Monitoring and Assessing Water Quality | OWOW

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Our nation's waters are monitored by state, federal, and local agencies, universities, dischargers, and volunteers. Water quality data are used to characterize waters, identify trends over time, identify emerging problems, determine whether pollution control programs are working, help direct pollution control efforts to where they are most needed, and respond to emergencies such as floods and spills.

Probability Surveys of the Nation’s Waters conducted by the states and EPA
Water Quality Conditions reported to EPA by the states
Storing and Managing Water Quality Information through EPA's STORET database
Mapping and Displaying Water Information through EPA's WATERS website
Assessing Biological Condition of streams, lakes and estuaries
Guidance for Volunteer Programs monitoring water quality with trained citizens
The Volunteer Monitor Newsletter, a forum for citizen volunteer monitors, issued twice yearly
Outreach and educational materials, including items for children

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