Here we report optical data collected as part of a collaborative study between USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Water Mission Area Proxies Project. The optical measurements reported here were collected to aide in the characterization of water sources and mixtures and establish proxies (surrogates) for per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances within the Neshaminy Creek basin. Data are compiled into three tables: 1) full fluorescence spectra in vectorized format, 2) full absorbance spectra, and 3) summary file of commonly extracted optical indicators and field-based sensor arrays.

Optical sensors measuring fluorescence of non-biological sources (e.g., dissolved organic matter, wastewater, hydrocarbons, fluorescent dyes, etc.; hereafter referred to as fDOM) are increasingly used in water quality studies because they provide proxy measurements for a variety of contaminants and constituents of concern including metals, wastewater effluent, and DOM (measured in the lab as dissolved organic carbon, (DOC)) concentrations. Similarly, sensors measuring biological (algal) fluorescence (hereafter referred to as chlorophyll (fChl) and phycocyanin (fPC), have gained popularity to measure phytoplankton concentration, biomass, and even primary productivity. As additional sensors are coupled with ongoing field monitoring, field calibration checks are becoming quite time consuming for even the basic set of sensors (i.e., pH, specific conductivity, turbidity) that require ongoing verification over timescales ranging from weekly to semi-annual intervals. As such, there is a critical need to establish a means to verify calibrations using a simple, fast, and efficient method in the field, allowing for the standardization of United States Geological Survey (USGS) measurements across the entire agency. Here, we present the results of testing a multiparameter field standard (MPFS), an experimental mixed standard solution capable of simultaneously verifying calibrations for multiple fluorescence sensors (fDOM, fChl, and fPC).

Optical sensors measuring fluorescence of non-biological sources (e.g., dissolved organic matter, wastewater, hydrocarbons, fluorescent dyes, etc.; hereafter referred to as fDOM) are increasingly used in water quality studies because they provide proxy measurements for a variety of contaminants and constituents of concern including metals, wastewater effluent, and DOM (measured in the lab as dissolved organic carbon, (DOC)) concentrations. Similarly, sensors measuring biological (algal) fluorescence (hereafter referred to as chlorophyll (fChl) and phycocyanin (fPC), have gained popularity to measure phytoplankton concentration, biomass, and even primary productivity. As additional sensors are coupled with ongoing field monitoring, field calibration checks are becoming quite time consuming for even the basic set of sensors (i.e., pH, specific conductivity, turbidity) that require ongoing verification over timescales ranging from weekly to semi-annual intervals. As such, there is a critical need to establish a means to verify calibrations using a simple, fast, and efficient method in the field, allowing for the standardization of United States Geological Survey (USGS) measurements across the entire agency. Here, we present the results of testing a multiparameter field standard (MPFS), an experimental mixed standard solution capable of simultaneously verifying calibrations for multiple fluorescence sensors (fDOM, fChl, and fPC).

Data were collected at 60 surface water and two effluent sites across Iowa in 2019-2020 by staff from the U.S. Geological Survey Central Midwest Water Science Center. Samples were submitted to the National Water Quality Laboratory in Denver, Colorado, and were analyzed for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

Optical sensors measuring fluorescent dissolved organic matter (fDOM) are increasingly being used in water quality studies because they provide proxy measurements for dissolved organic matter concentrations (DOC). Similarly, chlorophyll-a (chl-a) fluorescence sensors have gained popularity as a means to measure phytoplankton concentration, biomass, and even primary productivity using various approaches. As additional sensors are grouped for in situ monitoring, field calibration checks are becoming quite time consuming for even the basic set of sensors (i.e. pH, specific conductivity, turbidity) that require ongoing verification over timescales ranging from weekly to semi-annual intervals. As such, there is a critical need to establish a means to verify calibrations using a simple, fast, and efficient method in the field to standardize USGS measurements among sensors and across the landscape. Here, we present the results of a mixed standard solution capable of simultaneously verifying calibrations for multiple sensors including fluorescence of dissolved organic matter (fDOM) and fluorescence of chlorophyll-a (fChl).

Optical sensors measuring fluorescent dissolved organic matter (fDOM) are increasingly being used in water quality studies because they provide proxy measurements for dissolved organic matter concentrations (DOC). Similarly, chlorophyll-a (chl-a) fluorescence sensors have gained popularity as a means to measure phytoplankton concentration, biomass, and even primary productivity using various approaches. As additional sensors are grouped for in situ monitoring, field calibration checks are becoming quite time consuming for even the basic set of sensors (i.e. pH, specific conductivity, turbidity) that require ongoing verification over timescales ranging from weekly to semi-annual intervals. As such, there is a critical need to establish a means to verify calibrations using a simple, fast, and efficient method in the field to standardize USGS measurements among sensors and across the landscape. Here, we present the results of a mixed standard solution capable of simultaneously verifying calibrations for multiple sensors including fluorescence of dissolved organic matter (fDOM) and fluorescence of chlorophyll-a (fChl).

The California Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment Program Priority Basin Project (GAMA-PBP) analyzed for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater samples collected from domestic and public drinking water supply wells in California. GAMA-PBP is a cooperative program between the U.S. Geological Survey and the California State Water Resources Control Board. This data release contains data for samples collected from May 2019 through December 2022 and includes revisions to earlier data (Kent, 2021) that were either screened or removed after analysis of quality-control data. Please see the quality-control and other descriptions of the data in the processing steps in the xml file. Subsequent updates will include data for samples collected after December 2022. Data are also publicly available for download from Jurgens and others (2018). The dataset consists of 4 tables. Table 1 lists the names and abbreviations of the twenty-eight PFAS constituents analyzed. Table 2 contains information about each site visited, including location and well depth information. Table 3 contains results for each PFAS constituent analyzed and includes quality-control sample results where applicable. Table 4 contains a list of every sample collected at each site and has a summary of all the PFAS detections for each sample. This data release supercedes previous PFAS data release versions reported by Kent (2021). Version 2.0 of the previous data release (Kent, 2021) contained data for samples collected from May 2019 through June 2021. Data from Kent (2021) is available upon request from the authors of this data release. References: Kent, R.H., 2021, Data sets for: Sampling for Per-and Polyfluoralkly Substances (PFAS) by the GAMA Priority Basin Project (GAMA-PBP)(2019-2021) (ver. 2.0, October 2021): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P92IPRJD. Jurgens, B.C., Jasper, M., Nguyen, D.H., and Bennett, G.L., 2018, USGS CA GAMA-PBP Groundwater Quality Results--Assessment and Trends: U.S. Geological Survey website, available at https://doi.org/10.5066/P91WJ2G1.

The California Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment Program Priority Basin Project (GAMA-PBP) analyzed for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater samples collected from domestic and public drinking water supply wells in California. GAMA-PBP is a cooperative program between the U.S. Geological Survey and the California State Water Resources Control Board. This data release contains data for samples collected from May 2019 through December 2022 and includes revisions to earlier data (Kent, 2021) that were either screened or removed after analysis of quality-control data. Please see the quality-control and other descriptions of the data in the processing steps in the xml file. Subsequent updates will include data for samples collected after December 2022. Data are also publicly available for download from Jurgens and others (2018). The dataset consists of 4 tables. Table 1 lists the names and abbreviations of the twenty-eight PFAS constituents analyzed. Table 2 contains information about each site visited, including location and well depth information. Table 3 contains results for each PFAS constituent analyzed and includes quality-control sample results where applicable. Table 4 contains a list of every sample collected at each site and has a summary of all the PFAS detections for each sample. This data release supercedes previous PFAS data release versions reported by Kent (2021). Version 2.0 of the previous data release (Kent, 2021) contained data for samples collected from May 2019 through June 2021. Data from Kent (2021) is available upon request from the authors of this data release. References: Kent, R.H., 2021, Data sets for: Sampling for Per-and Polyfluoralkly Substances (PFAS) by the GAMA Priority Basin Project (GAMA-PBP)(2019-2021) (ver. 2.0, October 2021): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P92IPRJD. Jurgens, B.C., Jasper, M., Nguyen, D.H., and Bennett, G.L., 2018, USGS CA GAMA-PBP Groundwater Quality Results--Assessment and Trends: U.S. Geological Survey website, available at https://doi.org/10.5066/P91WJ2G1.

This data release provides concentration results for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) collected by volunteer community members, in tapwater samples from 84 private residences, in select areas within the United States. Samples were collected July 1, 2023, through October 3, 2024. Samples were analyzed at the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) in Denver, Colorado. Exact site location information for these sites is not available because of privacy concerns.

This data release provides concentration results for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) collected by volunteer community members, in tapwater samples from 83 private residences, in select areas within the United States. Samples were collected July 1, 2023, through November 10, 2023. Samples were analyzed at the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) in Denver, Colorado. Exact site location information for these sites is not available because of privacy concerns.