The amount of minerals and other matter dissolved in water determines how that water can be used. Contamination of water, either from natural sources or human activities, can severely reduce its biological and economic value. Contamination of water, either from natural sources or human activities, can severely reduce its biological and economic value. Though considerable progress has been made over the last few decades in limiting levels of many types of contaminants in water supplies, it is clear that chemical contamination of water cannot be entirely prevented. SNR researchers are exploring many issues related to water quality such as:

• improved methods for detecting chemical contaminants
• causes for surface water contamination from algal toxins and nutrients
• methods for cleanup of pesticide and explosives contamination
• effects of chemicals to aquatic life and populations
• methods for measuring new contaminants such as pharmaceuticals and hormones
• using stable isotopes to determine the sources of water contaminants
• occurrence and control of pesticides, nitrate, arsenic, uranium in drinking water supplies