Water Quality Monitoring Water Quality Monitoring Water quality monitoring consists of data collection and sample analysis performed using accepted protocols and quality control procedures. Monitoring also includes subsequent analysis of the body of data to support decisionmaking. Federal, Interstate, State, Territorial, Tribal, Regional, and local agencies, industry, and volunteer groups with approved quality assurance programs monitor a combination of chemical, physical, and biological water quality parameters throughout the country. The chemical data may be analyzed in water samples, fish tissue samples, or sediment samples.
Biological data measure the health of aquatic communities.
Biological data include counts of aquatic species that indicate healthy ecological conditions. Monitoring agencies vary parameters, sampling frequency, and sampling site selection to meet program objectives and funding constraints. Sampling may be conducted at fixed sampling stations, randomly selected stations, stations near suspected water quality problems, or stations in pristine waters.