RockWare AqQA v2.0.0 – Specialized Water Chemistry Data Management, Analysis, and Graphical Presentation Software

AqQA is a specialized spreadsheet‑based software developed by RockWare for water analysis, offering unit conversion, ion balance checks, sample mixing, basic fluid property calculations, and a wide array of water chemistry diagrams . It was written by water chemists, for water chemists, and is designed to be powerful yet easy to learn .

The v2.0.0 release (May 2026) is a significant update that transitions the software to a 64-bit application and introduces a new annual licensing scheme . Key new features include direct CSV data import with column‑to‑analyte mapping, PNG and JPG graphic export, and flexible Stiff diagram layout options .

The software supports over 200 pre‑defined analyte types (inorganic, organic, biological, radioactive, isotopic) and allows users to define custom analytes 

Primary Users

AqQA v2.0.0 is designed for hydrogeologists, environmental scientists, water quality professionals, geochemists, and civil engineers who need to manage, validate, and visualize water chemistry data. It serves professionals who:

  • Manage laboratory water analysis data from Excel or CSV files and validate them against AWWA 1030-E standard methods

  • Calculate key fluid properties including water type, TDS, hardness, conductivity, and carbonate speciation 

  • Generate publication‑quality water chemistry diagrams including Piper, Stiff, Durov, Schoeller, and ternary plots 

  • Assess water quality for irrigation by calculating SAR, salinity hazard, and other indices 

  • Perform geothermal reservoir temperature estimation using quartz and Na-K geothermometers

Key Features & Capabilities

Data Management and Validation

  • Direct Excel and CSV Import: Paste data directly from Excel or import CSV files with column mapping 

  • Six Internal Consistency Tests: Checks against AWWA 1030‑E Standard Methods including anion‑cation balance, TDS vs. conductivity, and ion sums 

  • Quality Flagging: Flag exceedances of regulatory limits and compare replicate analyses 

Fluid Property Calculations

  • Basic Fluid Properties: Water type (e.g., Ca‑HCO₃), TDS, density, conductivity, and hardness 

  • Carbonate Equilibria: Speciation of HCO₃, CO₃, CO₂; calcite/aragonite saturation; CO₂ partial pressure 

  • Irrigation Water Indices: Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Exchangeable Sodium Ratio (ESR), salinity hazard, and magnesium hazard 

  • Geothermometry: Silica geothermometer (quartz and polymorphs); Na‑K, Na‑K‑Ca, Na‑K‑Ca‑Mg, Mg‑Li, and Na‑Li geothermometers 

Graphical Presentation

  • 11 Plot Types: Series, Time Series, Cross Plot, Ternary, Stiff, Piper, Durov, Schoeller, Ion Balance, Pie Chart, and Radial Plot 

  • Multiple Stiff Diagrams: Now supports plotting more than one Stiff diagram on a single page 

  • Flexible Stiff Layout: Anions and cations can be moved up or down relative to one another 

  • Export Formats: PNG and JPG export for publication‑ready graphics 

  • Customizable Symbols: Toggle between samples, customize symbols, and adjust plot options 

Additional Capabilities

  • Sample Mixing: Mix water samples for advanced analysis 

  • User‑Defined Analytes: Over 200 pre‑defined types, plus ability to define new types 

  • Instant Unit Conversion: Shift among mass/volume, equivalents/volume, and other units with a single click 

What’s New in AqQA v2.0.0

The v2.0.0 release (May 2026) introduces the following key enhancements :

64-bit Application

AqQA now runs only as a 64-bit application, improving performance and compatibility with modern Windows systems .

CSV Data Import

New File | Import Data menu allows direct CSV import. Users can map each column to an analyte in the AqQA database, streamlining data entry from Excel‑exported CSV files .

New Graphic Export Options

Added PNG and JPG export options to the File | Save As Image menu, expanding publication‑ready output formats .

Stiff Diagram Enhancements

Stiff diagrams now offer flexible layout options, allowing anions and cations to be moved up or down relative to one another. Multiple Stiff diagrams can now be plotted on a single page .

Updated Licensing Scheme

The new licensing scheme is for Annual Licenses only. Existing users transferring to a new computer will need to purchase AqQA 2.0 with the new licensing type