USGS scientists deploy SPMD and POCIS samplers to collect waterborne contaminants in Manoa Stream on Oahu, Hawaii.

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:

• Spatial variability of harmful algal blooms in Milford Lake, Kansas, July and August 2015
• Why Monitor Water Quality? [1.7MB PDF]

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.

USGS Laboratories

• Branch of Quality Systems
• Mercury Research Laboratory
• National Water Quality Laboratory
• Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory
• Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory
• Reston Biogeochemical Processes in Groundwater Laboratory (RBPGL)
• Reston Chlorofluorocarbon Laboratory
• Reston Molecular and Environmental Microbiology Laboratory
• Reston Radiochemistry Laboratory
• Reston Stable Isotope Laboratory
• Soil and Low-Ionic-Strength Water Quality Laboratory
• Sediment Laboratories

Branch of Quality Systems

The USGS Branch of Quality Systems monitors, assures, and improves the quality of USGS analytical water-quality data through proficiency testing and by documenting variability and bias of analytical results of USGS laboratories.

Mercury Research Laboratory

The USGS Mercury Research Laboratory (MRL) provides assistance and support for USGS regional and national projects in the collection and analysis of low-level mercury samples using ultra trace level clean collection and analytical methods.

National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL)

The USGS National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) conducts laboratory analyses for USGS water-resources investigations. NWQL determines organic and inorganic constituents in samples of groundwater and surface water, river and lake sediment, aquatic plant and animal material, and in precipitation samples.[an error occurred while processing this directive] USGS can also refer to the NWQL Intranet.

Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory

The USGS Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory (OWML) works with government agencies, academic institutions, and other partners to study the quality of national, state, and local water resources. The OWML is involved in investigations of processes that affect microorganisms in the environment and testing of new methods to improve detection and interpretation of microbiological presence in water.

Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory

The USGS Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory (OGRL) focuses on the fate, transport, and degradation of organic contaminants in the environment and on the effect of emerging contaminants on water. OGRL combines these issues with analytical methods to determine and link to geochemical and hydrologic processes.

Reston Biogeochemical Processes in Groundwater Laboratory (RBPGL)

The USGS Reston Biogeochemical Processes in Groundwater Laboratory (RBPGL) offers numerous analytical services for analyzing organic constituents in subsurface environmental samples. The following services are available:

• Non-volatile Dissolved Organic Carbon (NVDOC) in aqueous samples
• Low Molecular Weight Organic Acids (LMWOA)
• Lactate, acetate, propionate, formate, butyrate, pyruvate, and benzoate in aqueous samples

Reston Chlorofluorocarbon Laboratory

The USGS Reston Chlorofluorocarbon Laboratory provides the USGS with analytical services for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), sulfur hexafluoride, and dissolved gases and administers the USGS contract for tritium/helium-3 dating. The data generated are used in hydrologic studies to trace the flow of young water and to determine the time elapsed since recharge.

Reston Molecular and Environmental Microbiology Laboratory (RMEML)

The USGS Reston Molecular & Environmental Microbiology Laboratory (RMEML) offers numerous analytical services for analyzing microorganisms in environmental samples. The following services are available:

• Bacterial cell counts
• DNA extraction and quantification of the amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (chytrid fungus)
• qPCR standards for quantification of the amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (chytrid fungus)
• DNA extraction from water and sediment samples
• qPCR for total Bacteria and Archaea, and microbial functional groups

Reston Radiochemistry Laboratory

Contact: gdjolly@usgs.gov

Reston Stable Isotope Laboratory

The USGS Reston Stable Isotope Laboratory conducts research on the use of isotope ratio measurements in studies of water resources and environmental quality. The Laboratory contributes to the improvement of measurement science and the development of isotope databases and provides isotope analyses on a routine basis to a large user community within the USGS and elsewhere.

Soil and Low-Ionic-Strength Water Quality Laboratory

The USGS New York Water Science Center's Soil and Low Ionic Strength Water Quality Laboratory provides accurate measurements of soil water, non-agricultural soils, stream water, and lake water, that can be adapted to the specific needs of each USGS study. Services include sample processing and customized data reports.

Sediment Laboratories

The USGS maintains sediment laboratories at the Water Science Centers and offices listed below. The services provided vary according to the needs and expertise of the specific laboratory and are available for internal USGS use or by contract through the respective Science Center to other government agencies by virtue of cooperative agreements for work being performed with the USGS.

• California Water Science Center
• Cascades Volcano Observatory
• Iowa Water Science Center
• Louisiana Water Science Center
• Kentucky Water Science Center
  • Kentucky Sediment Lab
• Missouri Water Science Center
• Montana Water Science Center
  • Montana Sediment Lab Quality Assurance Plan
• New Mexico Water Science Center