Prioritizing water availability study settings to address geogenic contaminants and related societal factors.

ABSTRACT: Water availability for human and ecological uses depends on both water quantity and water quality. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is developing strategies for prioritizing regional-scale and watershed basin-scale studies of water availability across the nation. Previous USGS ranking processes for basin-scale studies incorporated primarily water quantity factors but are now considering additional water quality factors. This study presents a ranking based on the potential impacts of geogenic constituents on water quality and consideration of societal factors related to water quality. High-concentration geogenic constituents, including trace elements and radionuclides, are among the most prevalent contaminants limiting water availability in the USA and globally. Geogenic constituents commo

SUBMITTER: Erickson ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10894127 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature