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Tour boats on the Chicago River are reflected through a building window in Chicago on Wednesday, September 1, 2021. (AP Photo / Nam Y. Huh)
CHICAGO (AP) – Rowers, kayakers and other users of the Chicago River get a real-time snapshot of a measurement of water quality in the system that runs through downtown and several neighborhoods.
The Chicago Current nonprofit installed three sensors in the three main branches of the river in 2019 to continuously estimate the amount of bacteria from human waste and other warm-blooded animals.
The organization had originally planned to begin releasing real-time results to the public in 2020. But the coronavirus pandemic delayed its plans until Thursday, when a website updated with data taken every 15 minutes reported. been uploaded.
The city’s development in the 19th century was due to the river – a veritable system of man-made rivers and canals – which provided a path between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River system. While the meat packaging and lumber industries could use it for shipping, the waterway also became a dumping ground for these and other industries and for wastewater from homes and businesses. .
The quality of the 156-mile (251-kilometer) river system has improved in recent years, thanks to the construction of several billion dollars of new reservoirs and underground tunnels. But when rain submerges Chicago’s sewer systems, sewage and stormwater is diverted to the river, prompting the warning to stay out of the water for several days.
This is unlikely to change; city officials have warned that the effects of climate change will continue to bring more frequent and intense storms to the region.
Fecal coliform is not inherently dangerous, but the presence of the bacteria in a body of water is a warning, telling scientists that pathogenic pathogens are likely also present.
Traditional test results based on river water sampling are available from local or state regulators, but these are collected intermittently. Users can also look for alerts warning of a recent sewage diversion into the river.
But neither help someone who hopes to be on the water that day, said Alaina Harkness, executive director of Current.
Optical sensors Current uses do not make it possible to measure the level of fecal coliforms present. Instead, they collect data on the opacity and temperature of the water and light emitted by tryptophan, an amino acid from microorganisms that has been linked to fecal coliforms. This allows an estimate of the level of bacteria present, Harkness said.
“We have a good idea of how the river is doing today, how it compares to how the river is doing historically and how it varies between branches,” she said. “And that’s the important story for users who make decisions about how to use the river on a daily basis. ”
A kayaker, for example, may decide to use the main branch of the river instead of the south or north branch if these sensors estimate a level of bacteria above the state standard for safe recreational use, a. she declared.
Lincoln Park Boat Club executive director Trish Brubaker said she can use this information when planning training sessions for rowing clubs.
Brubaker said clubs often used single sculls last year to allow for social distancing. But singles are more vulnerable to tips, and an athlete fell ill after falling into the water of the river.
“It would definitely have an impact on who we play in singles or if we practice in singles,” said Brubaker.
Chicago’s sanitation system agency officials have warned that people should not be completely dependent on sensor data.
The technology is newer than traditional water sampling and testing, and it only captures a moment in time, said Dr Heng Zhang, deputy director of monitoring and research at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. of Greater Chicago.
River users should also consider recent weather conditions, boat traffic and any official warnings, he said.
“The more information people have, the better,” he said. “But just understand that the information is only an indicator and it is not 100%. There are a lot of variations. ”
Current officials hope that providing more information about the river will improve its reputation with people who still see it as a dumping ground.
Doug McConnell, co-founder of the nonprofit A Long Swim which raises funds for research into Lou Gehrig’s disease, has been seeking city approval for a river swim for several years. He is excited about the Current project and hopes the information will lead to more interest in the river.
“What has to happen here is a change in the impression and perception of people,” McConnell said. “The river is the only reason Chicago is here. It really is something to honor.
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