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.

USGS Water-Quality Sampling of Flood Waters

• Overview: USGS Water-Quality Activities During Flooding
• 2012 Activities
  • USGS Water-Quality Sampling after Hurricane Sandy - October 2012
• 2011 Activities
• For more information
  • USGS Flood Monitoring and Data Collection
  • Flooding and Water-Quality Health and Safety

Overview: USGS Water-Quality Activities During Flooding

When flooding happens, USGS field crews are among the first to respond. During and after storms and floods, USGS field crews measure the streamflow and height of rivers to ensure the accuracy and reliable operation of streamgages.

Flooding can affect the quality of our Nation's water resources. The USGS responds to major events that can affect water quality by working with local, State, and Federal agencies and the citizenry to identify, quantify, and understand environmental issues and concerns. During and after flooding events, USGS may collect additional water samples to help us understand how flooding is affecting water quality in the short- and long-term. The frequency and location of water sampling varies by flood event and depends on the needs and concerns of our Cooperators and local communities.

2012 Activities

Please note: this page highlights USGS water-quality sampling related to flooding. For all USGS flooding activites, see the main USGS floods page.

Information about these floods in their scientific and historical context is being compiled.

• USGS Water-Quality Sampling after Hurricane Sandy - October 2012

2011 Activities

Please note: this page highlights USGS water-quality sampling related to flooding. For all USGS flooding activites, see the main USGS floods page.

• USGS Water-Quality Sampling after Hurricane Irene - August 2011
• USGS Water-Quality Sampling of the Mississippi Flood Waters – May 2011

For more information:

The USGS WaterWatch (http://waterwatch.usgs.gov) web site displays maps, graphs, and tables describing real-time, recent, and past streamflow conditions for the United States. The real-time information generally is updated on an hourly basis.

USGS Flood Monitoring and Data Collection

For additional information on USGS flood monitoring and data collection activities, see USGS national flood activities web site, with links to USGS Water Science Centers, data, maps, multimedia, and more.

For more information on USGS water-quality sampling, contact the USGS Office of Water Quality.

To learn more about USGS water-quality sampling methods and protocols, see:

• Water-Quality Sampling by the U.S. Geological Survey: Standard Protocols and Procedures (Fact Sheet 2010-3121)
• USGS National Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Data (USGS Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations Book 9)

Health and Safety Information

Every effort should be made to limit contact with flood water due to potentially elevated levels of contamination associated with raw sewage and other hazardous substances.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - water and food safety during and after a flood
  • EPA: Private drinking water wells - What to do after the flood
  • EPA: Septic Systems - What to do after the flood
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - what to do after a flood
  • CDC: Cleanup of flood water
  • CDC: Information for water-related emergencies