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Status of Water-Quality Conditions in the United States, 2010–20

Professional Paper 1894-C
Water Availability and Use Science Program and National Water Quality Program
By: , , , , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1894C

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Abstract

Degradation of water quality can make water harmful or unusable for humans and ecosystems. Although many studies have assessed the effect of individual constituents or narrow suites of constituents on freshwater systems, no consistent, comprehensive assessment exists over the wide range of water-quality effects on water availability. Using published studies, data, and models completed at regional or national scales in the United States during 2010–20, this chapter moves towards a comprehensive assessment by summarizing how selected anthropogenic and geogenic water-quality constituents affect national-scale water availability for human and ecosystem needs. Several types of human health, agricultural, ecological, and beneficial-use standards or thresholds were used to provide context for categorizing surface-water and groundwater quality.

Water availability for human and ecological use is limited by elevated concentrations of geogenic and anthropogenic constituents in surface and groundwater. Elevated concentrations of five geogenic constituents (arsenic, manganese, strontium, radium, and adjusted gross alpha) are common in groundwater and collectively affect the drinking water supply to over 30 million people. Surface water sourced drinking water supplies are impaired in about a third of assessed stream miles, most commonly because of non-mercury metals and salinity. Health-based violations at community water systems may disproportionately affect socially vulnerable communities. Ecological water uses are predominantly limited by nutrients, sediment, temperature, pathogens, salinity, and pesticides.

Water availability for human and ecological use is adversely affected by human activities including human contaminant sources (for example, wastewater, agriculture), processes (for example, dredging, groundwater pumping), or permanent landscape modifications (for example, dams, urbanization). Primary contaminant sources vary spatially and include fertilizer and manure, atmospheric deposition, wastewater treatment plants, urban land, and a range of natural sources. Contaminants of emerging concern, contaminants without regulatory thresholds, and mixtures of geogenic and anthropogenic water contaminants also contribute to ecological degradation and human exposure.

Suggested Citation

Erickson, M.L., Miller, O.L., Cashman, M.J., Degnan, J.R., Reddy, J.E., Martinez, A.J., and Azadpour, E., 2025, Status of water-quality conditions in the United States, 2010–20, chap. C of U.S. Geological Survey Integrated Water Availability Assessment—2010–20: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1894–C, 85 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1894C.

ISSN: 2330-7102 (online)

Table of Contents

  • Preface
  • Abstract
  • Key Points
  • Introduction
  • Quality of Surface-Water Resources
  • Quality of Groundwater Resources
  • Groundwater–Surface Water Interactions and Chemical Mixtures
  • Alternative Water Resources
  • Summary
  • Acknowledgments
  • References Cited
  • Appendix 1. Information About Linked Interactive Maps
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Status of water-quality conditions in the United States, 2010–20
Series title Professional Paper
Series number 1894
Chapter C
DOI 10.3133/pp1894C
Year Published 2025
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Description Report: ix, 85 p.; 2 Software Releases; 4 Interactive Maps
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details