The Southeastern Natural Sciences
Academy introduced the latest technology that now makes the Savannah River only
a click away. The Eco Net Program analyzes the river salinity, Ph levels, dissolved
oxygen and temperature in real-time. The information is sent to an online
server where anyone can access it via the internet.
"With this opportunity,
everybody in the basin becomes a citizen scientist," said Oscar Flite,
Vice President for Research.
The mindset behind the technology
came from people's concerns about the water quality.
"Most of the time people
will say the water quality is bad but we have a lot of data that says
otherwise," said Flite. "The water quality is actually very good in the
Savannah River."
"It gives everybody an
opportunity to see the river's health," said Jason Moak, Senior Scientist.
The scientists have been
collecting this type of data from the river since 2006 but it wasn't until this
past year when they were able to get the funding to install these types of
real-time meters along the Savannah River.
"It's a great opportunity to
share the information," said Flite.
FOX54's Elizabeth Rawlins visited
two of the eight sites along the river and then took a closer look at the most
recent water reading online which updates every 15 minutes.
The water quality was right where
it should be for fishing, kayaking or any river activities just in time,
real-time that is, for the weekend.
Only four of the eight sites that run along the
river from the Strom Thurmond Dam to I- 95 are currently producing real-time
data. However, scientists said they should all be operating by the end of the
month.
To access the Savannah River data online visit:
http://www.ysieconet.com/public/WebUI/Default.aspx?hidCustomerID=96
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