Toxic substances hydrology programs of the U.S. Geological survey

The US Geological Survey has been investigating ground-water and surface-water contamination for more than 100 years. Currently, more than half the Geological Survey's annual funding of about $280 million for water-related activities is spent on applied and basic research and associated data collection related to ground-water and surface-water quality. Among the problems that this research and data collection address are those related to point and nonpoint sources of contamination of ground water and surface water by organic, inorganic, and radioactive substances. Research being carried out by the Geological Survey includes process-oriented and regional contamination studies of heavy metals, hydrocarbons, organic solvents, and agricultural chemicals in the Toxic Substances Hydrology Program; high-and low-level radioactive waste studies in the Nuclear Waste Hydrology Program; studies of irrigation-induced contamination by selenium in the National Irrigation Drainage Program; and a number of National Research Program studies such as those related to coupled fluid flow and research activities relative to ground-water and surface-water contamination will continue to grow in the Geological Survey's effort to assist the US in addressing concerns about the quality of the water resources of the Nation and the prudent stewardship of these resources