This Network Update was distributed via the Exchange Network email alerts list on March 22, 2007.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proud to announce the release of the Water Quality Exchange (WQX) Version 1.0, a new Exchange Network flow for water quality data exchange among the EPA and its data partners. The WQX schema is based on the Environmental Sampling, Analysis and Results (ESAR) standard, which is EPA's standard for sharing water, solid waste and air quality data. It also utilizes EPA's Substance Registry System (SRS) as its standard for Physical/Chemical data. More information regarding the WQX exchange can be found on the Exchange Network website at: http://www.exchangenetwork.net/exchanges/water/wqx.htm.

The Water Quality Exchange is designed to flow the multiple aspects of water quality monitoring data among the EPA and its data partners. Version 1.0 of WQX supports the flow of Physical/Chemical data, Fish Tissue data and Microbiological data. Biological Monitoring data and Habitat data will be added to the WQX flow in the Version 2.0 release scheduled for mid-2008. All data submitted through WQX will flow to the same STORET Warehouse as data that were previously submitted via the distributed STORET system flow. For additional information about the STORET Warehouse and WQX, please visit the STORET website at http://www.epa.gov/storet, or contact the STORET Team via email: storet@epa.gov.