The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a new tool designed to enhance access to water quality data.
The Water Quality Indicators (WQI) tool is the first EPA interface that allows users to compare millions of data records from water monitoring stations, according to an EPA press release.
Supported by a mapping tool, the WQI simplifies the exploration of nutrient and pathogen data, helping users pinpoint potential sources contributing to water quality issues.
The WQI enables users to analyze pollutant trends from local monitoring stations and compare them with stations nationwide. It also offers facility data, including compliance records and environmental justice indicators sourced from EJScreen, the EPA's environmental justice screening and mapping platform.
“Every community in the United States deserves healthy rivers and streams. Whenever that is not the case, EPA wants communities to have access to information about water pollution and possible sources of any unsafe conditions,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “EPA’s new Water Quality Indicators Tool will help communities understand local nutrient and pathogen pollution and help communities develop solutions to water pollution challenges.”
The EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) collaborates with state regulatory partners to enforce Clean Water Act permit limits. The WQI tool is among several resources available on OECA’s Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) website, where users can also access inspection, violation, and enforcement details for permitted dischargers.
To assist users in navigating the WQI tool, the agency is creating a brief video tutorial, which will be published on the ECHO Video Tutorials page upon completion.
How GPRS Services Assist in Water & Wastewater Infrastructure Management
GPRS offers pinpoint-accurate leak detection services designed to help you efficiently maintain your drinking water infrastructure.
Our Project Managers are experts in a full range of leak detection services, covering municipal, industrial, and residential applications. Equipped with advanced tools, they can pinpoint leaks and deliver a thorough assessment of your water distribution system’s integrity. With our Project Managers strategically positioned in key markets and cities throughout the U.S., you can always count on having reliable, professional leak detection services near you.
GPRS utilizes both commercial acoustic leak detectors and leak detection correlators to locate leaks within your water system, without needing to conduct exploratory excavation.
Acoustic leak detection involves using sophisticated ground microphones to listen for leaks coming from subsurface pipes. Leak detection specialists are trained to isolate leaking pipes’ specific sounds and frequencies.
Leak detection, or leak noise correlators are specialized electronic devices that leak detection service companies use to locate leaks in water lines and water pipes quickly and accurately.
Leak detection correlators work similarly to acoustic leak detectors. However, while acoustic leak detectors rely on a human to manually listen to the frequencies emitted through sensitive audio listening equipment, leak noise correlators detect the vibrations with a computer.
GPRS boasts a 99.8%+ accuracy rate in utility line location and mapping, the highest in the industry. By incorporating our state-of-the-art, NASSCO-certified video pipe inspection (VPI) services into a standard utility locate, you can accurately map all storm and sanitary sewer lines, laterals, and detect cross bores caused by trenchless technology like directional drilling. This comprehensive approach enables you to create a detailed map of your entire drinking and wastewater systems, making the process of identifying and replacing LSLs much faster and easier.
Every GPRS customer gains access to our new SiteMap® infrastructure visualization software. This tool provides layered, interactive utility maps and NASSCO WinCan reports in a secure, cloud-based platform, allowing you to manage the quality of your water infrastructure data and control who has access to it. SiteMap® ensures that the right information reaches the right people at the right time.
From skyscrapers to sewer lines, GPRS Intelligently Visualizes The Built World® to keep your projects on time, on budget, and safe.
What can we help you visualize?
GPRS Sponsors Water & Sewer Damage Awareness Week
GPRS sponsors Water & Sewer Damage Awareness Week (WSDAW), an annual municipal water safety event held in October. If you would like to schedule a WSDAW educational event for your community or facility, click here to register.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can GPRS determine the size of a leak you’ve located?
After analyzing thousands of previous leaks detected, we asked clients to send us pictures of the remediation. This information has helped us compare our final leak signal detected with the results of the actual leak. We determine the size of the leak by how far the leak signal travels between contact points and the pitch of the tone received. However, we do not produce formal leak estimations.
Why don’t I see any water at the location where GPRS has pinpointed a leak?
Water finds the path of least resistance. Water can run through cracks in subsurface rock or make its way into storm, sanitary, and conduit piping. If the subsurface contains a high volume of sand, it will naturally flow farther down. There is no water visible on the surface in more than 99% of the leaks we locate.
Does GPRS offer lateral launch services?
Yes, we offer lateral launch capabilities as part of our standard Video Pipe Inspection services.
What size pipes can GPRS inspect?
Our elite VPI Project Managers have the capabilities to inspect pipes from 2” in diameter and up.
