H2NOW
Technologies
H2NOW Chicago is an open-water testbed for piloting novel technologies to support better water quality.
H2NOW Chicago is leading the way in real-time, public-facing water quality monitoring for the Chicago and Calumet Rivers. As an open-water testbed, it provides startups, researchers, and companies a platform to pilot emerging technologies while showcasing the value of accessible, real-time data for agencies, utilities, and communities.
Current, the organization behind H2NOW, also leads Great Lakes ReNEW—a regional innovation engine awarded up to $160 million by the U.S. National Science Foundation in 2024. H2NOW exemplifies the kind of tech innovation and commercialization ReNEW supports, helping deliver cleaner water and healthier watersheds.
Our Latest Tech Pilot: Virridy’s Lume Sensor
Through H2NOW, we’re piloting Virridy’s Lume sensor for the first time in an urban river system—a major step toward bringing a faster, lower-cost solution for detecting E. coli to market. E. coli is a key indicator of fecal pollution and public health risk in water.
Lume is a compact, autonomous, internet-connected sensor that uses tryptophan-like fluorescence and machine learning to estimate E. coli levels. It offers continuous monitoring, requires minimal maintenance, and delivers reliable, quantitative data.
If successful, this pilot could pave the way for broader use of Lume in urban and rural waterways worldwide—supporting cleaner, safer water for all.
