Surface-water-quality monitoring methods
The National Field Manual has three main purposes for water quality:
1) Establish and communicate sound science-based data-collection methods,
2) Encourage consistency in the use of these methods to produce data that are nationally comparable,
3) Provide techniques that minimize data bias and, when properly applied, that result in data that are reproducible within acceptable limits of variability.
Surface-water-quality monitoring uses standardized national sampling protocols to help ensure the scientific validity and relevance of the water data collected. Our methods also ensure that data can be compared across geographic locations and that these data are stored in a systematic way for future retreival.
National Field Manual
The USGS uses the National Field Manual (NFM) for the Collection of Water-Quality Data to ensure that all data collected in Wisconsin accurately describe the physical, chemical, and biological attributes of water systems.
The NFM describes protocols (required and recommended procedures) and provides guidelines for USGS personnel who collect those data on surface-water and ground-water resources. Once standardized across any state or time period, results can be used to monitor trends and provide decision-support data.
NEMI
The USGS and USEPA, through the National Water Quality Monitoring Council, work with other public and private organizations to facilitate data sharing by identifying and documenting standardized field and laboratory methods.
One outcome of this collaboration is development of a National Environmental Methods Index (NEMI), a clearinghouse of environmental monitoring methods. NEMI is a searchable online methods database of regulatory and non-regulatory method summaries that lets users compare and select chemical, microbiological, toxicity, physical, and regulatory methods.
NAWQA
Wisconsin study design and methods are nationally consistent with the National Water-quality Assessment (NAWQA) program. NAWQA adheres to a national design that stresses consistent sampling and analytical methods. Observed conditions can be compared to national water-quality standards, guidelines, and benchmarks to assess the potential effects of water-quality conditions on human health and aquatic life.
We collect and interpret data about surface- and ground-water chemistry, hydrology, land use, stream habitat, and aquatic life in Wisconsin using a nationally-consistent study design and uniform methods of sampling and analysis called National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) protocols. NAWQA protocols define standards for water and biological field sampling, analysis, habitat assessment, and laboratory methods. The NAWQA methods design ensures that water-resource conditions—including chemical, biological, and physical characteristics—in a specific Wisconsin locality or watershed can be compared to those in other geographic regions and can be combined for national assessment.
NWIS and NAWQA data storage and archive methods
Once data is collected, they are stored according to defined methods in the National Water Information System (NWIS). You can access NWIS data for Wisconsin at our water quality data page.
NWIS water-quality data is then combined with biological data in the NAWQA Data Warehouse. This online database provides access to systematically-collected chemical, biological, and physical water quality data from study units (basins) across the nation. The NAWQA Data Warehouse manages more than 14 million records representing about 7,600 stream sites, 8,100 wells, and 2,000 water-quality and ecological constituents.
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