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Explore water-related photography, imagery, and illustrations.

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Photo: Stone-wall housing around groundwater well, with shingled roof over top. White USGS field truck and small weathered wo
Hand-dug Well at Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park, Tennessee
Hand-dug Well at Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park, Tennessee
Hand-dug Well at Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park, Tennessee

Recently USGS hydrologists installed equipment to measure changes in groundwater levels over time at this well in Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park in Tennessee. While new groundwater wells used for household water supplies in the United States are now usually installed using modern drilling equipment, this old well was originally dug by hand.

Recently USGS hydrologists installed equipment to measure changes in groundwater levels over time at this well in Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park in Tennessee. While new groundwater wells used for household water supplies in the United States are now usually installed using modern drilling equipment, this old well was originally dug by hand.

Gloeotrichia, a type of cyanobacteria that can produce microcystin, in a water sample collected from Kabetogama Lake
Gloeotrichia, a type of cyanobacteria.
Gloeotrichia, a type of cyanobacteria.
Gloeotrichia, a type of cyanobacteria.

Gloeotrichia, a type of cyanobacteria that can produce microcystin, in a water sample collected from Kabetogama Lake, Voyageurs National Park (by Viviana Mazzei, USGS). 

 

Gloeotrichia, a type of cyanobacteria that can produce microcystin, in a water sample collected from Kabetogama Lake, Voyageurs National Park (by Viviana Mazzei, USGS). 

 

Image of a bottle of drinking water.
Image of a bottle of drinking water
Image of a bottle of drinking water
Image of a bottle of drinking water

Image of a bottle of drinking water.  Ever wonder "Where can I find information about bottled water?" Bottled water is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and by individual states.

Image of a bottle of drinking water.  Ever wonder "Where can I find information about bottled water?" Bottled water is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and by individual states.

A screenshot of the Annual Water Data Reports web tool interface.
Screenshot Annual Water Data Reports
Screenshot Annual Water Data Reports
Screenshot Annual Water Data Reports

A screenshot of the Annual Water Data Reports web tool interface for accessing historical Water Data Reports, electronic Site Data Sheets, or current on-demand, print-ready Water-Year Summaries.

A screenshot of the Annual Water Data Reports web tool interface for accessing historical Water Data Reports, electronic Site Data Sheets, or current on-demand, print-ready Water-Year Summaries.

The image shows ModelMuse and the words "It is easier to explain why if I show the Grid and Mesh Value dialog box."
Thmbnail for ModelMuse Introductory Video
Thmbnail for ModelMuse Introductory Video
Thmbnail for ModelMuse Introductory Video

Screen capture from the ModelMuse Introductory Video displaying a closed caption with the words "It is easier to explain why if I show the Grid and Mesh Value dialog box." The grid cells are colored

Screen capture from the ModelMuse Introductory Video displaying a closed caption with the words "It is easier to explain why if I show the Grid and Mesh Value dialog box." The grid cells are colored

USGS logo with the word water under it representing the logo of the USGS Water Resources Mission Area
@USGS_Water Instagram logo
@USGS_Water Instagram logo
@USGS_Water Instagram logo

Logo for the @USGS_Water USGS Water Resources Mission Area Instagram account. USGS logo with the word water under it representing the logo of the USGS Water Resources Mission Area.

Logo for the @USGS_Water USGS Water Resources Mission Area Instagram account. USGS logo with the word water under it representing the logo of the USGS Water Resources Mission Area.

Image of the new USGS Reptile Species Distribution Explorer
Screenshot of the new USGS Reptile Species Distribution Explorer
Screenshot of the new USGS Reptile Species Distribution Explorer
Screenshot of the new USGS Reptile Species Distribution Explorer

The Amphibian and Reptile Species Distribution Explorer provides information about herptile distributions and species richness in and easy to understand more accessible format for citizen scientists, and anyone interested in amphibians and reptiles.

The Amphibian and Reptile Species Distribution Explorer provides information about herptile distributions and species richness in and easy to understand more accessible format for citizen scientists, and anyone interested in amphibians and reptiles.

Animation of Groundwater Watch Active Water Level Network national US map
December 2021 USGS Active Groundwater Level Network Animation
December 2021 USGS Active Groundwater Level Network Animation
December 2021 USGS Active Groundwater Level Network Animation

The USGS Active Groundwater Level Network includes about 20,000 wells that have been measured by the USGS or USGS cooperators at least once within the past 13 months. The animation shows snapshots of water-level statistics in the network during December 2021.

The USGS Active Groundwater Level Network includes about 20,000 wells that have been measured by the USGS or USGS cooperators at least once within the past 13 months. The animation shows snapshots of water-level statistics in the network during December 2021.

Single frame from an animated groundwater data viz. This map of the United States, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands is on a gray background. The peaks and troughs for groundwater are shown on this map, with the larger version of these displayed on the bottom. 
U.S. Groundwater Conditions Data Visualization Thumbnail Image
U.S. Groundwater Conditions Data Visualization Thumbnail Image
U.S. Groundwater Conditions Data Visualization Thumbnail Image

This is a still image representing an animated data visualization. The full data visualization animates groundwater levels at 2281 well sites across the U.S.

Majestic Heights: JR Rigby
Majestic Heights: A Day with Nature
Majestic Heights: A Day with Nature
Majestic Heights: A Day with Nature

In this stunning image, James R Rigby stands confidently in front of a breathtaking mountainous backdrop. The peaks rise majestically against a clear blue sky, their rugged contours sharply defined by the brilliant sunlight. Fluffy white clouds drift lazily above, casting gentle shadows across the landscape.

In this stunning image, James R Rigby stands confidently in front of a breathtaking mountainous backdrop. The peaks rise majestically against a clear blue sky, their rugged contours sharply defined by the brilliant sunlight. Fluffy white clouds drift lazily above, casting gentle shadows across the landscape.

Single frame from an animated groundwater data viz. In the top right, it says “U.S. Groundwater Conditions.” This map of the United States, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands is on a gray background. The peaks and troughs for groundwater are shown on this map, with the larger version of these displayed on the bottom. 
U.S. Groundwater Conditions data visualization
U.S. Groundwater Conditions data visualization
U.S. Groundwater Conditions data visualization

This is a still image from the U.S. Groundwater Conditions animated data visualization, which depicts groundwater levels at 2,281 well sites across the U.S.

Vehicles drive on Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon, Colorado
Vehicles drive on Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon, Colorado
Vehicles drive on Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon, Colorado
Vehicles drive on Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon, Colorado

Vehicles drive on interstate I-70 in Glenwood Canyon, Colorado. In the summer of 2021, travelers in Colorado's Glenwood Canyon were safely evacuated before massive debris flows buried highways and destroyed bridges, thanks to a debris flow warning system developed in part by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Vehicles drive on interstate I-70 in Glenwood Canyon, Colorado. In the summer of 2021, travelers in Colorado's Glenwood Canyon were safely evacuated before massive debris flows buried highways and destroyed bridges, thanks to a debris flow warning system developed in part by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment
Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment
Robert (Bo) Bales works on a Aquadopp for deployment
Map showing the aqueduct as a pipe across north Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico’s North Coast Aqueduct interconnections
Puerto Rico’s North Coast Aqueduct interconnections
Puerto Rico’s North Coast Aqueduct interconnections

Locations of Puerto Rico’s North Coast Aqueduct interconnections and water transferred, in million gallons per day (Mgal/d) in 2015.

Plot of Radium concentration vs. road salt application rate
Plot of decadal change in Radium concentration vs. road salt application rate
Plot of decadal change in Radium concentration vs. road salt application rate
Plot of decadal change in Radium concentration vs. road salt application rate

Graph of decadal change in Radium concentration compared to road salt application rate (Lindsay and others, 2021). Increases in concentrations of radium are correlated with road-salt application, and multiple lines of evidence support that the relation is causal. 

A smiling scientist in winter coat and hat squats next to groundwater well, holding a small bottle collecting a water sample
USGS Hydrologist Collects Groundwater Sample at Idaho National Laboratory
USGS Hydrologist Collects Groundwater Sample at Idaho National Laboratory
USGS Hydrologist Collects Groundwater Sample at Idaho National Laboratory

In this photo USGS hydrologist Allison Trcka collects a groundwater sample at the Idaho National Laboratory in November 2021. Since 1949, the USGS has partnered with the U.S.

Two thermal infrared orthomoasic images generated from drone-based data collected over a wetland
Thermal Infrared Drone Images Near Farmington River, Connecticut
Thermal Infrared Drone Images Near Farmington River, Connecticut
Thermal Infrared Drone Images Near Farmington River, Connecticut

a) A thermal infrared orthomoasic image generated from drone-based data collected over a wetland in the Farmington River headwaters, Connecticut. The data indicate multi-scale preferential groundwater discharge processes.

a) A thermal infrared orthomoasic image generated from drone-based data collected over a wetland in the Farmington River headwaters, Connecticut. The data indicate multi-scale preferential groundwater discharge processes.

Animation of Groundwater Watch Active Water Level Network national US map
November 2021 USGS Active Groundwater Level Network Animation
November 2021 USGS Active Groundwater Level Network Animation
November 2021 USGS Active Groundwater Level Network Animation

The USGS Active Groundwater Level Network includes about 20,000 wells that have been measured by the USGS or USGS cooperators at least once within the past 13 months. The animation shows snapshots of water-level statistics in the network during November 2021.

The USGS Active Groundwater Level Network includes about 20,000 wells that have been measured by the USGS or USGS cooperators at least once within the past 13 months. The animation shows snapshots of water-level statistics in the network during November 2021.

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