Implementation of groundwater observations in the Water Data Transfer Format

The diversity and complexity in which water data is collected and stored demands considerable attention in the water data transfer process between water agencies across Australia and the Bureau of Meteorology (the Bureau). Disparities in groundwater observations are inevitable given the complexities associated with data gathering and reporting. To capture these variations in data, the Bureau has introduced a convention for data reporting into the Water Data Transfer Format (WDTF) with a special attention given for capturing observations in a common platform. The current version of WDTF supports mostly hydrological and meteorological data transfer. Implementation of WDTF in groundwater essentially covers capturing level or pressure observations and their relationship to a given datum. The calculation of water level can be completed by utilising both the observations and the vertical orientation of the observations. With implementation of WDTF, the data providers will find a common format to report in and the Bureau will find a common platform to store and analyse groundwater observations at the national scale.