User Assistance

• Help system
• How to navigate this site
• Glossary of water terms
• Search for a topic - type in a keyword
• Links to other water-related Web sites
• How to reference our pages in your work
• General disclaimer

Water Basics

• Water basics menu
  • Properties of water
  • Common water measurements
  • Diagram of pH
  • Capillary action
  • The water in you
  • True-False quiz on water properties

Earth's Water

• Earth's water menu
  • Where is Earth's water located?
  • Earth's water distribution
  • How much water is there on (and in) the Earth?
• The Water Cycle
  • Follow this drip through the water cycle
  • See how a 2nd grade Australian class views the water cycle
• The water around us
  • Rain
    • Why raindrops are different sizes
    • Are raindrops tear-shaped?
  • Surface-water menu
    • Surface water use
    • Importance of surface water
    • Rivers and streams
    • Runoff
    • Rivers and the landscape
      • Sediment in rivers
      • Comparing river lengths
    • Lakes and reservoirs
    • How is flow in a stream measured?
    • Detailed explanation of streamflow
    • How does stream height relate to flow?
  • Ground water menu
    • What is ground water
    • Groundwater flow diagrams
    • Ground water use
    • Importance of ground water
    • Trends in ground-water use
    • Ground-water quality
    • Pesticides in ground water
    • Nutrients in our water
    • What is an aquifer?
    • Water wells
    • What is an artesian well?
    • Sinkholes
    • Land subsidence
  • Glaciers and icecaps
  • EPA's Surf Your Watershed

Special Topics

• Special topics menu
  • Water Quality
    • Effects of urbanization on water quality
    • Ground-water quality
    • Nutrients in our water
    • Pesticides in ground water
    • River quality: Kid's view
  • The effects of urbanization on the water system
  • Water for cities
  • How wet is your state?
  • Storytime: You build the town of Dryville
  • Water shortage! How would you handle it?
  • Acid rain
  • Saline water
    • What do we use saline water for?
    • Thirsty? How 'bout a cool, refreshing cup of seawater?
    • Why is the ocean salty?

Water use in the United States

• Water use menu
  • Water use by category
    • Summary of water use in the United States in 1990
      • National source and use of water diagram for 1995
      • National water source -- water-disposition diagram for 1995
      • Map: Fresh water withdrawals, by county, for the U.S. in 1995
      • 3-D map of national water use in 1990
      • Trends in water use, 1950-90 diagram
    • Ground-water use summary
    • Surface-water use summary
    • Domestic water use
    • Commercial water use
    • Public supply water use
    • Irrigation water use
    • Livestock water use
    • Industrial water use
    • Mining water use
    • Thermoelectric power water use
    • Hydroelectric power water use
    • Wastewater treatment water use
  • Storytime: You build the town of Dryville
  • How much is a million gallons?
  • Water-use maps
  • Water-use data

The Activity Center

• Activity Center overview
• Questionnaires
  1. Where does your home drinking water come from?
  2. What kind of drinking water do you use at home?
  3. How much water do you use at home on a typical day?
• Opinion Surveys
  1. What do you think the biggest water problem will be in the next decade?
  2. How do you rank water concerns with other environmental issues?
  3. Water shortage! How would you handle this water crisis?
  4. Vote for your favorite water body
• Challenge Questions
  1. How much water does it take to grow a hamburger?
  2. How many baths can you get from a rainstorm?
  3. What are the properties of water? (True/False)
  4. How much water does a dripping faucet waste?

Water Questions and Answers

• Water Questions & Answers overview
  • Water use in the United States
  • USGS water data and measurements
  • Water use in your home
  • Chemistry and water
  • Other items of interest

Galleries

• Galleries overview
  • The Water Science Picture Gallery
  • The Water Science Map Gallery
  • The Water Science Data Library

Acknowledgements