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There is a significant need for a science‐based approach to interpret water‐monitoring data and to facilitate the rapid transfer of information to water resource managers and the general public. The water quality Index (WQI) is defined as a single numeric score that describes the surface water quality condition at a particular time and location. The objective of this paper is to describe the WQI concept and the approach for developing an ecoregion‐specific standardized WQI that meets the needs described above. The premise of the proposed WQI is based on categorizing scientifically documented aquatic life responses to changes in instream water chemistry. The method uses an aggregated procedure that matches the entire range of standardized probable biological responses to standardized narrative water quality evaluation categories and standardized rank score categories. The calculation of WQI and decision‐making process are performed within an Excel spreadsheet software program. The article includes examples of the proposed WQI applications that could enhance effective water resource management and facilitate timely communication of water quality conditions to water resource managers and the general public.

Traditional research has focused on the visible effects of corrosion--failures, leaks, and financial debits--and often overlooked the more hidden health and aesthetic aspects. Clearly, corrosion of copper pipe can lead to levels of copper in the drinking water that exceed health guidelines and cause bitter or metallic tasting water. Because water will continue to be conveyed to consumers worldwide through metal pipes, the water industry has to consider both the effects of water quality on corrosion and the effects of corrosion on water quality. Integrating four key factors--chemical/biological causes, economics, health and aesthetics--is critical for managing the distribution system to produce safe water that consumers will use with confidence. As technological developments improve copper pipes to minimize scaling and corrosion, it is essential to consider the health and aesthetic effects on an equal plane with chemical/biological causes and economics to produce water that is acceptable for public consumption.

Engineers are increasingly expected to consider several influential criteria when selecting a single best management practice (BMP) for stormwater management. These criteria include site physical characteristics; local, state, and federal pollution control ordinances; stakeholder input, and BMP implementation and long‐term maintenance costs. This paper discusses the development of a software‐aided approach based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as a decision‐making tool for selecting stormwater management BMPs. Supported with input from a geographic information system, the AHP can provide an objective, mathematically‐based alternative to the existing, often subjective BMP selection approaches. In this study, the developed AHP decision support software was applied in a demonstration site in the Town of Blacksburg, Virginia. First, the AHP decision support algorithm was applied to evaluate and rank BMP options for the demonstration site. Second, the EPA Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) was used to effectively model the BMPs recommended by the AHP software. Results indicate potential advantages over traditional BMP selection methods.