REOS-3 Reservoir Water Quality Monitoring System 

The Remote Electro-Optical Sensor (REOS) system is an automated water quality monitoring system developed by Biospherical Instruments Inc. and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). The system used optical instruments to detect increases in algae populations. 

Planktonic algae are a leading cause of water quality problems in reservoirs. By continuously monitoring algae levels, reservoir turbidity, and other water quality parameters, and detecting algal blooms early, reservoir managers can: 

• Respond quickly to taste, odor, and appearance problems 

• Reduce the amount of disinfectant needed to control a bloom, thereby reducing treatment costs 

• Reduce the associated production of potentially carcinogenic disinfection by-products (DBPs)

For More Information:
REOS Overview/Brochure
Technical Specifications
Los Angeles Times article (March 1999)
EPA Nonpoint Source News-Notes article (July 1999)
REOS References

Related Instruments:
PRR-2600 Profiling Reflectance Radiometer
PRR-800 Profiling Reflectance Radiometer

U.S. Patent No. 5,905,570.