How’s the River Today?
Our real-time gauges offer a microbial water quality assessment of the Chicago and Calumet rivers, based on data collected from water quality sensors. Updated every 15 minutes, they provide insight into current river conditions, helping you stay informed.
H2NOW gauges communicate the results of our microbial water quality assessment using a rolling average of the latest 3 hours of sensor readings. The assessment is based on the estimated levels of fecal coliforms — a group of bacteria typically associated with the presence of human pathogens. If the 3-hour rolling average of fecal coliform levels are below 200 CFU/100 mL, we say that water quality is Good, meaning that it should be safe for people to touch it. If the 3 hour rolling average is above 200 but below 1000 CFU/100 mL, we recommend Low Caution, and if the rolling average is above 1000 CFU/100 mL — High Caution.
More on the gauge methodology
Fecal coliform (FC) estimates are produced by a regression model that takes into account multiple sensor readings, such as tryptophan-like fluorescence (TLF), temperature, turbidity, colored dissolved organic matter, and specific conductivity. When the sensors are installed in the river, Current collects water samples on a weekly basis and submits the samples to be tested in a lab using the Membrane Filtration Method (Standard Method 9222D). The lab results are used to continuously evaluate the FC model’s performance and calibrate the model to improve its precision.
Real-Time Water
Quality Monitoring
H2NOW Chicago, an innovative new approach to real-time water quality monitoring in the Chicago rivers, which are a part of the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS). Launched by the nonprofit water innovation hub
Current in 2021, the H2NOW platform tests leading edge sensing and analytic technologies to measure water quality parameters and communicate them with the public in real-time.
Four probes with embedded sensors collect data at four locations in the Chicago and Calumet rivers, and a range of supporting technologies assist with data collection, transmission, analysis, and communication.
H2NOW aims to grow public understanding about river water quality, providing a foundation for Chicago residents and visitors to be empowered as informed, engaged river users and stewards.
How clean are Chicago’s rivers—really?
You might picture a waterway so polluted you don’t want to get near it. Perhaps you assume it’s now safe to swim after years of cleanup. The truth, like with most urban waterways, is somewhere in between—and always changing.
Until recently, testing for microbes like fecal coliforms meant sending samples to a lab and waiting days for results. That delay made it hard to know when it was safe to be on the water.
Current’s H2NOW program changes that by transmitting data to the public in real time, like a weather app for water.
An Innovative Partnership
This massive urban science project was built with the cooperation of dozens of partners, including our utilities, technology providers, advocacy, and community groups, and philanthropic funders. Through the partnership of several organizations, H2NOW Chicago launched in September 2021 as the first real-time water quality monitoring project in the U.S. to measure microbial pollutants in an urban waterway.
Impact
By collecting, analyzing, and sharing water quality data, H2NOW Chicago accomplishes the following outcomes (click to expand)
1) H2NOW provides real-time, free, and easily accessible information to residents and visitors...
empowering people to make informed decisions about when to kayak, row, boat, or otherwise recreate in or near our rivers.
2) H2NOW fosters a better understanding of recent improvements in water quality...
making the public more likely to be drawn to waterways and their opportunities for recreation, work, and relaxation. This can create a positive economic ripple effect by boosting engagement with water-based activities and corresponding business development.
3) H2NOW leverages growing public interest to foster a more productive CAWS...
that offers an increasing number of opportunities for residents and businesses to have commercial interactions with the rivers up and down their full length, not just in the Main Stem of the Chicago River. Our partnerships with community stakeholders familiar with local development priorities ensure that H2NOW Chicago’s data is disseminated, translated and interpreted as an input to existing and future development plans.
4) H2NOW improves environmental stewardship of the waterways...
by providing policymakers, water utilities, property developers and industries that use urban waterways with new insights into microbial pollution patterns and how they vary over time and location in the waterway. With this knowledge, the public has a better understanding of the river and how to protect it. Without measurement, there is no improvement.
What’s Next for H2NOW?
Current is committed to accelerating early-stage water technologies with local impact and global relevance. H2NOW is a key first step toward expanding real-time water quality monitoring to rivers and lakes in cities across the U.S.
Many urban waterways face water quality and public health challenges. By making this data accessible, we can spark public awareness, inspire action, and support safer engagement with our rivers.
We see H2NOW as the foundation for a national—or even global—open data network. A broader community of practice would allow cities to share best practices in water tech, community engagement, and policy, amplifying impact across the water sector.
If you’re interested in learning more or seeing how you can get involved, click the Contact Us button to the right and get in touch!