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Advanced Query User Guide
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
This web site provides query access to over 200 million monitoring records originally reported to EPA via the Legacy STORET System.
Need help with the Advanced Query? Read the following explanations of the items in the Advanced Query and follow the links to their definitions in the Glossary. Please feel free to send us Feedback on the usability of this page.
Step 1 - Station Information
The following must be completed to obtain a report.
- Station Type: Click on at least one box next to Surface Water, Groundwater, or Pipe in order to restrict your query by station type indicator.
- Organization Code / Station ID: Type in an organization code of up to 8 characters, or click 'Look Up' to select a code from the list. Please note that you may only get a report for one Organization per query. View a list of all stations associated with this Organization by clicking 'Search'. If too many stations are returned for this search, you will not be able to view the list. Instead, you will be returned to the Advanced Query Page so that you may add station ID search criteria. You may limit the number of stations by typing in the first few characters of the station ID in the box to the left of the 'Search' button before searching. Select one or more stations from the list box in the new window by holding down the Control button on your keyboard while left clicking with the mouse. Clicking the 'Select' button will add the selected stations to the text field below the search textbox. Clicking 'Cancel' will close the new window without adding any new stations. Station IDs of up to 15 characters may also be entered directly into the text field, separated by commas. You must provide at least one station ID if an organization code has been selected in order to obtain a report.
- Latitude / Longitude: Enter northern, southern, eastern, and western limits in order to restrict the query to stations located within the designated rectangle. All four fields (degrees, minutes, seconds, and direction) must be completed for all four directions in order for the query to be accepted. Valid values for each of the fields are as follows: Latitude degrees must be whole numbers between 0 and positive 90, while longitude degrees must be whole numbers between 0 and positive 180. Minutes must be whole number between 0 and 59. Seconds may be a number between 0 and 59 with up to six decimal places. Each "x" on the Advanced Query form represents the format the latitude or longitude may take. Please note that Southern latitudes and Western longitudes are treated as negative numbers (e.g., 10°20'30" S is less than 5°20'30" S). To retrieve the range between the two latitudes, enter 5°20'30" S as the Northern Limit and 10°20'30" S as the Southern Limit.
- State/County: First, select the appropriate geopolitical boundary (U.S. State, Territory, Tribe, or Canada) from the drop down list box under 'State'. Second, either type in the desired county or province for your geopolitical region or click the 'Look Up' button to select from a list. You must enter one and only one county if you have selected a state. If you later decide that you do not want to include geopolitical information, select the first option in the list, 'No State Selected' and remove any information from the county text box.
- Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC): Type in an appropriate FIPS HUC or click 'Look Up' to select a HUC from a list box. Supplying this information will restrict the query to stations within the specified HUC.
- Count Stations: This button will calculate the number of stations that fulfill all of the station criteria.
All other information is optional
Step 2 - Sample Criteria
- Beginning Date: Type in a minimum date for your query. Only samples with a start date on or after this date will be returned. Enter the two digit month followed by a hyphen, the two digit day followed by a hyphen, and then the four digit year. Deviations from this format will result in an error when trying to submit the form.
- Ending Date: Type in a maximum date for your query. Only samples with a start date on or before this date will be returned. Enter the two digit month followed by a hyphen, the two digit day followed by a hyphen, and then the four digit year. Deviations from this format will result in an error when trying to submit the form.
- Sample Depth: Type in a numeric (no letters, symbols, etc.) minimum and/or maximum sample depth for your query. Decimal values of up to two decimal places are allowed. Please Note: Sample depth is relative to the surface. This means there are no negative numbers and 30 is lower than 10.
- Sample Type: Click the boxes next to Continuous or Grab to limit your search by sample type. If both fields are left blank, all samples, classified or not, will be included in your search. If you check one or both fields, only the samples labeled as such will be included.
- Count Samples: This button will calculate the number of stations and samples that fulfill all of the station and sample criteria.
Step 3 - Results Criteria
- Result Remark: Choose whether or not remarked and unremarked samples should be included in the query. Checking a single box will limit the query to either results that are remarked or unremarked. Checking both will include all results.
- Parameter Code: Type in a list of five digit parameter codes, separated by commas, or click 'Look Up' to select from the list. You may choose one or more parameter codes by holding down the Control button on your keyboard and left clicking with the mouse. Only the results with the specified parameters will be returned in the report.
- Composite Statistic: Select a specific composite statistic to limit your query. You may select more than one composite statistic by pressing the Control button on your keyboard while left clicking with the mouse. Once you have made any selections in the listbox, you may remove all selections by clicking the "Clear" button to the right of the Composite Statistic list box. Please note that you will not be allowed to submit your query if you have chosen one or more composite statistics but have not checked the Continuous option in the Sample Type section of Step 2.
Step 4 - Submit Form
- Done: When you have completed the form with all of the relevant search criteria filled in, click on the "Done" button to submit the form and get a report. If you have violated any of the requirements listed above, you will receive a javascript message describing each of the errors. You must make the appropriate changes before your form can be submitted.
- Clear Form: If you would like to remove all of the search criteria you have added to the form, click the 'Clear Form' button.