Field, laboratory, and third-party quality-control data associated with sites and analytes monitored by the USGS National Water Quality Network, October 2017 through September 2022

From October 2017 through September 2022, the National Water Quality Network (NWQN) monitored 110 surface-water river and stream sites and more than 1,800 groundwater wells for a large number of water-quality analytes, for which associated quality-control data and corresponding statistical summaries are included in this data release. The quality-control data—for samples that were collected in the field (at all 110 surface-water sites, 350 groundwater wells, and 16 quality-control-only sites), prepared in the laboratory, or prepared by a third party—can be used to assess the quality of environmental data collected by the NWQN through the estimation of bias and variability in reported results. The general analyte groups that were monitored at NWQN surface-water and (or) groundwater sites and have associated quality-control data in this data release include major ions, nutrients, trace elements, pesticides, volatile organic compounds, hormones, pharmaceuticals, radionuclides, microbial indicators, sediment, and environmental tracers. For each analyte group, the data tables contain results for one or more of the following types of quality-control samples, where relevant: blanks, matrix spikes, and replicates collected at field sites; laboratory blanks, reagent spikes, and matrix spikes prepared by the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) (quality-control samples prepared by other analyzing laboratories are not included in the current data release); and third-party blanks, spikes, and reference samples prepared by the USGS Quality Systems Branch (QSB). For each relevant analyte, tables of summary statistics characterize the frequency and concentrations of blank detections, the typical magnitude of and variability in spike and reference-sample recoveries, and the typical variability between replicate concentrations.

Tables included in this data release:

Table1_SiteList.txt: Information about National Water Quality Network sites that have associated quality-control data.

Table2_AnalyteList.txt: Information about National Water Quality Network analytes that have associated quality-control data, including available aquatic-life and (or) human-health benchmarks and selected information regarding analytical methods.

Table3_BlankData.txt: For all relevant analytes, results for blanks collected at field sites, prepared in the laboratory, or prepared by a third party.

Table4_SpikeData.txt: For all relevant analytes, results for matrix spikes prepared in the field, matrix spikes prepared in the laboratory, reagent spikes prepared in the laboratory, or reagent spikes prepared by a third party. For matrix spikes, results of paired environmental samples are included.

Table5_ReplicateData.txt: For all relevant analytes, results for field replicates and paired environmental samples.

Table 6_ReferenceData.txt: For all relevant analytes, results for third-party reference samples.

Table7_BlankStats.txt: For all relevant analytes, summary statistics for each type of available blank sample.

Table8_SpikeStats.txt: For all relevant analytes, summary statistics for each type of available spike sample.

Table9_ReplicateStats.txt: For all relevant analytes, summary statistics for field replicates.

Table10_ReferenceStats.txt: For all relevant analytes, summary statistics for reference samples.