For over 25 years, ORSANCO's year-round bimonthly sampling has provided measurements of inorganic and nutrient parameters at 31 locations along the Ohio River: 17 on the mainstem and 14 on tributaries. Samples are collected by part-time contract personnel who reside at various locations along the river.

Field measurements of temperature, pH, specific conductance, and dissolved oxygen are taken at each monitoring site visit. Samples are collected, preserved, and shipped to a contract laboratory for analysis. Parameters for analysis include solids, nutrients, metals, mineral constituents, cyanide, and phenolics. The current laboratory contractor is TestAmerica, Inc. of Dayton, OH.

Sampling methods and locations utilized in the manual sampling program undergo continuous review and evaluation by staff and by the Monitoring Strategy Subcommittee. The latter group consists of representatives of ORSANCO member states, U.S. EPA, USGS, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The subcommittee provides coordination between the monitoring activities of the agencies represented and those of ORSANCO.

This program demonstrates trends in water quality from month to month, and year to year. Results are published semiannually in ORSANCO's Quality Monitor.

Ohio River Monitoring Page
ORSANCO has numerous ways to sample for water quality, and utilizes boats and stationary monitoring stations

Click here for the Clean Metals Program