Water Data for the Nation

• Real Time Data

• USGS WaterWatch
  • Current hydrologic conditions
  • Floods | Droughts
  • Surface water quality
  • Groundwater levels

• Historical data
  • Streamflow
  • Ground water
  • Water quality
  • Annual Data Reports
  • Instantaneous Data Archive (IDA)

Water Programs

• • Office of Surface Water
  • Office of Groundwater
  • Office of Water Quality
  • National Water Information System
  • National Water Quality Assessment

ABOUT THE HIF

• • Office information
    • Location
    • Employee directory
  • HIF History

USGS IN YOUR STATE

USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.

Programs at the Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility

Instrument Evaluations

HIF evaluates equipment and instruments in an effort to ensure that these devices will meet the requirements of the USGS for hydrologic data collection. These requirements include accuracy, performance under a wide range of environmental conditions, and cost effectiveness. Equipment and instruments selected for evaluation must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Unmet measurement need
• Reduces ownership costs
• Replaces discontinued/obsolete equipment
• Increases equipment choice and types
• Reduces initial equipment cost
• Improves safety

Equipment and instrument evaluations usually involve testing in environmental chambers or at field sites. Evaluations are usually conducted following test plans that allow for observation of the performance of the device over most, if not all, of its stated temperature range. For devices that measure a specific quantity (for example pressure or specific conductance), the test plan also will provide for exposing the device to a significant portion of, if not the entire, stated range of measurement for the quantity being measured.

• Guidance for selecting and conducting evaluations of hydrologic instruments and equipment at the USGS Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility

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Green background indicates completed, report available
Yellow background indicates testing completed
Red background indicates testing is part of standard QA of newly HIF purchased and repaired items.