US Geological Survey

Scientific agency of the United States Department of the Interior, founded in 1879 and based at Reston in Virginia, which studies the country's land, water, natural hazards and biological resources. Runs the national water quality programmes measuring pesticides, pharmaceuticals, metals and emerging contaminants in rivers, groundwater and drinking water, studies the effects of contaminants on fish and wildlife through its environmental health programme, operates analytical laboratories and monitoring networks and publishes data and methods used by regulators and researchers.