# Usgs Water Scraper (`quarterly_jingo/usgs-water-scraper`) Actor

- **URL**: https://apify.com/quarterly\_jingo/usgs-water-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [Petey Boy](https://apify.com/quarterly_jingo) (community)
- **Categories:** Lead generation, Automation, Developer tools
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

Pay per usage

This Actor is paid per platform usage. The Actor is free to use, and you only pay for the Apify platform usage, which gets cheaper the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-usage

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

## USGS Water Services Scraper

### Overview

Access real-time and historical water data from USGS including streamflow, water levels, groundwater, precipitation, and water temperature. Filter by location, date range, and parameter type. No authentication required.

### Features

- Search by keywords to find specific results
- Filter results by category or type
- Export data in JSON, CSV, or Excel formats
- Includes location and address data
- Control output volume with configurable result limits
- Built-in proxy support for reliable data collection

### Use Cases

- **Track** - Track federal government data releases and updates
- **Build** - Build datasets for policy research and analysis
- **Monitor** - Monitor regulatory changes and compliance requirements
- **Aggregate** - Aggregate public government data for transparency projects

### Input Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Description | Default |
|-----------|------|-------------|---------|
| `dataType` | string | Type of water data to retrieve. Real-time (iv) returns the last few hours of ... | `iv` |
| `siteNumbers` | string | USGS site number(s), comma-separated. Example: '01646500' for Potomac River a... |  |
| `stateCd` | string | Two-letter US state code to get all sites in a state (e.g., 'CA', 'TX'). Warn... |  |
| `parameter` | string | Type of water measurement to retrieve. | `streamflow` |
| `customParameterCd` | string | Custom USGS parameter code (overrides the Parameter select above). See https:... |  |
| `siteType` | string | Filter by type of monitoring station. | \`\` |
| `startDate` | string | Start date in YYYY-MM-DD format. For real-time (iv), defaults to most recent ... |  |
| `endDate` | string | End date in YYYY-MM-DD format. |  |
| `period` | string | ISO 8601 duration as an alternative to start/end dates. Examples: 'P7D' (7 da... |  |
| `boundingBox` | string | Geographic bounding box as west,south,east,north (longitude,latitude). Exampl... |  |
| `maxItems` | integer | Maximum number of data records to return. Each time-step measurement counts a... | `1000` |
| `proxyConfiguration` | object | Optional proxy configuration. Not typically needed since the USGS API is public. |  |

### Output Example

Each result contains structured data like this:

```json
{
  "siteName": "USGS Water Services Sample Item",
  "siteCode": "Sample siteCode",
  "parameter": "Sample parameter",
  "value": 50000,
  "unit": "Sample unit",
  "dateTime": "2025-01-15",
  "latitude": "Sample latitude",
  "longitude": "Sample longitude"
}
```

### Pricing

This actor uses pay-per-result pricing:

- **$0.001** per result
- **$1.00** per 1,000 results

No monthly fees. You only pay for what you scrape. [Apify Free plan](https://apify.com/pricing) includes $5/month in platform credits.

### How to Run

#### Apify Console

1. Go to the [USGS Water Services Scraper](https://apify.com/fortuitous_pirate/usgs-water-scraper) actor page
2. Configure your input parameters
3. Click **Start** and wait for the results
4. Download data in JSON, CSV, or Excel format

#### API

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/fortuitous_pirate~usgs-water-scraper/runs?token=YOUR_API_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"maxItems": 10}'
```

#### Python SDK

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient("YOUR_API_TOKEN")
run = client.actor("fortuitous_pirate/usgs-water-scraper").call(
    run_input={"maxItems": 10}
)

for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item)
```

### Integration

Connect USGS Water Services Scraper with your existing tools and workflows:

- **API access** - Programmatic access via [Apify API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2)
- **Webhooks** - Get notified when scraping completes
- **Scheduling** - Set up recurring runs on any schedule
- **Zapier / Make** - Connect with 5,000+ apps via [Apify integrations](https://apify.com/integrations)
- **Python / Node.js SDKs** - Native client libraries for easy integration

# Actor input Schema

## `dataType` (type: `string`):

Type of water data to retrieve. Real-time (iv) returns the last few hours of instantaneous measurements. Daily values (dv) returns historical daily statistics. Site info returns station metadata only.

## `siteNumbers` (type: `string`):

USGS site number(s), comma-separated. Example: '01646500' for Potomac River at Little Falls. Find site numbers at https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis

## `stateCd` (type: `string`):

Two-letter US state code to get all sites in a state (e.g., 'CA', 'TX'). Warning: state-wide queries can return very large datasets.

## `parameter` (type: `string`):

Type of water measurement to retrieve.

## `customParameterCd` (type: `string`):

Custom USGS parameter code (overrides the Parameter select above). See https://help.waterdata.usgs.gov/parameter\_cd for full list.

## `siteType` (type: `string`):

Filter by type of monitoring station.

## `startDate` (type: `string`):

Start date in YYYY-MM-DD format. For real-time (iv), defaults to most recent data. For daily values (dv), required for historical queries.

## `endDate` (type: `string`):

End date in YYYY-MM-DD format.

## `period` (type: `string`):

ISO 8601 duration as an alternative to start/end dates. Examples: 'P7D' (7 days), 'P1M' (1 month), 'P1Y' (1 year). Overrides start/end dates if provided.

## `boundingBox` (type: `string`):

Geographic bounding box as west,south,east,north (longitude,latitude). Example: '-90.5,38.5,-89.5,39.5' for a region around St. Louis.

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of data records to return. Each time-step measurement counts as one item.

## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`):

Optional proxy configuration. Not typically needed since the USGS API is public.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "dataType": "iv",
  "siteNumbers": "08158000",
  "parameter": "streamflow",
  "siteType": "",
  "maxItems": 10
}
```

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "siteNumbers": "08158000",
    "stateCd": "",
    "customParameterCd": "",
    "startDate": "",
    "endDate": "",
    "period": "",
    "boundingBox": ""
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("quarterly_jingo/usgs-water-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "siteNumbers": "08158000",
    "stateCd": "",
    "customParameterCd": "",
    "startDate": "",
    "endDate": "",
    "period": "",
    "boundingBox": "",
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("quarterly_jingo/usgs-water-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"])
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "siteNumbers": "08158000",
  "stateCd": "",
  "customParameterCd": "",
  "startDate": "",
  "endDate": "",
  "period": "",
  "boundingBox": ""
}' |
apify call quarterly_jingo/usgs-water-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-remote",
                "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=quarterly_jingo/usgs-water-scraper",
                "--header",
                "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_TOKEN>"
            ]
        }
    }
}

```

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/HC3jeqPzOi54u0uOp/builds/fFvWWNjhUTkAXoxQv/openapi.json