USGS is a scientific agency that
- provides credible, relevant, impartial, and timely information to cooperators, stakeholders, and the public;
- does not have any natural resource management or regulatory responsibilities; and
- is known for its long-term and extensive data-collection networks and impartial research of natural-resources issues.
The USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center (PaWSC) primarily addresses water issues faced by citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The mission of the PaWSC is to collect, analyze, and disseminate the impartial hydrologic data and information needed to wisely manage water resources for the people of the United States and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
PaWSC works in cooperation with federal, state, and local governmental agencies, universities, river basin commissions, water authorities, power generators, nonprofit organizations, as well as private entities to provide relevant, unbiased scientific information. Funding for the PaWSC comes from a variety of sources, including direct Federal appropriations, other Federal agencies, and a cooperative program that allows the PaWSC to partially match funding with state and local agencies.
PaWSC studies the occurrence, distribution, quantity, movement, and chemical and biological quality of surface water and groundwater in Pennsylvania. Specific water-resources activities of the PaWSC are categorized into five Science Themes:
Scientific activities include
PaWSC currently (2020) operates more than 580 continuous data collection sites.
PaWSC has staff in four offices: New Cumberland, Pittsburgh, Williamsport, and Downingtown (Philadelphia). Staff include scientists, technicians, and operational personnel committed to providing accurate and timely water-resource and other natural-resource information for the public.
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