Databases & Mapping

It is possible to view the water quality assessments and water quality reporting process from various resources. Understanding a few key concepts and tools can help facilitate this process.

Databases

The Assessment Database - The Assessment Database, or simply the ADB, is a Microsoft Access database designed to store water quality assessments. The assessment database is being upgraded to an Oracle-based data system. With the Oracle-based ADB, it will be possible to connect to the database through an Open Database (ODBC) Connection and retrieve data directly from the database via select queries. Currently, it is possible to view the latest assessments by downloading a state's most recently available ADB file. One thing to note about the assessment database is that it stores water quality assessments and not water quality data. For example, one record in the assessment database would show the designated uses for a water body, when it was last sampled, who sampled it, and whether the water body is clean enough to support its designated uses.

STORET - The STORET (STORage and RETrieval) database holds water quality data from numerous sources. Also, all water quality data used to make water quality assessments and all EPA-funded water quality sampling data must be included in the STORET database.

EDAS - The Ecological Data Application System (EDAS) is designed to enable the user to easily manage, aggregate, integrate, and analyze data to make informed decisions regarding the condition of water resources. It allows users to migrate their data with ease to EPA's STORET, as well as analyze bioassessment data that resides in STORET.

A description of how to use the assessment database and how to link GIS files to assessment information and water quality data is available on the EPA Georeferencing web site.

Mapping

Reach Indexing - Reach indexing is a process by which State-defined water body segments are drawn on a map and defined with a Geographic Information System (GIs). Once streams are reach indexed to a GIs, it is possible to map all of the stream segments for a given state and link the stream segments to data stored in the ADB and in STORET.

National Listing of Fish and Wildlife Advisories (NLFWA) - The NLFWA database includes all available information describing state-, tribal-, and federally-issued fish consumption advisories in the United States for the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. Territories, and in Canada for the 12 provinces and territories. The database contains information provided to EPA by the states, tribes, territories and Canada.

Watershed Assessment Tracking and Environmental ResultS (WATERS) WATERS connects several independent and unconnected databases and displays the information by generating maps and reports.

National Hydrography Dataset - The National Hydrography Dataset is a comprehensive coverage of hydrographic data for the US It was developed by combining EPA Reach File version 3 (RF3) and the USGS Digital Line Graph (DLG) coverages

EnviroMapper for Water - EnviroMapper for Water is a web-based Geographic Information System (GIs) application that displays information about bodies of water in the United States. This interactive tool allows you to create customized maps that portray the nation's surface waters along with a collection of environmental data. If you have a web browser, you can generate maps using EnviroMapper for Water.