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:

• 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
• Press Release: New water-quality test for preventing unnecessary beach closures

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 A7. Biological Indicators

• 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 (National Field Manual) is comprised of nine chapters that provide guidelines and standard procedures for U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) personnel who collect data used to assess the quality of the Nation's surface-water and groundwater resources. This chapter of the National Field Manual includes guidelines for the determination of biochemical oxygen demand (using a 5-day bioassay test), fecal indicator bacteria, fecal indicator viruses (coliphages), protozoan pathogens, algal biomass, and cyanobacterial toxin and taste-and-odor compounds in lakes and reservoirs.

Sections of Chapter A7:

Cover, contents, and introduction (90KB PDF)

7.0 Five-day biochemical oxygen demand

7.1 Fecal indicator bacteria, ver. 2.0, 2/2007

7.2 Fecal indicator viruses

7.3 Protozoan pathogens

7.4 Algal biomass indicators

7.5 Cyanobacteria in lakes and reservoirs: toxin and taste-and-odor sampling guidelines, ver. 1.0, 9/2008

Conversion factors, References, and Appendix (1.2MB PDF) [Note: References for sections 7.4 and 7.5 are included in those sections, not in this final section.]

Return to Field Manual Table of Contents

Citation Information

U.S. Geological Survey, variously dated, Biological indicators: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 9, chap. A7, accessed __list date__, from http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/twri9A/.

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 A7 Archives

• Cover pages (122KB PDF)

• Abstract/Introductory sections (60KB PDF), 3rd ed., dated 11/2003

• Section 7.1, ver. 1.2, dated 11/2004
• Section 7.1, ver. 1.1, dated 9/2004
• Section 7.1, dated 11/2003
• Chapter A7, 2nd edition, dated 3/03
• Chapter A7, includes updates through 9/99