Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2025
12:44
Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework
Published on: July 24, 2016
8.0K
A point-of-use drinking water quality dataset from fieldwork in Detroit, Michigan
Alyssa Schubert1, Jacob Harrison1, Linda Kent-Buchanan2
1University of Michigan, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ann Arbor, USA.
Scientific Data
|May 3, 2024
Summary
New sensor technology provides frequent, real-time drinking water quality data within homes. This study monitored five parameters in Detroit, offering insights into water quality at the point-of-use.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Public Health
- Water Resource Management
Background:
- Advanced sensor technology enables detailed drinking water quality monitoring.
- Premise plumbing monitoring is underutilized despite its potential for understanding point-of-use water quality.
- Legacy water systems in cities present unique challenges for water quality management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility and utility of deploying online drinking water quality sensor nodes within residential premise plumbing.
- To collect high-frequency, multi-parameter water quality data in a real-world setting.
- To establish a dataset for analyzing temporal trends and anomalies in drinking water quality.
Main Methods:
- Online drinking water quality sensor nodes were installed in 24 homes in Detroit, Michigan.
- Five water quality parameters were measured every five minutes for four weeks.
- Free chlorine and lead levels were also periodically sampled within each home.
Main Results:
- A comprehensive dataset capturing drinking water quality over time was generated.
- The data revealed frequent measurements, exceeding typical monitoring capabilities in premise plumbing.
- The dataset is suitable for investigating diurnal patterns, anomaly detection, and inter-city comparisons.
Conclusions:
- Real-time sensor deployment in premise plumbing can significantly enhance understanding of drinking water quality.
- The collected dataset provides a valuable resource for water quality research and management in legacy urban systems.
- This approach can inform strategies for ensuring safe drinking water at the point-of-use.
