Noteworthy

Press Releases

USGS Assessment of Brackish Water Could Help Nation Stretch Limited Freshwater Supplies
First-of-its-kind Interactive Map Brings Together 40 Years of Water-Quality Data
20 Years Researching Harmful Algal Blooms Supports Sustainable Water Supply in Wichita
The Quality of the Nation's Groundwater: Progress on a National Survey (1/19/2017)

Featured Science:

Past featured science...

Water Quality Data

Today's Water Conditions

Get continuous real-time water-quality measurements from Water-Quality Watch maps.

Water Quality Portal (WQP)

Get current and historical USGS and EPA water-quality data at the WQP.

BioData

Get stream ecosystem aquatic bioassessment data from BioData.

For More Data

View a complete list of USGS water-quality data resources.

USGS in Your Area

USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.

[Map: There is a USGS Water Science Center office in each State.]

Photos of flooding and USGS activities.

USGS Water-Quality Sampling of Flood Waters

Overview: USGS Water-Quality Activities During Flooding
2015/2016 Activities
- Continuous Water-Quality Monitoring During December 2015 Flood Events
2012 Activities
2011 Activities
For more information
- USGS Flood Monitoring and Data Collection
- Flooding and Water-Quality Health and Safety

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

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.

2015 Activities

Continuous Water-Quality Monitoring During December 2015 Flood Events

2012 Activities

USGS Water-Quality Sampling after Hurricane Sandy - October 2012

2011 Activities

For more information:

USGS WaterWatch current flood conditions map

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:

Flooding and Water-Quality 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.

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U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: https://water.usgs.gov/owq/floods/index.html
Page Contact Information: USGS Office of Water Quality
Page Last Modified: Wednesday, 28-Dec-2016 18:54:54 EST