DEP Applauds River Alert and Information Network for Remote Water
Quality Monitoring System
Water Quality Data Available in Near-Real-Time at http://www.3RAIN.org
PA-DEP News Release
14 December 2009
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Southwest Regional Office
400 Waterfront Dr.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Contact:
Helen Humphreys
Phone: (412) 442-4183
Pittsburgh – Department of Environmental Protection Regional
Director George Jugovic Jr. joined area water suppliers today to
applaud the River Alert and Information Network for its latest effort
to monitor water quality in the Monongahela River.
The network, also known as RAIN, today unveiled a system to monitor the
water’s pH level, conductivity and temperature at 11 remote locations
along the Monongahela and its tributaries where high levels of total
dissolved solids, or TDS, have been detected.
RAIN operates two additional water quality monitoring sites—one each on
the Allegheny River and on the Ohio River.
The near-real-time water quality monitoring data can be accessed at
RAIN’s Web site, http://www.3RAIN.org.
“RAIN illustrates what can be accomplished when government, business
and academia partner to tackle difficult problems,” Jugovic said. “The
Monongahela River is an important resource for drinking water,
job-creating industries, and recreationalists. RAIN’s monitoring system
will enable us to track the river’s water quality and respond
appropriately.”
RAIN is a collaborative effort of 33 water utilities, three area
universities (California University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon
University, and the University of Pittsburgh), the Riverside Center for
Innovation, and DEP’s Source Water Protection section.
DEP funded the purchase and set up the $75,000 computer network with a
grant awarded in May 2008 through the Clean Water Fund. The department
also invested $85,000 from the Clean Water Fund to purchase six of the
13 probes that have been installed in the river.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency purchased the remaining seven
probes.
RAIN’s goal is to provide water utilities within the Allegheny,
Monongahela and parts of the Ohio River basins with advanced spill or
contamination warnings based on real-time monitoring practices and a
system of alerts and alarms.
Unusually high TDS levels were first detected in the fall of 2008 at
points along approximately 90 stream miles of the Monongahela River
between the West Virginia border and the confluence with the Allegheny
River in Pittsburgh.
Previously, conductivity levels were monitored by three U.S. Geological
Service gauges located along the Monongahela River. The new, expanded
network will provide a more detailed picture of TDS levels and will
provide public access to the information via the Internet.
Conductivity readings are an alternative to more expensive and
time-consuming lab analysis for TDS.
For more information, visit http://www.depweb.state.pa.us,
keyword: Water Quality.
Editor’s Note: The following water suppliers are members or partners of
RAIN. Those noted with an asterisk have volunteered to maintain and
operate a monitoring site.
- City of Fairmont Water Filtration Plant
- Morgantown Utility Board
- Albert Gallatin Municipal Authority
- Point Marion Borough Water Service
- East Dunkard Water Association*
- Dunkard Valley Joint Municipal Authority*
- Duquesne Light Warwick Abandoned Mine Drainage Treatment
Plant*
- Masontown Borough
- Municipal Authority of Carmichaels
- Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Authority*
- Tri-County Joint Municipal Authority*
- PA American Water-Brownsville District*
- Newell Municipal Authority
- Municipal Authority of Washington Township*
- Belle Vernon Municipal Authority
- Authority of the Borough of Charleroi
- PA American Water Company-Pittsburgh District (A)*
- PA American Water Company-Pittsburgh District (B)*
- West View Water Authority*
- Municipal Authority Township of Robinson
- Moon Township Municipal Authority
- Ohiopyle Borough Water
- Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority*
- North Fayette County Municipal Authority
- Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County - Indian Creek
Wastewater Treatment Plant
- Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County - McKeesport
- Lower Tenmile Joint Sewer Authority - Williamston Sewage
Treatment Plant*
- Redstone and Jefferson Twp Municipal Authority - Colonial
Sewage Treatment Plant*