USGS Compiles Data Set for National Assessment of VOCs in Ground Water

Abstract

Frequently, water quality issues arise that are national or regional in scope. The ability to successfully address these concerns requires data that have been collected in a consistent way throughout the geographic area of interest. Consistency in the data collected encompasses all aspects of water quality monitoring, including the sampling-network design and the methods used for data collection and laboratory analysis. In addition, the water quality and ancillary data need to be stored in an electronic format that is readily accessible to the analyst. This article describes an effort by the US Geological Survey (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program to compile a national data set of volatile organic compound (VOC) analyses and related ancillary information that is explicitly designed to answer questions of national and regional concern regarding the occurrence, status, and distribution of VOCs in ground water.