The quality of the water in the Grand River has been steadily improving since the City of Grand Rapids started tracking the water quality in the early 1970s. Over the past three decades, The City of Grand Rapids has successfully separated its sanitary and storm water sewers. The quality of water flowing through Grand Rapids is also influenced by upstream sources and Grand Rapids is leading by example when it comes to protecting the water quality of the Grand River.
The City of Grand Rapids and USGS are working together to monitor the water quality of the Grand River in real time. They are also working on a new system that can predict E.Coli levels in the Grand River. The State of Michigan uses E.coli bacteria in the Total Body Contact and Partial Body Contact recreational criteria as an indicator for other harmful pathogens, which is consistent with the USEPA recommendations.
Find the real-time interactive system at the City’s website: www.grandrapidsmi.gov/riverquality