A USGS gage box by the bridge over the Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Source Water Monitoring on the Roanoke River in Salem, Virginia Active
By Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center
August 18, 2023
Salem Source Water Monitoring Program
Monitoring the water quality of the Roanoke River: the source of Salem's drinking water
Monitoring the water quality of the Roanoke River: the source of Salem's drinking water
The Roanoke River is the primary source of the City of Salem's drinking water. Threats to water quality in rivers like the Roanoke have increased in recent years, and water authorities as well as residents are concerned about preventing source water contamination.
Realtime water quality monitoring is a valuable tool in alerting water authorities such as Salem Water when there are anomalous conditions in the river so that action can be taken to protect the city's drinking water.
On this page, you can subscribe to water quality alerts for the Salem Monitoring Station, check current conditions, and learn the Salem Source Water Monitoring Project's goals and potential benefits.
Get Water Quality Alerts for Salem
Get Water Quality Alerts for Salem
Use the USGS WaterAlert platform to get alerts when water quality thresholds are exceeded at this monitoring site.
Current Water Quality Conditions
Current Water Quality Conditions
See real-time water quality conditions in Salem using the USGS Water Data for the Nation website.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Project Summary
This project monitors source water quality. The goal of this project is to provide real-time water quality monitoring data to stakeholders in the City of Salem. This data can help officials make informed decisions and stay up-to-date on potential threats, both natural and manmade, to the Roanoke River and the city's water supply.
Water Quality Monitoring
Data collection began early October 2020 at the Salem Monitoring Station. Six different water quality parameters are constantly monitored using a water quality sonde. Each parameter is remeasured every 5 minutes, and these data are available on the NWIS webpage less than 15 minutes after they are collected. These parameters help both researchers and water managers assess changes in water chemistry and detect possible contaminants before they enter the public water supply. The water quality parameters measured at this site are:
Dissolved Oxygen: A measure of how much oxygen is dissolved in the water and available to living aquatic organisms.
pH: A measure of how acidic or basic water is.
Specific Conductance: The concentration of ions in the water. Specific conductance is a good proxy for salinity, as salts dissolve into ions in water. Specific conductance is often elevated in urban waters, and common sources of dissolved ions include de-icing road salts applied before winter storms and carbonates from concrete infrastructure. Specific conductance can also be used as a proxy for other dissolved ions of interest.
Water Temperature: Biological processes that affect water quality, such as microbe activity, can be influenced by water temperature. Changes in water temperature can also be used to detect wastewater inputs.
Turbidity: A measure of water clarity. The more turbid the water, the less light can penetrate, and in very turbid waters, aquatic plants may die due to decreased light availability. High amounts of suspended sediment increase turbidity, so these measurements can be used as a proxy for total suspended solid concentration.
Dissolved Organic Matter (fDOM): A measure of the portion of organic substances dissolved in the water that fluoresce under UV light. An indicator of wastewater inputs.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Potential Benefits
Threats to water quality in sources of drinking water are always a concern, and quickly identifying potential contamination can help water managers respond accordingly. Realtime water quality monitoring of source water like the Roanoke River can provide nearly instant updates about changing conditions to drinking water providers.
One example of the benefits of this particular water quality monitoring site occurred on October 30th, 2020, shortly after the site was established. A train derailment upstream of Salem caused large amounts of coal to enter the Roanoke River. The Salem Monitoring Site was able to detect anomalous turbidity readings caused by this contamination, and water officials in the City of Salem were able to respond to this threat. While unfortunate, incidents such as the October 2020 train derailment highlight the potential benefits of source water monitoring programs such as this one.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
USGS Gage Box
View downriver from the Roanoke River monitoring site at Salem, VA
View downriver from the monitoring station: Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation
View upriver from the Roanoke River monitoring site at Salem, VA
View upriver from the monitoring station: Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Coal Spill in the Roanoke River
On October 30, 2020, a train derailment occurred over the Roanoke River, west of the City of Salem, Virginia and upstream of the Roanoke River at Salem monitoring site. Approximately 2,600 tons of coal ended up in the Roanoke River.
On October 30, 2020, a train derailment occurred over the Roanoke River, west of the City of Salem, Virginia and upstream of the Roanoke River at Salem monitoring site. Approximately 2,600 tons of coal ended up in the Roanoke River.
Inside of a gage box
Contents of a USGS gage box, including data logger and transmitter, solar power equipment, and battery. This gage box is for the Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Contents of a USGS gage box, including data logger and transmitter, solar power equipment, and battery. This gage box is for the Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Taking water samples from the Roanoke River monitoring site at Salem, VA
Taking water samples from the Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Monitoring instrumentation at the bridge over the Roanoke River at Salem, VA
Monitoring instrumentation at the bridge over the Roanoke River: Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Monitoring instrumentation at the bridge over the Roanoke River: Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Deploying equipment in the Roanoke River at Salem, VA
Hydrologic technician deploying equipment in the Roanoke River at Salem, VA. Visit Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation for more information about this monitoring site.
Hydrologic technician deploying equipment in the Roanoke River at Salem, VA. Visit Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation for more information about this monitoring site.
Water-quality sonde
Water-quality sonde
The Roanoke River is the primary source of the City of Salem's drinking water. Threats to water quality in rivers like the Roanoke have increased in recent years, and water authorities as well as residents are concerned about preventing source water contamination.
Realtime water quality monitoring is a valuable tool in alerting water authorities such as Salem Water when there are anomalous conditions in the river so that action can be taken to protect the city's drinking water.
On this page, you can subscribe to water quality alerts for the Salem Monitoring Station, check current conditions, and learn the Salem Source Water Monitoring Project's goals and potential benefits.
Get Water Quality Alerts for Salem
Get Water Quality Alerts for Salem
Use the USGS WaterAlert platform to get alerts when water quality thresholds are exceeded at this monitoring site.
Current Water Quality Conditions
Current Water Quality Conditions
See real-time water quality conditions in Salem using the USGS Water Data for the Nation website.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Project Summary
This project monitors source water quality. The goal of this project is to provide real-time water quality monitoring data to stakeholders in the City of Salem. This data can help officials make informed decisions and stay up-to-date on potential threats, both natural and manmade, to the Roanoke River and the city's water supply.
Water Quality Monitoring
Data collection began early October 2020 at the Salem Monitoring Station. Six different water quality parameters are constantly monitored using a water quality sonde. Each parameter is remeasured every 5 minutes, and these data are available on the NWIS webpage less than 15 minutes after they are collected. These parameters help both researchers and water managers assess changes in water chemistry and detect possible contaminants before they enter the public water supply. The water quality parameters measured at this site are:
Dissolved Oxygen: A measure of how much oxygen is dissolved in the water and available to living aquatic organisms.
pH: A measure of how acidic or basic water is.
Specific Conductance: The concentration of ions in the water. Specific conductance is a good proxy for salinity, as salts dissolve into ions in water. Specific conductance is often elevated in urban waters, and common sources of dissolved ions include de-icing road salts applied before winter storms and carbonates from concrete infrastructure. Specific conductance can also be used as a proxy for other dissolved ions of interest.
Water Temperature: Biological processes that affect water quality, such as microbe activity, can be influenced by water temperature. Changes in water temperature can also be used to detect wastewater inputs.
Turbidity: A measure of water clarity. The more turbid the water, the less light can penetrate, and in very turbid waters, aquatic plants may die due to decreased light availability. High amounts of suspended sediment increase turbidity, so these measurements can be used as a proxy for total suspended solid concentration.
Dissolved Organic Matter (fDOM): A measure of the portion of organic substances dissolved in the water that fluoresce under UV light. An indicator of wastewater inputs.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Potential Benefits
Threats to water quality in sources of drinking water are always a concern, and quickly identifying potential contamination can help water managers respond accordingly. Realtime water quality monitoring of source water like the Roanoke River can provide nearly instant updates about changing conditions to drinking water providers.
One example of the benefits of this particular water quality monitoring site occurred on October 30th, 2020, shortly after the site was established. A train derailment upstream of Salem caused large amounts of coal to enter the Roanoke River. The Salem Monitoring Site was able to detect anomalous turbidity readings caused by this contamination, and water officials in the City of Salem were able to respond to this threat. While unfortunate, incidents such as the October 2020 train derailment highlight the potential benefits of source water monitoring programs such as this one.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
USGS Gage Box
A USGS gage box by the bridge over the Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation
View downriver from the Roanoke River monitoring site at Salem, VA
View downriver from the monitoring station: Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation
View upriver from the Roanoke River monitoring site at Salem, VA
View upriver from the monitoring station: Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Coal Spill in the Roanoke River
On October 30, 2020, a train derailment occurred over the Roanoke River, west of the City of Salem, Virginia and upstream of the Roanoke River at Salem monitoring site. Approximately 2,600 tons of coal ended up in the Roanoke River.
On October 30, 2020, a train derailment occurred over the Roanoke River, west of the City of Salem, Virginia and upstream of the Roanoke River at Salem monitoring site. Approximately 2,600 tons of coal ended up in the Roanoke River.
Inside of a gage box
Contents of a USGS gage box, including data logger and transmitter, solar power equipment, and battery. This gage box is for the Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Contents of a USGS gage box, including data logger and transmitter, solar power equipment, and battery. This gage box is for the Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Taking water samples from the Roanoke River monitoring site at Salem, VA
Taking water samples from the Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Monitoring instrumentation at the bridge over the Roanoke River at Salem, VA
Monitoring instrumentation at the bridge over the Roanoke River: Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Monitoring instrumentation at the bridge over the Roanoke River: Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Deploying equipment in the Roanoke River at Salem, VA
Hydrologic technician deploying equipment in the Roanoke River at Salem, VA. Visit Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation for more information about this monitoring site.
Hydrologic technician deploying equipment in the Roanoke River at Salem, VA. Visit Roanoke River at Rts 639/760 at Salem, VA - USGS Water Data for the Nation for more information about this monitoring site.
Water-quality sonde
Water-quality sonde