The H2Ometrics platform has expanded to include several new water quality parameters. The additional parameters were added for the H2Ometrics entry as part of team GLASS for the Cleveland Water Alliance’s Internet of H2O Challenge. The challenge is seeking robust and resilient nutrient monitoring pilots with the potential to scale across the Great Lakes.

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a major threat to the water quality of Lake Erie and the millions of residents who depend on the lake as a source of drinking water. Measuring, disseminating and tracking nutrient levels in and entering the lake from tributaries is a critical component of understanding and predicting HABs and improving the water quality of Lake Erie. HABs have recently been causing major issues on Lake Erie and for the City of Toledo water intake.

The new water quality parameters further expand the H2Ometrics data types for time series data from a multitude of devices and sensors for water systems, wastewater systems, lakes, streams and now water quality measurements. The new parameters include:

  • Specific Conductivity
  • pH
  • Oxidation Reduction Potential
  • Turbidity
  • Cell density
  • Percent
  • Concentration
  • Daily loading
  • Unitless (for absorption)

Here is an example screenshot of water quality data in H2Ometrics from the pilot deployment of a Green Eye Science NewLAB automated chemical measurement system for the Internet of H2O Challenge. Full scale deployment of this technology and incorporation of these water quality parameters into H2Ometrics could make Lake Erie the smartest lake in the world, and provide a model for other lakes and watershed around the world to monitor and improve their water quality.