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Water

The USGS monitors and studies a wide range of water resources and water conditions, including streamflow, groundwater, water quality, and water use and availability.

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In what scale are the data in the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD)?

Scales for data in the National Hydrography Dataset: Conterminous United States, Hawaii, and the Virgin Islands, medium resolution - 1:100,000-scale Conterminous United States, Hawaii, and the Virgin Islands, high resolution - 1:24,000-scale Puerto Rico - 1:20,000-scale Alaska - 1:63,360-scale Users are encouraged to work with their state's principal steward to produce and submit data at higher...

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In what scale are the data in the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD)?

Scales for data in the National Hydrography Dataset: Conterminous United States, Hawaii, and the Virgin Islands, medium resolution - 1:100,000-scale Conterminous United States, Hawaii, and the Virgin Islands, high resolution - 1:24,000-scale Puerto Rico - 1:20,000-scale Alaska - 1:63,360-scale Users are encouraged to work with their state's principal steward to produce and submit data at higher...

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What formats are available for hydrography data products in The National Map?

Depending on the product type, hydrography data are offered in Esri File Geodatabase 10.1, Shapefile or GeoPackage formats. National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) data is available as national extracts, state extracts, 4-digit sub-regions, 8-digit sub-basins, or in a specified extent from The National Map Downloader . A national extent of medium and high resolution NHD data in File Geodatabase format...

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What formats are available for hydrography data products in The National Map?

Depending on the product type, hydrography data are offered in Esri File Geodatabase 10.1, Shapefile or GeoPackage formats. National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) data is available as national extracts, state extracts, 4-digit sub-regions, 8-digit sub-basins, or in a specified extent from The National Map Downloader . A national extent of medium and high resolution NHD data in File Geodatabase format...

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How do I download hydrography data products?

Download USGS hydrography data (datasets representing U.S. surface water for mapping and modeling applications) using The National Map Downloader or using download links that are listed at Access National Hydrography Products . Learn more: The National Map: Hydrography Training Videos National Hydrography Dataset User Guide For streamflow data, see: Where can I get real-time and historical...

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How do I download hydrography data products?

Download USGS hydrography data (datasets representing U.S. surface water for mapping and modeling applications) using The National Map Downloader or using download links that are listed at Access National Hydrography Products . Learn more: The National Map: Hydrography Training Videos National Hydrography Dataset User Guide For streamflow data, see: Where can I get real-time and historical...

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How much water is used by people in the United States?

Since 1950, the USGS has collected and analyzed water-use data for the United States and its Territories . That data is revised every 5 years. As of 2015, the United States uses 322 billion gallons of water per day (Bgal/day). The three largest water-use categories were irrigation (118 Bgal/day), thermoelectric power (133 Bgal/day), and public supply (39 Bgal/day), cumulatively accounting for 90...

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How much water is used by people in the United States?

Since 1950, the USGS has collected and analyzed water-use data for the United States and its Territories . That data is revised every 5 years. As of 2015, the United States uses 322 billion gallons of water per day (Bgal/day). The three largest water-use categories were irrigation (118 Bgal/day), thermoelectric power (133 Bgal/day), and public supply (39 Bgal/day), cumulatively accounting for 90...

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What is the Earth's "water cycle?"

The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, describes where water is stored on Earth and how it moves. Water is stored in the atmosphere, on the land surface, and below the ground. It can be a liquid, a solid, or a gas. Liquid water can be fresh or saline (salty). Water moves between the places it is stored. It moves at large scales (through watersheds, the atmosphere, and below the Earth...

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What is the Earth's "water cycle?"

The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, describes where water is stored on Earth and how it moves. Water is stored in the atmosphere, on the land surface, and below the ground. It can be a liquid, a solid, or a gas. Liquid water can be fresh or saline (salty). Water moves between the places it is stored. It moves at large scales (through watersheds, the atmosphere, and below the Earth...

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How much natural water is there?

Earth is estimated to hold about 1,386,000,000 cubic kilometers of water. The breakdown of where all that water resides is estimated as follows: Oceans (saline) 1,338,000,000 cubic kilometers Ice caps and glaciers (fresh) 24,064,000 cubic kilometers Groundwater (fresh and saline) 23,400,000 cubic kilometers Streams, lakes, swamps (fresh) 104,590 cubic kilometers Lakes (saline) 85,400 cubic...

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How much natural water is there?

Earth is estimated to hold about 1,386,000,000 cubic kilometers of water. The breakdown of where all that water resides is estimated as follows: Oceans (saline) 1,338,000,000 cubic kilometers Ice caps and glaciers (fresh) 24,064,000 cubic kilometers Groundwater (fresh and saline) 23,400,000 cubic kilometers Streams, lakes, swamps (fresh) 104,590 cubic kilometers Lakes (saline) 85,400 cubic...

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Why is our porcelain sink stained brown?

The brown stain is from a large amount of iron in your water. It is closely related to simple rust that you see on metal, which is iron oxide. Your water probably comes from groundwater that filtered through rocks containing iron-rich minerals on its way to the well. Learn more: Water Color USGS Drinking Water and Source Water Research

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Why is our porcelain sink stained brown?

The brown stain is from a large amount of iron in your water. It is closely related to simple rust that you see on metal, which is iron oxide. Your water probably comes from groundwater that filtered through rocks containing iron-rich minerals on its way to the well. Learn more: Water Color USGS Drinking Water and Source Water Research

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Why does my drinking water look cloudy sometimes?

Once in a while you get a glass of water that looks cloudy; maybe milky is a better term. After a few seconds it miraculously clears up! The cloudiness is due to tiny air bubbles in the water. Like any bubbles, the air rises to the top of the water and goes into the air, clearing up the water. The water in the pipes coming into your house might be under a bit of pressure. This causes gases (air)...

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Why does my drinking water look cloudy sometimes?

Once in a while you get a glass of water that looks cloudy; maybe milky is a better term. After a few seconds it miraculously clears up! The cloudiness is due to tiny air bubbles in the water. Like any bubbles, the air rises to the top of the water and goes into the air, clearing up the water. The water in the pipes coming into your house might be under a bit of pressure. This causes gases (air)...

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Why does it take so long to rinse the soap off my hands? What are hard water and soft water?

Water is said to be soft if it has a low concentration of calcium and magnesium ions in it, while hard water has a high concentration of calcium and magnesium. The minerals in hard water often react with most soaps to create a "soap scum," which is an insoluble substance that can temporarily adhere to your hands or the shower walls. When using hard water, you may have a harder time working your...

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Why does it take so long to rinse the soap off my hands? What are hard water and soft water?

Water is said to be soft if it has a low concentration of calcium and magnesium ions in it, while hard water has a high concentration of calcium and magnesium. The minerals in hard water often react with most soaps to create a "soap scum," which is an insoluble substance that can temporarily adhere to your hands or the shower walls. When using hard water, you may have a harder time working your...

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Where can I find information about my local drinking water supply?

The best way to learn about your local drinking water quality is to read the annual drinking water quality report/consumer confidence report that water suppliers now send out by July 1 of each year. The reports are often sent out with water bills, but they may be sent separately. The reports tell where drinking water comes from, what contaminants are in it, and at what levels. The U.S...

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Where can I find information about my local drinking water supply?

The best way to learn about your local drinking water quality is to read the annual drinking water quality report/consumer confidence report that water suppliers now send out by July 1 of each year. The reports are often sent out with water bills, but they may be sent separately. The reports tell where drinking water comes from, what contaminants are in it, and at what levels. The U.S...

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Where can I find information about bottled water?

Bottled water is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and by individual states. For general information about bottled water, sources include the International Bottled Water Association and NSF International . Learn More: Water Use - Withdrawals for Bottled Water

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Where can I find information about bottled water?

Bottled water is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and by individual states. For general information about bottled water, sources include the International Bottled Water Association and NSF International . Learn More: Water Use - Withdrawals for Bottled Water

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What can cause our water to have an earthy odor or to smell like rotten eggs?

Naturally-occurring organic compounds are created when plant material decays in lakes and reservoirs. Those organic compounds frequently cause musty, earthy odors, especially toward the end of summer. The odors can be objectionable, but generally are not harmful to health. However, odors can be caused by other constituents as well, so you might want to call your local Health Department and mention...

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What can cause our water to have an earthy odor or to smell like rotten eggs?

Naturally-occurring organic compounds are created when plant material decays in lakes and reservoirs. Those organic compounds frequently cause musty, earthy odors, especially toward the end of summer. The odors can be objectionable, but generally are not harmful to health. However, odors can be caused by other constituents as well, so you might want to call your local Health Department and mention...

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