Autonomous underwater vehicle provides high-resolution observations of water quality and much more. Photo (c) Peter Berrini, HDR, Inc., used by permission.

Noteworthy

National & Regional Science:

• USGS Office of Water Quality Technical Memorandum 2013.02: Guidelines for FISP Bag Sampler Intake Efficiency Tests and Operational Velocities [275KB PDF]
• 9th National Monitoring Conference Call for Abstracts [425KB PDF] 
• Press Release: New Method Monitors Riverbed and Flows to Protect Spawning Salmon
• Fact Sheet: Integrated Synoptic Surveys Using an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle and Manned Boats
• Press Release: Decades-old Nitrate Found to Affect Stream Water Quality
• Circular 1383-G: USGS Water Science Strategy – Observing, Understanding, Predicting, and Delivering Water Science to the Nation
• OFR 2013-1054: User's Manual for the National Water Information System of the USGS

Local Science Features:

• New Hampshire: Concentrations of Chloride and Sodium in Groundwater in New Hampshire From 1960 Through 2011
• Arkansas:
  • –Press Release: No Contamination from Fayetteville Shale Exploration Found in Sampled Wells
  • –USGS Report: Shallow Groundwater Quality and Geochemistry in the Fayetteville Shale Gas-Production Area, North-Central Arkansas, 2011
  • –Journal Article: Geochemical and isotopic variations in shallow groundwater in areas of the Fayetteville shale development, north-central Arkansas 

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.

National Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Data (TWRI Book 9)

Chapter A6. Field Measurements

• Comments/Errata page
• This report is in pdf format. Download a copy of Adobe Reader for free.

Abstract

The National Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Data provides protocols, standard procedures, and guidance for U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) personnel who collect data used to assess the quality of the Nation's surface-water and ground-water resources. Chapter A6 presents general information and guidelines for performing field measurements (section 6.0) and specific requirements and guidance for collecting data for water temperature (section 6.1), dissolved oxygen concentrations (section 6.2), specific electrical conductance (section 6.3), pH (section 6.4), reduction-oxidation potential (section 6.5), alkalinity (section 6.6), turbidity (section 6.7), and for the use of multiparameter instruments in making such measurements (section 6.8). Each of these sections is revised periodically and published separately on this Web site.

Sections of Chapter A6:

Cover pages, Table of Contents, Abstract and Introduction

6.0 Guidelines for field-measured water-quality properties (10/2008)
F.D. Wilde

6.1 Temperature (3/2006)
Revised by F.D. Wilde

6.2 Dissolved oxygen (5/2006)
Revised by M.E. Lewis

6.3 Specific electrical conductance (8/2005)
D.B. Radtke, J.V. Davis, and F.D. Wilde

6.4 pH (Version 2.0, 10/2008)
Revised By G.F. Ritz and J.A. Collins

6.5 Reduction-oxidation potential (electrode method) (9/2005)
D.K. Nordstrom and F.D. Wilde

6.6 Alkalinity and acid neutralizing capacity (9/2012)
Revised by S.A. Rounds

6.7 Turbidity (9/2005)
Chauncey W. Anderson

6.8 Use of multiparameter instruments for routine field measurements (8/2007)
Jacob Gibs, Franceska D. Wilde, and Heather A. Heckathorn

Conversion factors, selected terms and symbols, chemical symbols and formulas, and other abbreviations

Selected references, selected documents, and publications on Techniques of Water- Resources Investigations

Return to Field Manual Table of Contents

Disclaimer

Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. For more information, see USGS Information Policies.

For more information

Submit a question or comment related to this National Field Manual. For general water-quality questions, contact the USGS Office of Water Quality.

Chapter 6 Archives

• Cover, Table of Contents, Abstract, Introduction (582KB pdf)