Investigation of COVID-19 Lockdown Effects on Water Quality in Natural Bodies of Water in the Great Lakes Region

The purpose of this preliminary investigation is to find the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on water quality parameters in rivers, especially in the Great Lakes Basins. Several rivers and coastal areas in the Great Lakes region are highly polluted due to industrial and agricultural activities. The lockdown has caused industrial activities to shut down, people to work from home, and less waste to be introduced into natural bodies of water. Several studies show that air quality has improved during the lockdown in a variety of places, especially in big cities, but there are fewer studies on water quality parameters. Recent studies, using satellite images, show there are improvements in the water quality of lakes and bays due to less traffic and industrial activities. In this study, with the collaboration of two high schoolers, we want to find rivers with dissolved oxygen data, in the Great Lakes region, and compare the period of lockdown with the same period of time in 2019. The outcome of this study will provide a better understanding of the role of human activities on water quality in natural systems and can be used for public education and awareness of environmental protection.