BASINS is a multi-purpose environmental analysis system that integrates a geographical information system (GIS), national watershed data, and state-of-the-art environmental assessment and modeling tools into one convenient package. /waterscience/basins/

AQUATOX is a freshwater ecosystem simulation model. It predicts the fate of various pollutants, such as nutrients and organic toxicants, and their effects on the ecosystem, including fish, invertebrates, and aquatic plants. AQUATOX is a valuable tool for ecologists, water quality modelers, and anyone involved in performing ecological risk assessments for aquatic ecosystems. /waterscience/models/aquatox/

CORMIX is a mixing zone model that can be used to assess water quality impacts from point source discharges at surface or sub-surface levels. /waterscience/models/cormix.html

HSPF is a continuous simulation watershed scale model for estimating instream concentrations resulting from loadings from point and nonpoint sources. WinHSPF is a user friendly windows interface that allows for easy development of graphical interface tools to view simulation elements. These graphical tools help the user develop a deeper understanding of the assumptions and abstractions inherent in watershed modeling.

PLOAD is a simple pollutant loading model. PLOAD estimates nonpoint sources of pollution on an annual average basis, for any user-specified pollutant, using either the export coefficient or simple method approach.

QUAL2K (or Q2K) (Enhanced Stream Water Quality Model, Windows) is a river and stream water quality model that is intended to represent a modernized version of the QUAL2E (or Q2E) model (Brown and Barnwell 1987). Q2K is similar to Q2E http://www.epa.gov/athens/wwqtsc/html/qual2k.html

SWAT is a physically based watershed scale mode. It was developed to predict the impacts of land management practices on water, sediment and agricultural chemical yields in large complex watersheds with varying soil, land uses and management conditions over long periods of time.

GWLF is an empirically based model to determine streamflow, and nutrient and sediment loading from a watershed given variable-size source areas (i.e., agricultural, forested, and developed land). It also has algorithms for calculating septic system loads, and allows for the inclusion of point source discharge data. It is a continuous simulation model which uses daily time steps for weather data and water balance calculations. Monthly calculations are made for sediment and nutrient loads, based on the daily water balance accumulated to monthly values. GWLF is not currently included in the BASINS software package however classes are occasionally offered at various locations. Information will be provided when they occur.

WASP is a generalized framework for modeling water quality and contaminant fate and transport in surface waters. It is used primarily to investigate the water quality response to management actions, primarily point and nonpoint source load reduction. WASP can model biochemical oxygen demand and dissolved oxygen dynamics, nutrients and eutrophication, bacterial contamination, and organic chemical and heavy metal contamination. It is designed to permit easy substitution of user-written routines into the program structure. WASP can be applied in one, two, or three dimensions and it allows for graphical presentation of results. WASP is not part of the BASINS software package however classes are occasionally offered at EPA Regional Offices and information will be provided on their availability. http://www.epa.gov/region4/water/tmdl/tools/wasp.htm

Water Quality Standards Academy: Basic Course is a comprehensive and highly structured course that introduces students to all aspects of the water quality standards program, including the interpretation and application of water quality standards regulation; policies and program guidance; the development of water quality criteria (human health, aquatic life, sediment, and biological); and all other facets of the water program. The 5-day course is aimed at states, territories, tribes, environmental groups, industrial groups, municipalities, the academic community, federal agencies, and other interested parties. Water Quality Standards Academy Web Page

The objective of the NPDES Permit Writers' Training Course is to provide National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit writers' with the basic regulatory framework and technical considerations that support the development of wastewater discharge permits as required under the NPDES Permit Program. The course is designed for new permit writers, highlighting the process of developing, issuing and complying with NPDES permits. The format of the course is a combination of lecture, case examples, and practical exercises that are geared to acquaint participants with the tools and resources available to assist them in writing NPDES permits. Permit Writers' Training Course Website.

STORET (short for STOrage and RETrieval) is a repository for water quality, biological, and physical data and is used by state environmental agencies, EPA and other federal agencies, universities, private citizens, and many others. STORET training website.

Other Water Topics:
Drinking Water | Wastewater Management | Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds

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