Column Name: REACH_CODE

Description: A reach code is a unique 14-digit code that identifies a continuous piece of surface water with similar hydrologic characteristics. It is assigned to each receiving water body by the United States Geological Survey's (USGS) National Hydrography Dataset (NHD).

In reporting year 2014, the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program began asking facilities to optionally report reach codes on the Form R to indicate where they were discharging chemicals to streams or water bodies. The reporting of reach codes enables EPA and other researchers to accurately map discharges to the correct stream when conducting analysis.

EPA maps all reported discharges for purposes of its Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) model, Water Pollutant Loading Tool, and for other water programs and applications. Identifying a reach code ensures that EPA will map discharges to the correct stream or water body. In TRI-MEweb (TRI's reporting software), facilities have the option of using an interactive map to locate and identify the receiving stream or water body to which the chemical was released. TRI-MEweb will automatically populate the appropriate reach code when a facility selects the receiving water body on the map.
Envirofacts Table Name(s):

• TRI_WATER_STREAM

• Data Source:
• Data Element:
• ADABAS File:

Properties:

• Type:CHAR
• Length:14

Definition Source:TRI Data Dictionary