Understanding the condition of our nation's water resources, identifying what caused problems, and determining how to solve these problems are essential but difficult undertakings. The natural water cycle is itself intricate, and the addition of human activities increased this complexity. Consequently, answering the basic question "How clean and safe is our water?" is not easy. One way to present the condition of our water resources and the impacts of related human activities is to develop understandable measures, or indicators, that singly or in combination provide information on water quality. Managers and scientists can then use this information to develop effective solutions and make sound decisions to protect our water resources. It is important to note that environmental indicators can be used to measure a variety of phenomena. Indicators can present information on status or trends in the state of the environment, can measure pressures or stressors that degrade environmental quality, and can evaluate society's responses aimed at improving environmental conditions.