Pollution and Water Quality
According to the United Nations, declining water quality has become a global issue of concern as human populations grow, industrial and agricultural activities expand, and climate change threatens to cause major alterations to the hydrological cycle. Resources available in this sub-theme include manuals describing water quality testing and treatment, reports and assessments of water quality from around the world, methods of maintaining water quality and managing pollution, and other resources that support enabling environments for effective water quality control.
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Pollution and Water Quality Resources
University of Michigan Water Center-Supported Leveraging Resource Grants
Graham Sustainability Institute at the University of Michigan
The Water Center has awarded over $1 million in grants to support projects that leverage ongoing freshwater research and restoration and protection efforts in order to take them a step further. This site includes factsheets for all Water Center leveraging grants.Read more
Regional focus:
United StatesWater Quality Interpretation Tool
Colorado State University
An online tool for well owners to interpret their laboratory sampling tests for drinking, livestock and irrigation water quality.Read more
Interactive Map of Eutrophication and Hypoxia
World Resources Institute
This interactive map represents 762 coastal areas impacted by eutrophication and/or hypoxia. There are 479 sites identified as experiencing hypoxia, 55 sites that once experienced hypoxia but are now improving, and 228 sites that experience other symptoms of eutrophication, including algal blooms,...Read more
World Water Day: How Cities Cause "Dead Zones"
World Resources Institute
World Water Day this year focuses on "Water for Cities," but what about water from cities? Urban runoff is one of the biggest threats to water quality around the world, with serious impacts on economies and people. However, it's a problem that most cities are only starting to address...Read more
Protecting Waterways from a Deadly Problem
World Resources Institute
This article examines why nutrient pollution emerges as one of the greatest threats to water quality. Using examples such as in the Chesapeake Bay, where large schools of jellyfish scare away swimmers. In the Gulf of Mexico, a 3,000 square mile "dead zone"" threatens a multi-billion...Read more
Water Security - Contamination Warning System White Papers
CH2M HILL
CH2M HILL and the Philadelphia Water Department released a series of white papers to disseminate knowledge and industry best practices gained from the PWD Contamination Warning System Demonstration Pilot Project.Read more
Water Questions and Answers
Published:
March 17, 2014U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior
A part of the USGS Water Science School, this page provides a series of questions and answers surrounding water. Topics include Water at Home, Water Use, Measuring Water, Water Chemistry and Quality, and the Water Around Us.Read more
Improving Air and Water Quality Can Be Two Sides of the Same Coin
Published:
September 1, 2005U.S. Department of Agriculture
Air quality policies have traditionally focused on urban areas and industrial emissions. Extending these laws to cover agriculture would require an understanding of how farmers respond to different policy incentives. Farmers have many choices in deciding on what to produce and the production...Read more
Climate Resilience Evaluation Tool (CREAT)
Published:
January 1, 1970U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA has developed CREAT, a software tool to assist drinking water and wastewater utility owners and operators in understanding potential climate change threats and in assessing the related risks at their individual utilities. CREAT provides users with access to the most recent national assessment...Read more
Water Quality Index for Runoff Water from Agricultural Fields (WQIag)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Water Quality Index for Runoff from Agricultural Fields (WQI) is currently being developed by the USDA/NRCS-WNTSC National Water Quality/Quantity Team in Portland, Oregon. The purpose/benefits of this tool include: comparative assessment over time & space, no substitute for monitoring/...Read more
Don't see what you're looking for? You can search USWP member sites, request a resource, or contact the USWP.