USGS

Welcome to the USGS Water Quality Information Pages

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.


|USGS Water Quality Information| |News| |Quality Assurance| |Software| |Publications| |Data| |Laboratories| |Techniques| |Other Topics and Sources|

Do you want information about USGS water-quality activities?
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 Programs, 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, Confined Animal Feeding Operations, 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 On-Line Water-Resources Reports and other USGS Publications and Products.

DATA The USGS collects, analyzes, archives, and disseminates data and information describing the quality of the Nation's surface-water and ground-water resources.

LABS The National Water Quality Laboratory provides a large suite of analyses for water and biological samples. Additional laboratories provide specialized services and analyses.

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.

Do you want additional information?
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, National Water Information Center, Earth Science Information Center, Programs, Water Science for Schools, and Frequently Asked Questions.

OTHER
SOURCES
The USGS is part of the multidisciplinary scientific community that monitors and investigates the quality of natural water resources. 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 Drinking Water Standards. 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. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
Maintainer: Office of Water Quality
Last update: 09:52:12 Tue 28 Sep 2004
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