Water, Sanitation, Hygiene

According to the Centers for Disease Control, global access to safe water, adequate sanitation, and proper hygiene education can reduce illness and death from disease, leading to improved health, poverty reduction, and socio-economic development. However, many countries are challenged to provide these basic necessities to their populations, leaving people at risk for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)-related diseases. Resources available within this theme offer information on providing access to safe water and appropriate sanitation facilities, and introducing sound hygiene behaviors.

Water, Sanitation, Hygiene Resources

Water Quality After Wildfire

Publication date:
July 21, 2021
Relatively new research has been aimed at the impacts of wildfires on the quality of drinking water and on water-dependent natural resources. Wildfires are devastating and can lead to long-term changes to the landscape. With a significant amount of our Nation's drinking water sources...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States

National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA)

Publication date:
July 21, 2021
The National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) has produced scientific data and knowledge that is used by national, regional, state, and local agencies to develop science-based policies and management strategies to improve and protect water resources used for drinking water, recreation, irrigation,...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States

Urban Land Use and Water Quality

Publication date:
July 21, 2021
In urbanized areas, small streams are often overlooked or forgotten, but these streams can reduce contamination, ease flash flooding, and improve the esthetics and livability of our daily environment. Contaminants, habitat destruction, and streamflow flashiness resulting from urban development...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States

Public Supply Wells

Publication date:
July 21, 2021
The USGS National Water Quality Program investigates the quality of water pumped from public-supply wells across the United States. These wells are the source of drinking water and water for other household needs for more than one-third of the U.S. population. There are about 140,000 public water...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States

Rain and Precipitation

Publication date:
July 21, 2021
Rain and snow are key elements in the Earth's water cycle, which is vital to all life on Earth. Rainfall is the main way that the water in the skies comes down to Earth, where it fills our lakes and rivers, recharges the underground aquifers, and provides drinks to plants and animals. Water...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States

Agriculture and the Quality of the Nation's Waters

Publication date:
July 21, 2021
Intensive studies by the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Project in agricultural areas provide insight into how agricultural activities have altered the natural flow of water and the way that agricultural chemicals enter streams and aquifers, and in particular how nutrients affect...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States

Sediment Sampling and Data Processing

Publication date:
July 21, 2021
Sediment can be transported as suspended load (moves with the flow of the river) or as bedload (rolls along the riverbed) or can be deposited on the riverbed or bank. Sediment is naturally occurring and essential to supporting the ecological function of a water body. High sediment concentrations in...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States

Rapid Fluctuations in Groundwater Quality

Publication date:
July 21, 2021
As part of the National Water Quality Program, USGS scientists are investigating why, in some areas and at some depths, groundwater quality changes at short timescales: years to months to days to even hours, rather than decades. These fluctuations often occur in areas where groundwater and surface...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States

Clean Water and Reproductive Justice: Lack of Access Harms Women of Color

Publication date:
July 22, 2021
Access to clean, potable water is critical to people’s daily lives. People need safe and reliable water to drink, to bathe, to wash their hands, to cook, to survive and, ultimately, to prosper. Despite the necessity of water, millions of individuals living in the United States face the daily...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States

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