Water-Quality patterns in some of the nation's major river basins and aquifers

Pixie Hamilton

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USGS · 70180719

Water-Quality patterns in some of the nation's major river basins and aquifers

Pixie Hamilton

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Abstract

In 1991, the National Water - Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began evaluating the quality of streams, ground water , and aquatic ecosystems in 51 major river basins and aquifer systems (known as "study units") across the nation. The assessments characterize the ambient water resource - the source of about 60 percent of the nation's drinking water , as well as water for industrial, irrigation, and recreational uses - and thereby complement much of the compliance and regulatory monitoring conducted at the state level and by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).

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Pixie Hamilton. 2002. Water-Quality patterns in some of the nation's major river basins and aquifers. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70180719

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