Water Quality Monitoring Program
Water quality is at the heart of what MSD does every day.
WATER QUALITY STORY MAP
Visit our interactive Water Quality Story Map to learn more about MSD's water quality program.
MSD WATER QUALITY REPORTS
MSD monitors water quality and aquatic habit in the Mill Creek, Little Miami River, and Muddy Creek.
MSD partners with the Midwest Biodiversity Institute (MBI) to perform comprehensive biological, chemical, and physical sampling and analysis. The third round of water quality sampling began in summer 2021 and will continue through 2023.
- Mill Creek (2021)
- Little Miami River (2022)
- Muddy Creek and other tributaries (2023) - Not published yet
The second round of sampling was conducted in 2016-2019:
The benchmarking (baseline) round of sampling was conducted in 2011-2014:
- Mill Creek (2011)
- Little Miami River (2012)
- Ohio River and Tributaries, including Muddy Creek (2014)
The Mill Creek Alliance, a local non-profit organization dedicated to restoring the Mill Creek, also conducts water quality monitoring in the Mill Creek. Visit their website for more information.
HIGHLIGHT: SUSTAINING THE LITTLE MIAMI RIVER
On November 8, 2023, MSD hosted a public forum on water quality in the lower Little Miami River.
The forum covered the results of a 2022 biological and water quality study (bioassessment) of the lower Little Miami commissioned by MSD and performed by the Midwest Biodiversity Institute (MBI).
The results show that 90% of the lower Little Miami mainstem is maintaining exceptional warmwater habitat for aquatic life use.
The study also shows widespread impairment of E. coli throughout the mainstem and tributaries. Sources of E. coli include combined sewer overflows (CSOs), home sewage treatment systems, and animal waste.
View the 2023 Little Miami River Presentation
View the 2023 Water Quality Forum Meeting (2 hours)
