Nowcast - Water-Quality Conditions At Beaches And A Recreational River
Local agencies monitor water to measure the concentration of Escherichia coli (E. coli)—an indicator bacterium found in sewage and other animal wastes—to determine whether the water is safe for contact recreation such as swimming or canoeing. Conventional analytical methods can take 18 to 24 hours to yield results. To improve the timeliness and accuracy of recreational water-quality assessments, quick measurements, such as rainfall or water clarity, can be used to estimate the probability that E. coli exceeds safe levels. For example, the Ohio Nowcast is a system that provides near-real-time beach advisories to the public through use of quick measurements and predictive models; during 2014, Ohio Nowcast water-quality information was available for eight Lake Erie beaches and one recreational river site. In a study at 49 Great Lakes beaches, the USGS, in cooperation with many local and State agencies, found that predictive models overall performed better than the conventional methods to assess recreational water quality.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Developing and implementing the use of predictive models for estimating water quality at Great Lakes beaches
Predictive models have been used at beaches to improve the timeliness and accuracy of recreational water-quality assessments over the most common current approach to water-quality monitoring, which relies on culturing fecal-indicator bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli.). Beach-specific predictive models use environmental and water-quality variables that are easily and quickly measured as s
Real-time assessments of water quality: expanding nowcasting throughout the Great Lakes
Coastal processes influencing water quality at Great Lakes beaches
Research on pathogens at Great Lakes beaches: sampling, influential factors, and potential sources
Tools for beach health data management, data processing, and predictive model implementation
Understanding beach health throughout the Great Lakes -- continuing research
Understanding beach health throughout the Great Lakes-Entering a new era of investigations
Below are partners associated with this project.
Local agencies monitor water to measure the concentration of Escherichia coli (E. coli)—an indicator bacterium found in sewage and other animal wastes—to determine whether the water is safe for contact recreation such as swimming or canoeing. Conventional analytical methods can take 18 to 24 hours to yield results. To improve the timeliness and accuracy of recreational water-quality assessments, quick measurements, such as rainfall or water clarity, can be used to estimate the probability that E. coli exceeds safe levels. For example, the Ohio Nowcast is a system that provides near-real-time beach advisories to the public through use of quick measurements and predictive models; during 2014, Ohio Nowcast water-quality information was available for eight Lake Erie beaches and one recreational river site. In a study at 49 Great Lakes beaches, the USGS, in cooperation with many local and State agencies, found that predictive models overall performed better than the conventional methods to assess recreational water quality.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Developing and implementing the use of predictive models for estimating water quality at Great Lakes beaches
Predictive models have been used at beaches to improve the timeliness and accuracy of recreational water-quality assessments over the most common current approach to water-quality monitoring, which relies on culturing fecal-indicator bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli.). Beach-specific predictive models use environmental and water-quality variables that are easily and quickly measured as s
Real-time assessments of water quality: expanding nowcasting throughout the Great Lakes
Coastal processes influencing water quality at Great Lakes beaches
Research on pathogens at Great Lakes beaches: sampling, influential factors, and potential sources
Tools for beach health data management, data processing, and predictive model implementation
Understanding beach health throughout the Great Lakes -- continuing research
Understanding beach health throughout the Great Lakes-Entering a new era of investigations
Below are partners associated with this project.