Region 3: Real-time Water Quality Monitoring for Early Warning of Spills and Contamination

Quick access to reliable water quality data can provide effective early warning about spills and contamination that may affect drinking water supplies. However, field data for water quality has been expensive to acquire and the lag time between data capture and availability makes it difficult to use the information in a timely manner. This project will expand the number of sensors in the successful innovative monitoring network funded last year in the Upper Ohio River Basin (near Pittsburg). Sensors will be deployed upstream of water treatment intakes, and monitoring data will be available to the public and drinking water suppliers via an online data stream. The additional monitoring sites will provide improved early detection services to a greater number of drinking water suppliers in the Pittsburgh area while also expanding public education of water quality issues.  Using advanced water quality sensor technologies, and telemetry techniques that provide near real-time data delivery, will strengthen early warning monitoring system for drinking water – critical need in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.