The Chicago Park District maintains weather sensors at beaches along Chicago's Lake Michigan lakefront. These sensors generally capture the indicated measurements hourly while the sensors are in operation during the summer. During other seasons and at some other times, information from the sensors may not be available. See https://data.cityofchicago.org/id/qmqz-2xku for a dataset with similar measurements on the lake water, itself.

The Chicago Park District maintains sensors in the water at beaches along Chicago's Lake Michigan lakefront. These sensors generally capture the indicated measurements hourly while the sensors are in operation during the summer. During other seasons and at some other times, information from the sensors may not be available. See https://data.cityofchicago.org/d/k7hf-8y75 for a dataset with land-based weather measurements at selected beaches. The sensor locations are listed at https://data.cityofchicago.org/d/g3ip-u8rb.

Waterways in Chicago. To view or use these files, compression software and special GIS software, such as ESRI ArcGIS, is required.

The Chicago Park District maintains weather sensors at beaches along Chicago's Lake Michigan lakefront. These sensors generally capture the indicated measurements hourly while the sensors are in operation during the summer. During other seasons and at some other times, information from the sensors may not be available. See https://data.cityofchicago.org/id/qmqz-2xku for a dataset with similar measurements on the lake water, itself.

The locations of the Chicago Park District water and weather sensors that feed https://data.cityofchicago.org/d/qmqz-2xku and https://data.cityofchicago.org/d/k7hf-8y75.

The Chicago Park District tests water samples at beaches along Chicago's Lake Michigan lakefront, which it tests for E. coli in order to monitor swimming safety. Multiple samples may be taken from a beach and samples may be tested by culture, DNA testing, or both.

What do these numbers mean?

The modeling prediction numbers forecast real-time Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria levels present in the water. The Chicago Park District (CPD) in partnership with the US Geological Survey, has developed statistical prediction models by using weather data pulled from CPD buoys (https://data.cityofchicago.org/d/qmqz-2xku) and weather stations (https://data.cityofchicago.org/d/k7hf-8y75). E. coli is an indicator species for the presence of disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and protozoans that may pose health risks to the public.

The culture based testing numbers indicate E. coli levels present in the water. This method requires 18-24 hours of processing to receive results. US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recommends notifying the public when E. coli bacteria levels are above the federal water quality Beach Action Value (BAV), which is 235*CFU. When bacteria levels exceed 235 CFU, a yellow or red flag will be implemented. This standard is used at beaches throughout the Great Lakes region. For more information please refer to the USEPA Recreational Water Quality Criteria.

The rapid testing method (qPCR analysis) is a new method that measures levels of pathogenic DNA in beach water. Unlike the culture based test that requires up to 24 hours of processing, the new rapid testing method requires a few hours for results. The Chicago Park District can use results of the rapid test to notify the public when levels exceed UPEPA recommended levels. US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recommends notifying the public when DNA bacteria levels are above the federal water quality Beach Action Value (BAV), which is 1000*CCE. When DNA bacteria levels exceed 1000 CCE, a yellow or red flag will be implemented. For more information please refer to the USEPA Recreational Water Quality Criteria (http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/standards/criteria/health/recreation).

* The unit of measurement for Escherichia coli is Colony Forming Units (CFU) per 100 milliliters of water.
*The unit of measuring DNA is Enterococci Calibrator Cell Equivalents (CCE) per 100 milliliters of water.

The Chicago Park District maintains weather sensors at beaches along Chicago's Lake Michigan lakefront. These sensors generally capture the indicated measurements hourly while the sensors are in operation during the summer. During other seasons and at some other times, information from the sensors may not be available. See https://data.cityofchicago.org/id/qmqz-2xku for a dataset with similar measurements on the lake water, itself.

List of organizations currently receiving reduced water rates by premise. Data Owner: Water Management. Time Period: Data current as of May 2012. Update Frequency: Data is updated as needed.

The Chicago Park District maintains weather sensors at beaches along Chicago's Lake Michigan lakefront. These sensors generally capture the indicated measurements hourly while the sensors are in operation during the summer. During other seasons and at some other times, information from the sensors may not be available. See https://data.cityofchicago.org/id/qmqz-2xku for a dataset with similar measurements on the lake water, itself.

The Chicago Park District maintains weather sensors at beaches along Chicago's Lake Michigan lakefront. These sensors generally capture the indicated measurements hourly while the sensors are in operation during the summer. During other seasons and at some other times, information from the sensors may not be available. See https://data.cityofchicago.org/id/qmqz-2xku for a dataset with similar measurements on the lake water, itself.

The Chicago Park District maintains weather sensors at beaches along Chicago's Lake Michigan lakefront. These sensors generally capture the indicated measurements hourly while the sensors are in operation during the summer. During other seasons and at some other times, information from the sensors may not be available. See https://data.cityofchicago.org/id/qmqz-2xku for a dataset with similar measurements on the lake water, itself.

The Chicago Park District maintains weather sensors at beaches along Chicago's Lake Michigan lakefront. These sensors generally capture the indicated measurements hourly while the sensors are in operation during the summer. During other seasons and at some other times, information from the sensors may not be available. See https://data.cityofchicago.org/id/qmqz-2xku for a dataset with similar measurements on the lake water, itself.

The Chicago Park District maintains weather sensors at beaches along Chicago's Lake Michigan lakefront. These sensors generally capture the indicated measurements hourly while the sensors are in operation during the summer. During other seasons and at some other times, information from the sensors may not be available. See https://data.cityofchicago.org/id/qmqz-2xku for a dataset with similar measurements on the lake water, itself.

Waterways in Chicago, including Lake Michigan, rivers, and lakes. The data can be viewed on the Chicago Data Portal with a web browser. To view or use the files outside of a web browser, you will need to use compression software and special GIS software, such as ESRI ArcGIS (shapefile) or Google Earth (KML or KMZ), is required.

Results from City-installed sensors measuring water runoff from streets and sidewalks. These data can be used to measure the impact of sustainable green infrastructure on flooding. These sensors also capture weather data.

Each row corresponds to a sensor measurement at a specific time and location. Each row is a different sensor, which can be determined from the "Measurement Title" column. The value for each measurement is always numeric and available in the "Measurement Value" column. The corresponding unit of measurement is in the "Units" column. Data may be missing at times due to sensors not being available.

The Chicago Park District issues swim advisories at beaches along Chicago's Lake Michigan lakefront based on predicted E. coli levels. This dataset shows the predictions and whether a swim advisory was issued due to the predicted E. coli level being at least 235 Colony Forming Units (CFU) per 100 ml of water.

The data used to make the predictions can be found in https://data.cityofchicago.org/d/qmqz-2xku and https://data.cityofchicago.org/d/k7hf-8y75. The measured E. coli levels determined later can be found in https://data.cityofchicago.org/d/2ivx-z93u.

The Chicago Park District tests water samples at beaches along Chicago's Lake Michigan lakefront, which it tests for E. coli in order to monitor swimming safety. Multiple samples may be taken from a beach and samples may be tested by culture, DNA testing, or both.

What do these numbers mean?

The modeling prediction numbers forecast real-time Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria levels present in the water. The Chicago Park District (CPD) in partnership with the US Geological Survey, has developed statistical prediction models by using weather data pulled from CPD buoys (https://data.cityofchicago.org/d/qmqz-2xku) and weather stations (https://data.cityofchicago.org/d/k7hf-8y75). E. coli is an indicator species for the presence of disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and protozoans that may pose health risks to the public.

The culture based testing numbers indicate E. coli levels present in the water. This method requires 18-24 hours of processing to receive results. US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recommends notifying the public when E. coli bacteria levels are above the federal water quality Beach Action Value (BAV), which is 235*CFU. When bacteria levels exceed 235 CFU, a yellow or red flag will be implemented. This standard is used at beaches throughout the Great Lakes region. For more information please refer to the USEPA Recreational Water Quality Criteria.

The rapid testing method (qPCR analysis) is a new method that measures levels of pathogenic DNA in beach water. Unlike the culture based test that requires up to 24 hours of processing, the new rapid testing method requires a few hours for results. The Chicago Park District can use results of the rapid test to notify the public when levels exceed UPEPA recommended levels. US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recommends notifying the public when DNA bacteria levels are above the federal water quality Beach Action Value (BAV), which is 1000*CCE. When DNA bacteria levels exceed 1000 CCE, a yellow or red flag will be implemented. For more information please refer to the USEPA Recreational Water Quality Criteria (http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/standards/criteria/health/recreation).

* The unit of measurement for Escherichia coli is Colony Forming Units (CFU) per 100 milliliters of water.
*The unit of measuring DNA is Enterococci Calibrator Cell Equivalents (CCE) per 100 milliliters of water.

The locations of the Chicago Park District water and weather sensors that feed https://data.cityofchicago.org/d/qmqz-2xku and https://data.cityofchicago.org/d/k7hf-8y75.

The Chicago Park District issues swim advisories at beaches along Chicago's Lake Michigan lakefront based on E. coli levels. This map shows predicted E. coli levels -- with bubble size corresponding to predicted level -- and whether the predicted E. coli level was at least 235 Colony Forming Units (CFU) per 100 ml of water (red bubbles).

This map updates daily and its predictions depend on data from https://data.cityofchicago.org/Parks-Recreation/Beach-Lab-Data/2ivx-z93u. It will show no predictions from midnight until the new day's predictions have been generated.

The Chicago Park District maintains weather sensors at beaches along Chicago's Lake Michigan lakefront. These sensors generally capture the indicated measurements hourly while the sensors are in operation during the summer. During other seasons and at some other times, information from the sensors may not be available. See https://data.cityofchicago.org/id/qmqz-2xku for a dataset with similar measurements on the lake water, itself.

The Chicago Park District issues swim advisories at beaches along Chicago's Lake Michigan lakefront based on E. coli levels. This dataset shows predicted E. coli levels based on an experimental analytical modeling approach.

The Chicago Park District maintains weather sensors at beaches along Chicago's Lake Michigan lakefront. These sensors generally capture the indicated measurements hourly while the sensors are in operation during the summer. During other seasons and at some other times, information from the sensors may not be available. See https://data.cityofchicago.org/id/qmqz-2xku for a dataset with similar measurements on the lake water, itself.

KML file of water features in Chicago. To view or use these files, special GIS software, such as Google Earth, is required.

The Chicago Park District maintains weather sensors at beaches along Chicago's Lake Michigan lakefront. These sensors generally capture the indicated measurements hourly while the sensors are in operation during the summer. During other seasons and at some other times, information from the sensors may not be available. See https://data.cityofchicago.org/id/qmqz-2xku for a dataset with similar measurements on the lake water, itself.

The Chicago Park District maintains weather sensors at beaches along Chicago's Lake Michigan lakefront. These sensors generally capture the indicated measurements hourly while the sensors are in operation during the summer. During other seasons and at some other times, information from the sensors may not be available. See https://data.cityofchicago.org/id/qmqz-2xku for a dataset with similar measurements on the lake water, itself.