Using optical instruments originally developed to monitor marine phytoplankton, the REOS system provides reservoir managers with early warning of increasing algae populations.
Planktonic algae are a leading cause of water quality problems in reservoirs.
Since chlorine too can affect water taste and odor, less chlorine can also help improve drinking water aesthetics. The REOS system is composed of an array of optical and electrode-based instruments deployed on a mooring. The system continuously monitors the optical properties of the water, as well as other water quality parameters, in order to detect the initial stages of an algal bloom. These individual wavelengths, ranging from 380 nm to 683 nm, were selected based on ongoing research by the bio-optical sciences community. The location of the two instruments is determined based on local reservoir conditions.