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.

Water-Quality Information -- Field Procedures

• Turbidity data collection and reporting:
  • Information Sheet [40KB PDF] and
  • Turbidity Parameter and Methods Codes [70KB XLS]

• National Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Data
  • National Field Manual Errata and Comments
  • National Field Manual Overview [200KB PDF]
  • Chapter 1. Preparations for Water Sampling
  • Chapter 2. Selection of Equipment for Water Sampling
  • Chapter 3. Cleaning of Equipment for Water Sampling
  • Chapter 4. Collection of Water Samples
  • Chapter 5. Processing of Water Samples
  • Chapter 6. Field Measurements
  • Chapter 7. Biological Indicators
  • Chapter 8. Bottom-Material Samples
  • Chapter 9. Safety in Field Activities

• Guidelines and Standard Procedures for Continuous Water-Quality Monitors: Station Operation, Record Computation, and Data Reporting, Techniques and Methods 1-D3.

• Lake Monitoring Field Manual [1.3MB PDF]

• USGS Protocol for the Collection of Processing of Surface-Water Samples for the Subsequent Determination of Inorganic Constituents in Filtered Water, Open-File Report 94-539

• USGS Guidelines and Standard Procedures for Studies of Ground-Water Quality: Selection and Installation of Wells, and Supporting Documentation, Water-Resources Investigations Report 96-4233

• Toxic Substances Hydrology Program has a Searchable Bibliography

• Publications on Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations