Up until just a few years ago, technicians would predict bacteria levels on a given day based on water samples taken a day or two earlier. The new, advanced NOWCAST System uses a range of factors; from rainfall to wave heights; to predict when bacteria-laden discharges from the city's outdated storm sewer system might pollute swimming areas.
The updated NOWCAST system is just a week old at Edgewater Park, but has been in operation at Huntington Beach in Bay Village, since 2006.
Lester Stumpe of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District says what was learned in Bay Village and in a brief usage of the system at Edgewater last summer, improved the system.
LESTER STUMPE: "These statistical models just get better when you have more years worth of data. Adding another year's worth of data - the 2008 data helps us be more accurate in our predictions."
Over the holiday weekend the system indicated e-coli concentrations reached three times what Ohio considers safe at Edgewater Park. That caused a POOR WATER QUALITY warning to go into effect, advising people to stay out of the unhealthy surf.
Stumpe says the district may employ the system at two east side spots, Villa Angela and Euclid Beaches.
So far, there is no target date for implementation.
Rick Jackson, 90.3.
