This Network Update was distributed via the Exchange Network email alerts list on November 6, 2006.

In this edition of the Network Update, you'll find information on how the Exchange Network is helping its partners reduce operating costs as well as an announcement on newly available XML schemas for the U.S. EPA's Water Quality Exchange (WQX).

Exchange Network Return on Investment Study
The results of a recently completed Exchange Network return on investment (ROI) study are now available on the Exchange Network website. Download the final report to learn how Network partners are using Exchange Network technologies to improve their data and reduce their operating costs. You can also access a customizable ROI model to calculate your own organization's potential savings. For more information, please visit http://www.exchangenetwork.net/benefits/roi.htm.

Resources Now Available for U.S. EPA's Water Quality Exchange
The U.S. EPA Office of Water has released XML schemas and other resources for the Water Quality Exchange (WQX), which allows Network partners to share ambient water quality data with the U.S. EPA. The WQX System includes the following types of data: the physical conditions in the environment at the time of a site visit; the chemical and bacteriological make-up of the water sampled; and chemical analyses of fish tissue collected. WQX represents the next evolution for EPA's STORET model for sharing water quality data. EPA will transition away from a distributed database model towards the Exchange Network model for the sharing of data. This transition is expected to be fully completed in 2009. This release of WQX constitutes a major component of that transition. Planning is under way for future data flows to accommodate biological (i.e. population abundance data) and habitat data. To download the XML schemas and get more information on WQX, please visit the Exchange Network website at http://www.exchangenetwork.net/exchanges/water/wqx.htm