use code which is validated by GWSI.
Data Reliability Code (C3)**	Data reliability code indicates the reliability of the site's inventory data according to the reporting agency.
Land Net (C13)	Land net location is the legal description of the 10-acre tract in which the site is located.
Map Name (C14)	Name of the best available location map on which the site can be located, preferably a USGS topographic quadrangle.
Map Scale (C15)	Scale of the map identified in location map.
National Water Use Code (C39)	National water-use category code as defined in a NWIS reference list.	The national water-use category code must be a valid code in the NWIS reference list NAT_WATER_USE_CD. The code is required for water-use sites. SWUDS frequently uses the setting of national water-use category code for some business rules. The code entered represents the current day use.
Primary Use of Site (C23)**	Primary use of site indicates the principal use of the site or the purpose for which the site was constructed.
Secondary Use of Site (C301)	Secondary use of site indicates if the site is used for more than one purpose and shows the secondary use here.
Tertiary Use of Site Code (C302)	Tertiary use of site indicates a third use of the site, if needed.
Primary Use of Water Code (C24)	Primary use of water indicates the principal use of water from the site.	Enter the code indicating the principal use of water from the site. If water from the site is used for more than one purpose, enter the principal use here and enter the subordinate uses in the secondary and tertiary use of water fields.
Secondary Use of Water Code (C25)	Secondary use of water indicates if water from the site is used for more than one purpose and shows the secondary use here.
Tertiary Use of Water Code (C26)	Tertiary use of water indicates a third use of water from the site, if needed.
Topographic Code (C19)	Topographic setting code that best describes the topographic setting in which the site is located.
Instruments (C805)	Flags for multiple instruments at a site can be identified with a Y code in correct location in an array
Data Types (C804)	Flags for the type of data collected use the code from agency use in the proper location or locations in the array to indicate the types of data collected.
Contributing Drainage Area (C809)	Contributing drainage area is the contributing drainage area at a surface-water site, in square miles.The user may enter this value for surface water type sites.
Drainage Area (C808)	Drainage area is the total drainage area of the drainage basin for a surface-water site, in square miles.	The user may enter this value for a given surface water site.
First Construction Date (C21)	Date of first construction is date first construction began for the given site.	The date must be in the format YYYYMMDD. GWSI validates this field.
Site Establishment Date (C711)	"Date site established or inventoried in the following format
MMDDYYYY."
Hole Depth (C27)	Hole depth is the total depth to which the hole was drilled, in feet below the land-surface datum.	The user may enter this value for ground water data.
Well Depth (C28)	Well depth is the depth of the finished well, in feet below land-surface datum.
Source of Depth (C29)	Source of depth data indicates how the information about the depth of the well was obtained.
Project Number (C5)	Project number a retrieval key by means of which all the data collected for a particular project can be retrieved conveniently as a group.
Time Zone Code (C813)*	Time zone code is a 2-5 character time zone code for the site location.	An NWIS time zone code that must be entered for a given site.
Daylight Savings Time Flag (C814)*	Local standard time flag indicate whether the site is in an area that switches to Local Standard Time (Daylight Savings Time) for a part of the year.	The local time flag must be entered for a given site.
Remarks (C806)	Site remark is designed for a significant remark about the site.
Site Web Ready Code (C32)	Web display flag indicates the status and availability of a record for display on the World Wide Web.