USGS scientists deploy SPMD and POCIS samplers to collect waterborne contaminants in Manoa Stream on Oahu, Hawaii.

Noteworthy

Press Releases

• USGS Uses State-of-the-Art Science to Estimate Nutrient and Suspended-Sediment Loads in the Klamath Basin (1/24/2017)
• The Quality of the Nation's Groundwater: Progress on a National Survey (1/19/2017)
• Nation's River Quality Data Could Power Deeper Science Insights (1/09/17)

Featured Science:

• Spatial variability of harmful algal blooms in Milford Lake, Kansas, July and August 2015
• Using Data to Build a Sustainable Water Future
• Why Monitor Water Quality? [1.7MB PDF]

Past featured science...

Water Quality Data

Today's Water Conditions

Get continuous real-time water-quality measurements from Water-Quality Watch maps.

Water Quality Portal (WQP)

Get current and historical USGS and EPA water-quality data at the WQP.

BioData

Get stream ecosystem aquatic bioassessment data from BioData.

For More Data

View a complete list of USGS water-quality data resources.

USGS in Your Area

USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.

Water-Quality Methods & Techniques

• Field Methods & Equipment
• Laboratory & Field Analytical Methods
• Computer Modeling & Software
• USGS Water Quality Technical Memos

Field Methods & Equipment

Field Methods & Techniques

• Biological indicators:
  • BOD,
  • bacteria,
  • viruses,
  • protozoans,
  • algal biomass, and
  • cyanobacteria
• Collection & quality control of samples for chemical analyses
• Continuous Water-Quality Monitors
  • Guidelines and Standard Procedures for Continuous Water-Quality Monitors: Station Operation, Record Computation, and Data Reporting (USGS Techniques and Methods 1-D3)
  • Optical Techniques for the Determination of Nitrate in Environmental Waters: Guidelines for Instrument Selection, Operation, Deployment, Maintenance, Quality Assurance, and Data Reporting (USGS Techniques and Methods 1-D5)
• Measuring sample properties on-site
• Processing samples for chemical analyses
• Safety
  • Safety in water-quality data collection field activities
  • USGS Occupational Safety and Health Program Requirements Handbook - 445-2-H
  • USGS Safety and Health for Field Operations Handbook - 445-3-H [1.7MB PDF]
  • Water Resources Division Policy for Safety Associated with Measurements, Sampling, and Related Streamgaging
  • Water Resources Division Hazardous Waste Site Operations - Revised Safety Policy and Guidance
  • Water Resources Division National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Safety Policy and Guidance
• Sampling algae, invertebrate, and fish communities
• Design, Analysis, and Interpretation of Field Quality-Control Data for Water-Sampling Projects

Methods Development

• Microbial Geochemistry, Geochemistry, Hydrology, Contaminant geophysics
• National Water Quality Laboratory
• USGS National Research Program

Equipment

• Selection of sampling equipment for chemical analyses;
• Cleaning and decontamination of equipment for chemical analyses
• Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) & Microorganisms
• Macrooganisms (algae, invertebrates, fish)
• Selection and installation of wells

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Analytical Methods

• Alkalinity & Acid Neutralizing Capacity (field analysis)
• CFCs, sulfur hexafluoride, dissolved gases, tracers, and more
• Mercury
• Microorganisms:
  • Standard & source-tracking
  • Rapid-detection
• National Environmental Methods Index (NEMI) v.4 
• National Water-Quality Laboratory (NWQL)
  • NWQL Summary [265KB PDF]
  • NWQL Profile of services [8.9MB PDF]
  • Benthic macroinvertebrate samples
• Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory: ELISA and other methods
• Quality assurance
• Sediment labs
• Selection and installation of wells
• Stable Isotopes

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Computer Modeling & Software (USGS)

Geochemical & water-quality software

• Alkalinity calculator
• Dissolved-oxygen saturation tables
• Groundwater reaction-transport modeling:
  • PHAST
  • PHREEQC
  • NETPATH
• LIMS for light, stable isotopes
• LOADEST for Estimating Constituent Loads in Streams and Rivers
• NAWQA Modeling and Software page
• Redox-processes workbook
• Solute-transport models
• SPARROW
• SPREADBAL 2002
• WATEQ4F
• Watershed systems modeling

Additional resources

• Groundwater methods and models
• Surface-water software

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