The National Center for Water Quality Research

Founded in 1969, the National Center for Water Quality Research (NCWQR) is a leader in surface water and groundwater research in the Great Lakes region and beyond. Our new facilities, built in 2005 and housed in Gillmor Hall, allow us to perform high quality chemical analysis for fresh water samples as well as biological assessment of aquatic communities.  The information provided by the data we gather allows our staff chemists, biologists and statisticians to collaborate in research efforts and formulate new ideas about the status of water quality, the effects of water quality on aquatic living systems and future implications for the availability of clean, usable water.  To date, our research scientists have generated several hundred scholarly publications and a wealth of water quality data concerning Lake Erie and numerous streams and groundwater wells across the nation.  Check the many resources that are readily accessible through our website links at left.   

Our Mission

The NCWQR supports the sustainable use of our nation's water resources and the protection of human health and ecological integrity as they are affected by the quality of these resources.