H2NOW Chicago’s River Water Quality Monitoring Historic Data

Terms and Conditions of Use

1. The information provided by H2NOW is not meant to evaluate biological safety of the river, and neither Current Innovation, NFP (“Current”) nor its partners are responsible and/or legally liable for illnesses contracted/injuries incurred by persons who engage with the river based on the H2NOW data nor for any other harm to persons or property that results from your use of the H2NOW site, including without limitation, use of any content on the site.

2.  Never drink directly from the Chicago River, no matter the data provided by H2NOW.

3.  H2NOW measures microbial water quality only. There may be other chemical substances present in the water that make it unsafe for recreation.

4. Most fecal coliforms are not pathogenic and only used as indicators of the presence of dangerous pathogens in the water. Pathogens may still be present even if the fecal coliform number is below the recreational standard of 200 CFU/100 mL.

5. Tryptophan levels reflect the overall microbial content and they are not a direct measurement of fecal coliforms. While tryptophan is expected to correlate well with fecal coliforms under certain conditions, it cannot be used as a definitive measure of water safety. If tryptophan levels rise, direct fecal coliform testing must be conducted to confirm whether the water quality standard has been exceeded. 

6. Sensors only give information about water quality at the location of the probe. Water quality may be different elsewhere in the river and the water quality upstream of a probe location can not be known.

7.  Sensors only give information about water quality at the time of measurement (every 15 minutes). While unlikely, water quality may worsen in-between the scheduled measurements or during gaps that may occur due to data collection or transmission failures.

8. Current (i) makes no representation or warranties regarding the reliability of the H2NOW data nor the use to which such data should be put, (ii) disclaims any and all responsibility for any errors or inaccuracies in the data, and (iii) bears no responsibility for any use made of the data.

9. The H2NOW data is only for non-commercial, educational, research or public policy purposes. Other than as specifically described herein, you may not copy, reproduce, distribute, modify, display, prepare derivative works based on, republish, transmit, repost or otherwise use the data, without prior written authorization from Current. 

10. You agree to credit H2NOW and Current in any publication, presentations and reports related to education and research that results from the use of the H2NOW data. The name H2NOW and Current however, may not be used in any advertising or publicity to endorse or promote any products or commercial entities unless specific written permission is obtained from Current in advance.

11. You agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Current, its officers, directors, employees and agents, from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs or debt, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees) arising from: (i) your use of and access to the site and data; (ii) your violation of any term of these terms & conditions; or (iii) your violation of any third party right, including without limitation any copyright, property, or privacy right. This defense and indemnification obligation will survive these terms & conditions and your use of the site. 

12.  Current reserves the right to modify or update the data and these terms and conditions at any time without prior notice. 

13. These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to its conflict of law principles. Any legal action or proceeding arising under these terms and conditions shall be brought exclusively in the courts located in Chicago, Illinois.

14. H2NOW data does not constitute an endorsement or approval of any conclusions or statements made based on the data by Current and its partners. Users agree not to use H2NOW data to make false, misleading, or defamatory statements regarding water quality or the actions of any government entity or organization. Users acknowledge that data misuse, misinterpretation, or misrepresentation can lead to inaccurate conclusions and public misinformation.

15. For questions or concerns regarding these terms and conditions or the use of H2NOW data, please contact Current at h2now@currentwater.org.

16. By accessing and downloading data from the H2NOW platform, you agree to provide your name and email address as part of the download process. This information will be collected to better understand who is interested in our data and to enhance our services. If you consent, your information will also be added to our newsletter mailing list, where you will receive updates, news, and other communications related to the H2NOW program and other initiatives by Current. You can unsubscribe from these communications at any time by following the instructions provided in the newsletter.

17.  We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. Your personal information will be stored securely and will not be shared with third parties, except as required by law.