Introduction
The CSI database encompasses two distinct data sets, one for groundwater and one for streams and lakes (surface water). The groundwater portion of the database contains certified test results from private drinking water wells. The surface water portion of the database contains results from over two hundred monitoring locations on streams and lakes that are sampled and tested on a regular basis through ongoing partnerships between the Community Science Institute and teams of trained volunteers.
Maps and graphs are provided to aid visitors in understanding and interpreting results. Both the groundwater and the surface water portions of the database can be queried using multiple search criteria, and search results may be downloaded free of charge. All data have been produced in the CSI lab, in labs with which CSI subcontracts, or by volunteers trained and supported by CSI. The internal methodological consistency of the CSI database strengthens its utility as a baseline for assessing risk and identifying changes in water quality over time.
The Community Science Institute's online database has been in development since September 2007.
All of the data in this archive have been generated in programs that have been designed and carried out by the Community Science Institute. The details of how water samples are collected and analyzed vary among our monitoring programs, depending on the extent of volunteer involvement.
Inquiries about our methods are welcome, and details will be provided on request. CSI's over-arching goal is to maintain a high level of data quality such that results can be used with confidence by governments and private citizens to manage water resources in local and regional contexts.