USGS WaterNow – On-demand, current-conditions for water data directly to your mobile phone or email
Getting Started: What you need to know
- 1. The USGS Site Number:
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This is a unique number that identifies a USGS gage or well site where you want to obtain data.
- 2. The Parameter Code (optional):
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Needed only if you want other than the latest observations for flow (00060) and/or stage (00065), such as depth to water level (72019).
All data types are represented by their respective 5-digit parameter codes. Simply include the parameter code(s) of your choice in your email or text message.
Some commonly available parameters:
Streams,
Springs00060 Flow, ft³/s
00065 Stage, ftWells 72019 Depth to water level, ft
72020 Water level elevation, ft NVGD
62611 Water level elevation, ft NAVDLakes 00065 Stage, ft 72020 Water level elevation, ft NVGD Water quality 00010 Water temperature, °C
00095 Specific conductance, µS/cm
00300 Dissolved oxygen, mg/l
00400 pH
How to Obtain the Site Number and Parameter Code(s)
Start by locating your site of interest on the USGS National Water Information System Mapper, and then follow these three steps (click images to enlarge):
Select a data type in the lower, left pane.
Zoom the map to your region of interest and select Active Sites with Instantaneous data.
Locate the site on the map and click it to see its site number.
To see its available parameters, select the Access Data link.
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Send an email or text message containing a USGS current-conditions gaging site number and quickly receive a reply with its most recent observation(s). |
How to use WaterNow
- • Text Message (SMS)
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Send a text message to WaterNow@usgs.gov containing the USGS Site Number of the gage you want to query (optionally add parameter codes to customize your query). You will receive a response within a few minutes. All query options are listed below:
Text Message Content Action Example
(click to enlarge)SiteNumber Query for flow and/or stage
(if available; otherwise returns a list of available parameters)
SiteNumber parameter Query for a specific parameter
(parameter codes are 5 digits; leading zeros, if any, are required)
SiteNumber parm1,parm2,... (requesting more than three parameters will return more than the SMS maximum of 160 characters and truncate the message with most phone services)
Query multiple parameters
(parameters must be separated by commas with no spaces)
SiteNumber ? Get list of available parameters 
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Send an email message to WaterNow@usgs.gov where either the Subject or the first line of the message contains the USGS Site Number of the gage you want to query (optionally add parameter codes to customize your query). You will receive a response within a few minutes. All query options are listed below:
Email Subject Action Example Result SiteNumber
Query for flow and/or stage
(if available; otherwise returns a list of available parameters)01638500 09:45EST POTOMAC RIVER AT POINT OF ROCKS, MD 00060 Discharge, cubic feet per second = 4910 00065 Gage height, feet = 2.15
SiteNumber parameter
Query for a specific parameter
(parameter codes are 5 digits; leading zeros, if any, are required)323313117033901 06:30PST 019S002W02C007S 72019 Depth to water level, feet below land surface = 45.10
SiteNumber parm1,parm2,...
Query multiple parameters
(parameters must be separated
by commas with no spaces)01608500 09:30EST SOUTH BRANCH POTOMAC RIVER NEAR SPRINGFIELD, WV 00010 Temperature, water, degrees Celsius = 1.1 00060 Discharge, cubic feet per second = 749
SiteNumber *
Query for all available parameters 01608500 11:30EDT SOUTH BRANCH POTOMAC RIVER NEAR SPRINGFIELD, WV 00010 Temperature, water, degrees Celsius = 25.9 00060 Discharge, cubic feet per second = 896 00065 Gage height, feet = 2.63 00095 Specific conductance, water, unfiltered, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius = 225 00300 Dissolved oxygen, water, unfiltered, milligrams per liter = 8.7 00400 pH, water, unfiltered, field, standard units = 8.2
SiteNumber ?
Get list of available parameters 01608500 SOUTH BRANCH POTOMAC RIVER NEAR SPRINGFIELD, WV parameters available 00010,00060,00065,00095,00300,00400
