New App for Lake Houston Provides Real-Time Stream and Water-Quality Data

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New App for Lake Houston Provides Real-Time Stream and Water-Quality Data

Real-time water-quality, streamflow and water height information for Lake Houston and the surrounding San Jacinto watershed are now available from a new web application from the U.S. Geological Survey, done in cooperation with the City of Houston.

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A screen capture from the application showing the interactive method of viewing streamflow data in the watershed.
Via: USGS

Lake Houston is the primary drinking-water source for Houston, Texas. Real-time data are required to evaluate the effects of watershed influences, such as land-use change and storm events, on Lake Houston water quality. These data will help water treatment facility operators make informed decisions about adjusting treatment methods in response to changing water-quality conditions.

Real-time measurements are updated hourly and visualizations are accessible from 40 USGS observation stations, which collect a combination of lake, stream, groundwater well, precipitation and water-quality data. The map viewer includes supporting data layers, such as current and forecasted weather conditions and hazard warnings. Users can view seven real-time water-quality observation stations: four located on streams that flow into, and three within, Lake Houston. The continuous water-quality monitoring stations are located in urbanized and rural parts of the watershed and measure various parameters such as turbidity, pH and others.

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Photo of a USGS real-time water quality monitoring platform on Lake Houston.
Credit: Sachin Shah, USGS. Public domain

“It is key that we provide open and accessible real-time hydrologic data for both City of Houston decision-makers and residents to illustrate conditions in the region,” said USGS hydrologist Sachin Shah. “Providing an easy-to-use web application simplifies the science and allows the public to explore, visualize and compare stream levels and how water-quality conditions are changing over time.”

Learn about the historical context of Lake Houston’s water-quality, explore real-time turbidity data in the Lake Houston watershed, or view associated Lake Houston publications and data by visiting the USGS water-quality monitoring on the Lake Houston website. 

Source: USGS

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