Waters network - Transforming the way the US assesses water quality and manages this valuable and threatened resource

The US has established the WATERS network, a system of national observatories with sensors to gather environmental and socio-economic data, and an infrastructure for sharing, storing, analyzing and drawing information from the data. The system aims to understand and quantify the impacts to water resources to enable better management and protection of this valuable asset. The system will transform scientific understanding of complex environment and social systems and improve the assessment and management of water resources. The network incorporates existing and new environmental and socio-economic data at various spatial and temporal scales. Data includes physical, chemical and biological information to characterize air, water, land and socio-economic and behavioral information. Real-time data resources, analytical tools and models, networking tools and education and outreach devices of network ensure the efficiency of network to maintain water quality.