Skip to main content

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

U.S. Geological Survey

- Science Explorer
  
  Biology
  
  Climate
  
  Coasts
  
  Energy
  
  Environmental Health
  
  Geology
  
  Information Systems
  
  Maps and Mapping
  
  Minerals
  
  Methods and Analysis
  
  Natural Hazards
  
  Ocean
  
  Planetary Science
  
  Science Technology
  
  Water
- Mission Areas
  
  Core Science Systems
  
  Ecosystems
  
  Geology, Energy, and Minerals
  
  Natural Hazards
  
  Water Resources
- Programs
- Regions
  
  Northeast Region
  
  Southeast Region
  
  Midcontinent Region
  
  Rocky Mountain Region
  
  Southwest Region
  
  Alaska Region
  
  Northwest-Pacific Islands Region
- Data
  
  Data Management
  
  Data Releases
  
  Real-time Data
  
  All Data
- Maps
  
  Geologic Maps
  
  Map Releases
  
  Topographic (Topo) Maps
  
  Volcanic Maps
  
  All Maps
- Multimedia Gallery
  
  Audio
  
  Images
  
  Stereograms
  
  Videos
  
  Webcams
  
  All Multimedia
- Publications
- Web Tools
  
  Alert and Notification Services
  
  APIs
  
  Data Access Tools
  
  Data Analysis Tools
  
  Data Visualizations
  
  Interactive Maps
  
  All Web Tools
- News Releases
  
  National News Releases
  
  State News Releases
  
  All News Releases
- Media Contacts
- Headquarters
  
  12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Reston, VA 20192
- Locations
- Staff Profiles
- Social Media
- Careers
- Contact Us
  
  Email
  
  USGS Store 1-888-275-8747
- Organization
  
  Mission Areas
  
  Programs
  
  Regions
  
  Science Centers
  
  Observatories
  
  Laboratories
  
  Science Support Offices
- Doing Business
  
  Acquisition and Financial Assistance
- Emergency Management

Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin
Digg
Reddit
Pinterest
Email

Frequently Asked Questions

Label

Label

U.S. Geological Survey

- Science Explorer
- Mission Areas
- Programs
- Regions
- Data
- Maps
- Multimedia Gallery
- Publications
- Web Tools
- News Releases
- Media Contacts
- Headquarters
- Locations
- Staff Profiles
- Social Media
- Careers
- Contact Us
- Organization
- Doing Business
- Emergency Management

Latest Earthquakes
Share Social Media
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Linkedin
- Digg
- Reddit
- Pinterest
- Email

Breadcrumb

Images
Illustrations

Water quality

By Water Science School

Drawing showing water and a city

Original Thumbnail Medium

Detailed Description

Water quality

Sources/Usage

Public Domain.

Rainbow water district

Related

Science

Items per page

Label

Water Quality Information by Topic

November 13, 2018

Water Quality Information by Topic

What is in that water that you just drank? Is it just hydrogen and oxygen atoms? Is it safe for drinking? All water is of a certain "quality" (and you can't tell by just looking), but what does "water quality" really mean? Water full of dirt and grime might work fine for a tomato plant but would you want to drink it? Water quality can be thought of as a measure of the suitability of water for a...

By

Water Science School

Water Quality Information by Topic

November 13, 2018

Water Quality Information by Topic

What is in that water that you just drank? Is it just hydrogen and oxygen atoms? Is it safe for drinking? All water is of a certain "quality" (and you can't tell by just looking), but what does "water quality" really mean? Water full of dirt and grime might work fine for a tomato plant but would you want to drink it? Water quality can be thought of as a measure of the suitability of water for a...

Related

Science

Items per page

Label

Water Quality Information by Topic

November 13, 2018

Water Quality Information by Topic

What is in that water that you just drank? Is it just hydrogen and oxygen atoms? Is it safe for drinking? All water is of a certain "quality" (and you can't tell by just looking), but what does "water quality" really mean? Water full of dirt and grime might work fine for a tomato plant but would you want to drink it? Water quality can be thought of as a measure of the suitability of water for a...

By

Water Science School

Water Quality Information by Topic

November 13, 2018

Water Quality Information by Topic

What is in that water that you just drank? Is it just hydrogen and oxygen atoms? Is it safe for drinking? All water is of a certain "quality" (and you can't tell by just looking), but what does "water quality" really mean? Water full of dirt and grime might work fine for a tomato plant but would you want to drink it? Water quality can be thought of as a measure of the suitability of water for a...

Photographer

Perlman, Howard A.

Explore Search

Water
Water Science School

Accessibility

FOIA

Site Policies

Privacy Policy

Site Map

DOI and USGS link policies apply

No FEAR Act

USA.gov

Vulnerability Disclosure

Careers and Employment

Doing Business

Emergency Management

Office of Civil Rights

U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Department of the Interior

Contact USGS

answers.usgs.gov

Was this page helpful?