A GENERAL STATISTICAL PROCEDURE FOR GROUNDWATER DETECTION MONITORING AT WASTE-DISPOSAL FACILITIES

Nonparametric upper prediction limits for ground‐water detection monitoring are developed. The limit is defined as the maximum of a previous background sample of size n (i.e., Xmax, n). The probability that at least one out of the next m measurements (i.e., Ymin, m) will be less than Xmax, n at each of k monitoring wells is computed. In the context of ground‐water monitoring, m is equal to the initial new measurement in a particular monitoring well plus m –1 resamplings of that well. In this way, values of n and m can be selected to assure a desired confidence level (e.g., γ≥ .95). A series of typical examples are described, and a set of Tables that give these probabilities for values of n = 4 to 100, k = 1 to 100, and m = 1 to 3 are provided. Generalization to multiple variables (i.e., indicator parameters) is also discussed. Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved