Diagram of how USGS water data are transferred from streamgage to the internet

Diagram of how USGS water data are transferred from streamgage to the internet 

All USGS streamgage data are available in near-real-time through Water Data for the Nation (WDFN). Streamgages across the nation transmit data via two general pathways. One is via satellites (IRIDIUM network or GOES network East and West) to local ground stations and then to the National Water Information System (NWIS) web servers. The second is via local receiving cellular towers (Verizon) to Water Science Center servers and then to NWIS web servers. The data are then transmitted from NWIS web servers to WDFN delivery products, such as Monitoring Location Pages and Water Data APIs. This information is used by the National Weather Service to forecast flooding, by emergency managers to make informed decisions to protect public safety, and by local water managers to ensure water access.