Reliable drinking water is vital for the health and safety of all Americans. The USGS monitors and assesses the quality of the water used as a source for our nation's drinking water needs.
Featured: 3-D Models of As and Mn in the Glacial Aquifer System
New 3-D models from the USGS National Water Quality Program predict where high concentrations of arsenic and manganese likely occur in the glacial aquifer system, groundwater supply for 30 million. Redox conditions and pH are controlling factors.
Updated Information on Groundwater Quality From Public-Supply Wells
Three new USGS fact sheets update information on groundwater quality in the nation's most heavily used aquifers. Fact sheets are now available for the Edwards-Trinity aquifer system, the Stream Valley aquifers, and the Colorado Plateau aquifers.
BACKGROUND
One of the central missions of the USGS is to monitor the natural resources we rely on every day, and one of the most important natural resources monitored is water. As humans, we need water to live, especially clean water. But where does the water we rely on come from? How long can we use it to meet our drinking water needs?
DRINKING WATER IN THE UNITED STATES
Nearly 270 million people rely on public water supply every year. That means over 85 percent of the United States population depends on municipal water suppliers to provide clean water to their homes and businesses. The source of that water typically is surface water from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs, or groundwater, which is treated before delivery to consumers. The remaining U.S. population relies on private groundwater wells to meet their household needs. The USGS monitors and assesses the quality of the water used as a source for our nation's drinking water needs. The USGS does not regulate or directly monitor water treatment operations, nor does it enforce water-quality standards.
RELATED USGS RESEARCH
- Water quality of public supply wells
- Factors affecting the vulnerability of public supply wells to contamination
- Water quality of domestic (private) wells
- Health-based screening levels (HBSLs) for drinking water
- Arsenic and drinking water
- Estimating toxin concentrations from harmful algal blooms in Ohio recreational and source waters
- Harmful algal blooms and drinking water in Oregon
- Groundwater viruses in Minnesota drinking water wells
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Examples of research USGS conducts with drinking water and source water.
Public Supply Wells
Explore the tools that show what is happening in the waters around us.
The USGS produces many types of multimedia products. Use the links below to browse our offerings of photograph galleries, podcasts and sound files, videos, aerial photos, and posters related to drinking water and source water.
The USGS has a vast library of research on the source water people rely on everyday. Here's a few examples of publications that define the current understanding of the quality of the water supply that makes it into everyday drinking water.
The U.S. Geological Survey Drinking Water Initiative
Fluoride occurrence in United States groundwater
Landscape drivers of dynamic change in water quality of US rivers
Causal factors for pesticide trends in streams of the United States: Atrazine and deethylatrazine
Time scales of arsenic variability and the role of high-frequency monitoring at three water-supply wells in New Hampshire, USA
Using age tracers and decadal sampling to discern trends in nitrate, arsenic and uranium in groundwater beneath irrigated cropland
Drinking water quality in the glacial aquifer system, northern USA
Regional patterns of anthropogenic influences on streams and rivers in the conterminous United States, from the early 1970s to 2012
Assessing the lead solubility potential of untreated groundwater of the United States
Hormones and pharmaceuticals in groundwater used as a source of drinking water across the United States
Quality of Source Water from Public-Supply Wells in the United States, 1993-2007
The quality of our Nation’s waters: Quality of water from public-supply wells in the United States, 1993–2007: Overview of major findings
Anthropogenic organic compounds in source water of selected community water systems that use groundwater, 2002-05
Explore the tools that show what is happening in the waters around us.
The USGS newsroom distributes media alerts, press releases, and technical memos that highlight new and relevant research.
Contaminants present in many parts of the Glacial aquifer system
Are you one of 30 million Americans whose drinking-water supply relies on groundwater from the glacial aquifer system? A new USGS study assesses the quality of untreated groundwater from this critical water resource, which underlies parts of 25 northern U.S. states.
Below are frequently asked questions associated with the drinking water and source water research.
Reliable drinking water is vital for the health and safety of all Americans. The USGS monitors and assesses the quality of the water used as a source for our nation's drinking water needs.
Featured: 3-D Models of As and Mn in the Glacial Aquifer System
New 3-D models from the USGS National Water Quality Program predict where high concentrations of arsenic and manganese likely occur in the glacial aquifer system, groundwater supply for 30 million. Redox conditions and pH are controlling factors.
Updated Information on Groundwater Quality From Public-Supply Wells
Three new USGS fact sheets update information on groundwater quality in the nation's most heavily used aquifers. Fact sheets are now available for the Edwards-Trinity aquifer system, the Stream Valley aquifers, and the Colorado Plateau aquifers.
BACKGROUND
One of the central missions of the USGS is to monitor the natural resources we rely on every day, and one of the most important natural resources monitored is water. As humans, we need water to live, especially clean water. But where does the water we rely on come from? How long can we use it to meet our drinking water needs?
DRINKING WATER IN THE UNITED STATES
Nearly 270 million people rely on public water supply every year. That means over 85 percent of the United States population depends on municipal water suppliers to provide clean water to their homes and businesses. The source of that water typically is surface water from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs, or groundwater, which is treated before delivery to consumers. The remaining U.S. population relies on private groundwater wells to meet their household needs. The USGS monitors and assesses the quality of the water used as a source for our nation's drinking water needs. The USGS does not regulate or directly monitor water treatment operations, nor does it enforce water-quality standards.
RELATED USGS RESEARCH
- Water quality of public supply wells
- Factors affecting the vulnerability of public supply wells to contamination
- Water quality of domestic (private) wells
- Health-based screening levels (HBSLs) for drinking water
- Arsenic and drinking water
- Estimating toxin concentrations from harmful algal blooms in Ohio recreational and source waters
- Harmful algal blooms and drinking water in Oregon
- Groundwater viruses in Minnesota drinking water wells
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Examples of research USGS conducts with drinking water and source water.
Public Supply Wells
Explore the tools that show what is happening in the waters around us.
The USGS produces many types of multimedia products. Use the links below to browse our offerings of photograph galleries, podcasts and sound files, videos, aerial photos, and posters related to drinking water and source water.
The USGS has a vast library of research on the source water people rely on everyday. Here's a few examples of publications that define the current understanding of the quality of the water supply that makes it into everyday drinking water.
The U.S. Geological Survey Drinking Water Initiative
Fluoride occurrence in United States groundwater
Landscape drivers of dynamic change in water quality of US rivers
Causal factors for pesticide trends in streams of the United States: Atrazine and deethylatrazine
Time scales of arsenic variability and the role of high-frequency monitoring at three water-supply wells in New Hampshire, USA
Using age tracers and decadal sampling to discern trends in nitrate, arsenic and uranium in groundwater beneath irrigated cropland
Drinking water quality in the glacial aquifer system, northern USA
Regional patterns of anthropogenic influences on streams and rivers in the conterminous United States, from the early 1970s to 2012
Assessing the lead solubility potential of untreated groundwater of the United States
Hormones and pharmaceuticals in groundwater used as a source of drinking water across the United States
Quality of Source Water from Public-Supply Wells in the United States, 1993-2007
The quality of our Nation’s waters: Quality of water from public-supply wells in the United States, 1993–2007: Overview of major findings
Anthropogenic organic compounds in source water of selected community water systems that use groundwater, 2002-05
Explore the tools that show what is happening in the waters around us.
The USGS newsroom distributes media alerts, press releases, and technical memos that highlight new and relevant research.
Contaminants present in many parts of the Glacial aquifer system
Are you one of 30 million Americans whose drinking-water supply relies on groundwater from the glacial aquifer system? A new USGS study assesses the quality of untreated groundwater from this critical water resource, which underlies parts of 25 northern U.S. states.
Below are frequently asked questions associated with the drinking water and source water research.