HAWQS (Hydrologic and Water Quality System)
The Hydrologic and Water Quality System (HAWQS) Beta is a web-based interactive water quantity and water quality modeling system that employs as its core modeling engine the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) Exit, an internationally-recognized public domain model. HAWQS provides users with interactive web interfaces and maps; pre-loaded input data; outputs that include tables, charts, and graphs; a user’s guide, and online development, execution, and storage of a user’s modeling projects.
HAWQS will expand EPA’s repertoire of water quality decision support systems by including a modeling system that can simulate water quality impacts across very large geographic areas from watershed management decisions.
EPA's Office of Water has supported and provided project management and funding for HAWQS. The Texas A&M University Spatial Sciences Laboratory and EPA subject matter experts provide ongoing technical support including system design, modeling, and software development. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Texas A&M University jointly developed SWAT and have actively supported the model for more than 25 years.
HAWQS Beta, which was released in June, 2016 will be used to identify additional enhancements and features by engaging individuals who will use HAWQS to support policy, regulatory or other water quality decision-making.
HAWQS Beta Webcast Schedule and Registration
- August 16, 2016 HAWQS Beta Webcast.
- Note – a closed caption version of the August 16 webcast will be available in late October. If you need assistance, please email us at hawqs@epa.gov.
All users can report bugs and provide general feedback. In addition, following the release of HAWQS Beta, the HAWQS Project Team will engage specific users to assist with beta testing and to identify additional features for future releases.
Prospective HAWQS users and beta testers should be individuals with education and experience with water modeling who can contribute to enhance the existing product. Visit the HAWQS website directly here. You will be required to register and the HAWQS Administrator will then review your information prior to granting access.
The Hydrologic and Water Quality System (HAWQS) is a web-based interactive water quantity and quality modeling system that employs as its core modeling engine the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), an internationally-recognized public domain model. HAWQS provides users with interactive web interfaces and maps; pre-loaded input data; outputs that include tables, charts, and raw output data; a user guide; and online development, execution, and storage of a user’s modeling projects.
HAWQS substantially enhances the usability of SWAT to simulate the effects of management practices based on an extensive array of crops, soils, natural vegetation types, land uses, and climate change scenarios for hydrology and the following water quality parameters:
- Sediment
- Dissolved oxygen
- Pathogens
- Pesticides
- Nutrients
- Water temperature
- Biological oxygen demand
HAWQS users can select from three watershed scales, or hydrologic unit codes (HUCs) — 8-digit ~700mi2, 10-digit ~227 mi2, 12-digit ~40mi2 — to run simulations. HAWQS allows for further aggregation and scalability of daily, monthly, and annual estimates of water quality across large geographic areas up to and including the continental United States.
How HAWQS Works
- The user creates a project for a modeling scenario and changes the variables and inputs using web interfaces.
- To run the simulation, HAWQS connects with the latest version of SWAT Model to process the inputs, data and other information for the scenario.
- SWAT finishes processing and generates outputs; HAWQS stores outputs centrally.
- Users can view results through a web interface, save results, and run additional scenarios.
Why Use HAWQS?
- HAWQS is seamlessly integrated with the latest version of the SWAT Model. SWAT, with more than 2,500 peer-reviewed publications, has been in use for more than 25 years.
- HAWQS integrates SWAT check to identify potential model problems.
- Scenarios can be run at three different watershed scales.
- HAWQS deploys pre-loaded input data — no need to prepare input data such as point source, land use, and/or agricultural practices. Users can also load custom input data when necessary.
- Modeling projects are performed through a web browser and projects, scenarios, input data, and output data are centrally stored, reducing users' computing requirements.
- Users can download results in commonly used tabular and chart formats (csv, txt, jpg, png).
HAWQS Data Sources
Watershed Boundary
USGS, HUC 8,10, and 12
Livestock and Crops
USDA-NASS
Aerial Deposition
National Atmospheric Deposition Program
Reservoirs
USACE National Inventory of Dams
Soil
USDA-NRCS STATSGO
Land Use
NLCD and CDL
Weather
PRISM (1967-2010)
Elevation
USGS National Elevation Dataset
Management Data
NRCS CDL