The Office of Water Quality provides leadership and coordination in the development of programs to address issues concerning the quality of the Nation's surface-water and ground-water resources, and provides support in the application of techniques for the collection, analysis, and interpretation of water-quality data.
| News | Quality Assurance | Publications | Data | Laboratories | Techniques | Other Topics and Sources |
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Do you want information about USGS water-quality activities? |
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PROGRAMS and SPECIAL TOPICS |
USGS offices in every State conduct studies of surface-water and ground-water quality in cooperation with local and State governments and with other Federal Agencies. Contacts are available in each state to assist with any questions. National Programs that address water-quality issues include: Drinking-Water Research, Hydrologic Benchmark Network, National Atmospheric Deposition Program, National Irrigation Water Quality Program, National Park Service - USGS Water Quality Partnership Program, National Stream Quality Accounting Network, National Water-Quality Assessment Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology Program. Special Topics web sites/pages include: Abandoned Mine Lands Initiative, USGS Assistance for TMDLs, and Microbial Source-Tracking and Detection Techniques. |
| PUBLICATIONS | Information about the quality of the Nation's surface-water and ground-water resources is available through USGS Publications and Products and Glossaries. |
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| DATA | The USGS collects, analyzes, archives, and disseminates data and information describing the quality of the Nation's surface-water and ground-water resources. |
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| LABS | The National Water Quality Laboratory provides a large suite of analyses for water and biological samples. Additional laboratories provide specialized services and analyses. |
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| TECHNIQUES | Scientists and technicians of the USGS are active in the development, documentation, and implementation of field procedures, laboratory methods, microbial detection and source-tracking methods, and interpretive techniques for water-quality data. |
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| Do you want additional information? | |
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| USGS WATER RESOURCES | You can reach the Office of Water Quality online or call (703) 648-6862. Additional sources: National Water-Quality Assessment Program, National Research Program, Office of Ground Water, Office of Surface Water, Water Information Coordination Program, Ask USGS, Water Resources Programs, Water Science for Schools, and Frequently Asked Questions. |
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OTHER SOURCES |
The USGS is part of the multidisciplinary scientific community that monitors and investigates the quality of natural water resources (USGS Interdiscipline Links). Community groups, scientific and professional societies, universities, developers of scientific equipment, State agencies, other Federal agencies, and international organizations are additional sources of information about water-quality activities. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency develops Water Quality Standards and Drinking Water Regulations. The Global Environment Monitoring System (GEMS) Water Programme is part of the United Nations Environment Programme that provides information on the state and trends of global inland water quality. |
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U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://water.usgs.gov/owq/
Page Contact Information: Office of Water Quality
Page Last Modified: Monday, 05-May-2008 09:59:49 EDT