Measurement and Monitoring: Water
A [Metadata] link on any item leads to that item's entry in the Registry of EPA Applications and Databases (READ). READ is an authoritative source of information about EPA application systems and other information sources.
Global Earth Observation
System of Systems Tools
System of Systems Tools
- The Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System (ERAMS) - National network of monitoring stations that regularly collect air, precipitation, drinking water, and milk samples for analysis of radioactivity. [Metadata]
- Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) - A research program to develop the tools necessary to monitor and assess the status and trends of national ecological resources. [Metadata]
- DFlow: A Tool for Low Flow Analysis - DFLOW 3.0 is a Windows-based tool developed to estimate user selected design stream flows for low flow analysis and water quality standards.
- National Water Quality Inventory Report to Congress - 305(b) Report - The primary vehicle for informing Congress and the public about general water quality conditions in the United States. This document characterizes our water quality, identifies widespread water quality problems of national significance, and describes various programs implemented to restore and protect our waters. Data available in WATERS database.
- Local Drinking Water Information - Each year by July 1 you should receive in the mail a short report (consumer confidence report) from your water supplier that tells where your water comes from and what's in it. [Metadata]
- Draft National Coastal Condition Report II - This report is the second in a series and describes the ecological and environmental conditions in U.S. coastal waters. It summarizes the condition of ecological resources in the estuaries of the United States and highlights several exemplary federal, State, Tribal, and local programs that assess coastal ecological and water quality conditions.
Databases
- Watershed Assessment, Tracking & Environmental ResultS (WATERS) - This database unites water quality information that was previously available only from several independent and unconnected databases including some of the databases listed below. It contains information about Water Quality Standards, 305B reports, TMDLs, STORET, NPDES Permits, SDWIS, Fish Consumption advisories, grants, nutrient criteria, BEACH Watch, and vessel sewage discharge.
- STOrage and RETrieval (STORET) - A repository for water quality, biological, and physical data and is used by state environmental agencies, EPA and other federal agencies, universities, private citizens, and many others. [Metadata]
- Water Quality Standards Database - A single point of access to EPA and state water quality standards (WQS) information. [Metadata]
- The Safe Drinking Water Information System / Federal Version (SDWIS/FED) - A database designed and implemented by EPA to meet its needs in the oversight and management of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The database contains data submitted by states and EPA regions in conformance with reporting requirements established by statute, regulation and guidance. A "sister" system, SDWIS/State (Safe Drinking Water Information System/State version), is a database designed by EPA and the states to help states (and EPA regions) run their drinking water programs and fulfill EPA reporting requirements. [Metadata]
- Information Collection Rule - (ICR) data were collected as part of a national research project to support development of national drinking water standards which protect public health. You can retrieve summary reports on microbial and disinfection byproduct data at national, state and water system levels. [Metadata]
- Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS) - A joint effort between States and EPA, is conducted in response to Section 205(a) and 516 of the Clean Water Act. The CWNS has information on publicly-owned wastewater collection and treatment facilities, facilities for control of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), combined sewer overflows (CSOs), storm water control activities, nonpoint sources, and programs designed to protect the nation's estuaries. [Metadata]
- National Contaminant Occurrence Database (NCOD) - A national drinking water contaminant occurrence database using occurrence data for both regulated and unregulated contaminants in public water systems. [Metadata]
- Beach Advisory and Closing Online Notification system (BEACON) - (in development) BEACON will display beach location, monitoring, and notification data on the Internet. Location data is stored in the RAD (Reach Address Database). Monitoring data is stored in STORET (Office of Water Storage and Retrieval database). Notification data is stored in PRAWN (Office of Science and Technology Program Tracking, Advisories, Water Quality Standards, and Nutrients database). [Metadata]
- Program Tracking database for Advisories, Water Quality Standards, and Nutrients (PRAWN) - (in development) EPA is upgrading the National Beach Health Database (NBHD) to create the Office of Science and Technology Program Tracking database for Advisories, Water Quality Standards, and Nutrients (PRAWN). EPA is creating the new database to meet requirements listed in the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act 2000, which amended the Clean Water Act to include Section 406. The Act requires EPA to collect, store, and display a list of monitored §406 waters, beach program monitoring and notification information, and pollution occurrence data. [Metadata]
- Science Inventory - EPA's Science Inventory - a searchable, Agency-wide catalog of more than 4,000 science activities such as research, technical assistance and assessments, along with more than 750 peer-reviewed products. The database contains more than 19,000 records in the archives including project descriptions, products produced, types of peer review, links to related work and contacts for additional information. Users can conduct keyword searches or search within nine cross-cutting science topics. [Metadata]
Partners
- Probe-1 - ESSI's Probe-1 hyperspectral remote sensing airborne system is a $3 million instrument which records high resolution spectral reflectance from the earth's surface.
- Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) - This new site is intended to serve as the entry point into all of NASA's ocean color-related activities as part of the evolution of the individual ocean mission-based activities into an integrated ocean measurement-based program.
- Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) - A proven instrument in the realm of Earth Remote Sensing. It is a unique optical sensor that delivers calibrated images of the upwelling spectral radiance in 224 contiguous spectral channels (bands) with wavelengths from 400 to 2500 nanometers.
- National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) - Part of the National Weather Service (NWS). NDBC develops, operates, and maintains a network of buoy and C-MAN stations.
- National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) - A comprehensive set of digital spatial data that contains information about surface water features such as lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, springs and wells. [Metadata]
- Climate Prediction Center (CPC) - Meteorological Data Servers Climate, Weather Analyses, Weather Forecasts
- United States Geological Survey Surface Water Information (USGS) - The U.S. Geological Survey has the principal responsibility within the Federal Government to provide the hydrologic information and understanding needed by others to achieve the best use and management of the Nation's water resources.
- Land Cover Characterization Program - The Land Cover Characterization Program (LCCP) was started in 1995 to address National and International requirements for land cover data that were becoming increasingly sophisticated and diverse. The goal of the land cover program is to be a national and international center for excellence in land cover characterization.
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Ocean Disposal - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Ocean Disposal Database (ODD). The ODD represents a compilation of ocean dredged material disposal activities that have occurred since 1976 at Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated sites or sites selected by the Corps of Engineers. The Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA) requires that all ocean disposal activities conform with criteria at Section 102. The Section 102 criteria establish the environmental requirements that must be met prior to allowing ocean disposal activities.
The Corps has kept records on all ocean dredged material disposal activities since 1976 in compliance with earlier amendments to the MPRSA and subsequently with the annual reporting requirements of an International Treaty on marine pollution. The EPA keeps records on all other ocean disposal activities. The United States is a contracting member of the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, commonly know as the London Convention.