Noteworthy

Call for Papers:

•  National Water Quality Monitoring Council - National Monitoring Conference, April 2010

Local Science Feature:

•  Algal Toxins in Recreational Waters (350KB PDF)

National & Regional Science:

•  Study Reveals Mercury Contamination in Fish Nationwide
•  Tackling Fish Endocrine Disruption

Past listings...

Water Quality Data

National Water Information System (NWIS)

• NWIS provides current and historical water-quality data.

Today's Water Conditions

• Water-Quality Watch provides continuous real-time water-quality measurements.
  

Water-Quality Web Services

• Web services automate the sharing of USGS and USEPA water-quality monitoring data.

For More Data

• Additional water-quality data resources are available.

USGS in Your Area

USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.

USGS Laboratories

• Branch of Quality Systems
• Mercury Research Laboratory
• National Water Quality Laboratory
• Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory
• Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory
• Reston Chlorofluorocarbon Laboratory
• Reston Stable Isotope Laboratory
• Sediment Laboratories

Branch of Quality Systems

The USGS Branch of Quality Systems monitors, assures, and improves the quality of USGS analytical water-quality data through proficiency testing and by documenting variability and bias of analytical results of USGS laboratories.

Mercury Research Laboratory

The USGS Mercury Research Laboratory (MRL) provides assistance and support for USGS regional and national projects in the collection and analysis of low-level mercury samples using ultra trace level clean collection and analytical methods.

National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL)

The USGS National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) conducts laboratory analyses for USGS water-resources investigations. NWQL determines organic and inorganic constituents in samples of groundwater and surface water, river and lake sediment, aquatic plant and animal material, and in precipitation samples.

Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory

The USGS Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory (OWML) works with government agencies, academic institutions, and other partners to study the quality of national, state, and local water resources. The OWML is involved in investigations of processes that affect microorganisms in the environment and testing of new methods to improve detection and interpretation of microbiological presence in water.

Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory

The USGS Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory (OGRL) focuses on the fate, transport, and degradation of organic contaminants in the environment and on the effect of emerging contaminants on water. OGRL combines these issues with analytical methods to determine and link to geochemical and hydrologic processes.

Reston Chlorofluorocarbon Laboratory

The USGS Reston Chlorofluorocarbon Laboratory provides the USGS with analytical services for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), sulfur hexafluoride, and dissolved gases and administers the USGS contract for tritium/helium-3 dating. The data generated are used in hydrologic studies to trace the flow of young water and to determine the time elapsed since recharge.

Reston Stable Isotope Laboratory

The USGS Reston Stable Isotope Laboratory conducts research on the use of isotope ratio measurements in studies of water resources and environmental quality. The Laboratory contributes to the improvement of measurement science and the development of isotope databases and provides isotope analyses on a routine basis to a large user community within the USGS and elsewhere.

Sediment Laboratories

The USGS maintains sediment laboratories at the Water Science Centers and offices listed below. The services provided vary according to the needs and expertise of the specific laboratory and are available for internal USGS use or by contract through the respective Science Center to other government agencies by virtue of cooperative agreements for work being performed with the USGS.

• California Water Science Center
• Cascades Volcano Observatory
• Iowa Water Science Center
• Louisiana Water Science Center
• Kentucky Water Science Center
  • Kentucky Sediment Lab Quality Assurance Plan
• Missouri Water Science Center
• Montana Water Science Center
  • Montana Sediment Lab Quality Assurance Plan
• New Mexico Water Science Center