AVAILABILITY OF GROUND-WATER DATA ON THE INTERNET IN THE UNITED STATES

The Internet has created an entirely new way by which ground-water information is stored, accessed, and retrieved. An increasing number of online search engines give us access to ground-water publications, images, maps, and data right in our own offices and homes. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) leads the nation in serving ground-water data to the public, and USGS online datasets are specifically geared towards dissemination of these data. USGS ground-water data are included in the National Water Information System (available through http://water.usgs.gov/). Two USGS water-level networks known as the Climate Response Network and the Real-Time Water-Level Data Network give access to real-time water-level data and various data-analysis tools. Many state water agencies also serve their data online. The USGS Office of Ground Water compiled a table of 42 state agencies that includes information about ground-water data from over 2.2 million wells throughout the United States. Twenty-six of these agencies provide text-based search capabilities to query the data; 18 provide some sort of map interface.

In Ohio, State and Federal agencies developed a metadata database for ground-water data. The metadata were compiled into a database available at http://www.ohiowaterdata.info. The database includes information about the data sets, not the data themselves. To ensure accuracy and updates, the data owners enter and maintain all metadata through the Web site. Other groups are considering a similar approach by proposing a national clearinghouse of ground-water data.

Even with the proliferation of online data access, many reports, theses, dissertations, and consultant reports are still available only as hard copy. Lack of quick and easy access to this body of hard-copy material is a significant problem not currently addressed by State and Federal agencies and is a problem that will require considerable time and resources to solve.