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Tap water study detects PFAS 'forever chemicals' across the US

USGS estimates at least 45% of tap water could have one or more PFAS

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Water conditions change rapidly.

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What is streamflow drought?

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The new Water Cycle Diagram is now available!

Featuring improved scientific accuracy, design aesthetics, and usability in educational settings

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Looking for current water conditions?

The National Water Dashboard is an interactive, mobile-friendly tool that provides real-time water, weather, and flood information all in one place

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We're One USGS Water

Together with Science Centers and Regions across the Nation

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Water Resources Mission Area

Water information is fundamental to national and local economic well-being, protection of life and property, and effective management of the Nation’s water resources. The USGS works with partners to monitor, assess, conduct targeted research, and deliver information on a wide range of water resources and conditions including streamflow, groundwater, water quality, and water use and availability.

USGS Water Data for the Nation

Current streamflow conditions map

Surface-water, groundwater, water-quality, and water-use data collected at approximately 1.9 million sites across all 50 states.

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Message from the Associate Director for Water

Photo of Don Cline

Learn more about the WMA from Dr. Don Cline, the Associate Director for Water Resources.

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Popular Water Data and Tools

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News

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Make Your Benchmark: Join the Mendenhall Research Fellowship Program

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USGS scientists with the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative lead field tour to share science outcomes with partners and stakeholders.

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The USGS Invests $1.5M in Local Partnerships to Improve Urban Waterways

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Publications

Implications of water, sediment, and nutrient budgets for the restoration of a shallow, turbid lake in semiarid southeastern Oregon

Malheur Lake is the largest lake in the endorheic Harney Basin in southeastern Oregon. Since the 1990s, Malheur Lake—which averages depths of about 1 meter—has been in a degraded, turbid state lacking submergent and emergent vegetation. The goals of this study were to identify the major sources of sediment and nutrients to Malheur Lake to determine the importance of managing nutrients for lake res
Authors
Cassandra D. Smith, Tamara M. Wood
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Oregon Water Science Center

Regression equations for estimating the 4-day, 3-year low-flow frequency and adjusted harmonic mean streamflow at ungaged sites for unregulated, perennial streams in New Mexico

The Federal Clean Water Act stipulates that States adopt water-quality standards to protect and enhance the quality of water in those States and to protect water quality through the creation of planning documents and discharge permits. Critical low-flow values, including the 4-day, 3-year low-flow frequency (4Q3) and harmonic mean streamflows, are necessary for developing those planning documents
Authors
Meghan T. Bell, Anne C. Tillery
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New Mexico Water Science Center

Karst groundwater vulnerability determined by modeled age and residence time tracers

Karst aquifers are a vital groundwater resource globally, but features such as rapid recharge and conduit flow make them highly vulnerable to land-surface contamination. We apply environmental age tracers to the south-central Texas Edwards aquifer, a karst resource in a rapidly urbanizing and drought-prone region, to assess vulnerability to land-surface contamination and risks unique to karst aqui
Authors
MaryLynn Musgrove, Bryant Jurgens, Stephen P. Opsahl
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Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center
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Science

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gage house next to body of water lined with fall colored trees

Regional Water Availability Assessment: Delaware River Basin

Regional Water Availability Assessments are scientific assessments of water availability in different hydrologic regions across the Nation. In the Delaware River Basin, the USGS will conduct a focused assessment of increasing freshwater salinity and an integrated and comprehensive assessment of multiple water quantity, quality and use factors.
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Water Resources Mission Area
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Regional Water Availability Assessment: Delaware River Basin

Regional Water Availability Assessments are scientific assessments of water availability in different hydrologic regions across the Nation. In the Delaware River Basin, the USGS will conduct a focused assessment of increasing freshwater salinity and an integrated and comprehensive assessment of multiple water quantity, quality and use factors.
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Screenshot of a text message to WaterNow using a site number and all-parameters query

WaterNow

Current conditions for water data sent directly to your mobile phone or email. Send an email or text message containing a USGS streamgaging site number and quickly receive a reply with its most recent observations.
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Water Resources Mission Area, Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF)
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WaterNow

Current conditions for water data sent directly to your mobile phone or email. Send an email or text message containing a USGS streamgaging site number and quickly receive a reply with its most recent observations.
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Screen shot of the CCH web Portal shown over a coastal development

Computational Tools for Water Data Users

Users access USGS water data in various ways, including using automated scripts and functions. Computational tools are open-source software and code resources that make USGS water data easily discoverable, accessible and usable. These tools perform tasks such as retrieving data, calculating statistics, and creating visualizations.
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Water Resources Mission Area
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Computational Tools for Water Data Users

Users access USGS water data in various ways, including using automated scripts and functions. Computational tools are open-source software and code resources that make USGS water data easily discoverable, accessible and usable. These tools perform tasks such as retrieving data, calculating statistics, and creating visualizations.
Learn More
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