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WATER QUALITY INDICES: A SURVEY OF INDICES USED IN THE UNITED STATES
Citation:
Ott, Wayne R. WATER QUALITY INDICES: A SURVEY OF INDICES USED IN THE UNITED STATES. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/4-78/005 (NTIS PB280057).
Description:
This study documents the extent to which water quality indices currently are being used in the United States. It reviews the indices published in the literature and surveys the States and interstate commissions to determine: (1) which agencies are using indices, (2) the type of index being used, (3) the purpose of its use, and (4) the attitudes of agency personnel toward indices. One-fifth of the State and interstate agencies (12 out of 60 agencies) were classified as users of water quality indices. Of the 51 State agencies (including the District of Columbia), 10 States (20 percent) were classified as index users. The National Sanitation Foundation Index was the most commonly used index, accounting for 7 of the 12 index users. The remaining agencies use Harkins' index or various user-developed indices.