Northern High Plains Ground-Water Quality Data Base
(MS Access version)

The file NHP_QW_Database.mdb contains the MS Access version of the northern High Plains ground-water quality data base. It includes results from samples collected in 4 hydrogeologic units (Ogallala Formation, Eastern Nebraska, Sand Hills, and Platte River Valley). This is an MS Access 2000 data base file which requires the user to have a copy of MS Access 2000 available on their computer. It can be opened simply by double clicking on the data file name.

There are 3 primary linked tables (see below) contained in the data base (SAMPLES, QW_RESULTS, and PARAMETERS). The tables prefixed with ‘tbl’, are lookup tables that contain the meanings of some of the codes used in the data base. Also included are 10 tables prefixed with “NHP” that represent some standard result tables from the data base for the major constituent groups. The basic content of the tables is as follows:


SAMPLES: This table contains information about each sample and from which well network it was collected. It is linked to the QW_RESULTS table using the siteID, DATES, TIMES, and MEDIM fields.

QW_RESULTS: This is the primary and largest table in the data base. It contains each result or measurement made at a well site. It is linked to the SAMPLES table using the siteID, DATES, TIMES, and MEDIM fields, and it is linked to the PARAMETERS table using the Ppcode.

PARAMETERS: Information defining each result or measurement made at a well. The PARAMETERS table is linked to the QW_RESULTS table using the Ppcode.

The lookup tables are:

tblMediumCodes: Meaning of the codes for the field MEDIM in the SAMPLES and QW_RESULTS tables.

tblRemarkCodes: Meaning of the value remark codes used in the QW_RESULTS table.

tblSampleTypeCodes: Meaning of the codes for the SampleType field used in the SAMPLES table.

The result files for constituent groups are:

NHPFieldMeasurements:  Table of field parameters (pH, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, etc…) for samples from all hydrogeologic units in the data base, including quality-control samples.

NHPMajorIons: Table of major ion constituents for samples from all hydrogeologic units in the data base, including quality-control samples.

NHPColiphage: Table of Coliphage constituents for samples from the Eastern Nebraska and Sand Hills hydrogeologic units in the data base, including quality-control samples.

NHPNutrients: Table of nutrient constituents (nitrogen and phosphorus compounds) for samples from all hydrogeologic units in the data base, including quality-control samples.

NHPPesticides: Table of pesticide constituents for samples from all hydrogeologic units in the data base, including quality-control samples.

NHPRadon: Table of radon results for samples from all hydrogeologic units in the data base, including quality-control samples.

NHPTraceElements: Table of trace element constituents for samples from all hydrogeologic units in the data base, including quality-control samples.

NHPTritium: Table of tritium results for samples from all hydrogeologic units in the data base, including quality-control samples.

NHP_DOC: Table of dissolved organic carbon results for samples from all hydrogeologic units in the data base, including quality-control samples.

NHP_VOCs: Table of volatile organic compound constituents for samples from all hydrogeologic units in the data base, including quality-control samples.