For the first time ever, water professionals can access up-to-the-minute developments in water quality testing standards and consult with other experts through a new site on the World Wide Web.

Three prominent water and public health organizations, the American Public Health Association, the American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Federation, launched an online, subscription-based service of the popular “Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater” at www.StandardMethods.org. Print versions of Standard Methods have served as the industry guide for water quality testing for 99 years, providing more than 350 separate methods of water quality measurements used by industry scientists, analysts and engineers.

Standard Methods Online will add the following services:

• New, revised and U.S. Environ-mental Protection Agency-approved methods will be continuously updated and available for download 24 hours a day, seven days a week;

• Subscribers will receive e-mail notification of additions, updates and approvals as they happen;

• Fully searchable text;

• E-newsletter highlighting the latest issues and trends; and

• Access to a community of experts through online discussion forums.

“In addition to enabling quicker dissemination of new and revised methods, adding Standard Methods Online will create a constant energy for new methods to be produced,” says Lenore Clesceri, chair of the Standards Methods Joint Editorial Board.

Older methods - which could not be included in revised printed editions due to space constraints - also will be retained online, pending review and approval by the Standard Methods Committee.

To gain full access to the site, users purchase a one- or two-year subscription. For more information about Standard Methods Online and to take advantage of a special introductory offer, visit www.StandardMethods.org.