The Susquehanna River Basin Commission has set up an Early Warning System to monitors chemicals that spill into the river.

In 2005, 500 spills occurred along the Chemung and Upper Susquehanna Rivers.

And there's always concern about even greater disasters.

"What if a train carrying caustic chemicals were to derail and dump its load into the Chemung or Susquehanna River?" said Paul Swartz, SRBC Executive Director."Destroying aquatic habit, killing fishing and halting all recreational and economic benefits?"

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is in its third phase of setting up an Early Warning System that will protect the region's water supply.

Sensors along the rivers will provide real time data before a contaminant reaches the water intake centers.

"We want them to know what it is," said Ray Yacuzzo, an SRBC assistant. "We want them to know it's coming so they will be able to predict time wise how long it's going to take and transit the system all of this means increased protection for public health and safety."

Treatment facilities will be able to access the information about spills on the SRBC's private website.

The system will tell water intake facilities when the pollution will hit.

State and local emergency responders will also be alerted.

"It's a lot easier to prevent something from happening than to clean it up after it already has." said George Winner, (R) NYS 53rd Senate. "So that type of knowledge and information is important."

The system can also enhance enjoyment of the river.

It will help outdoorsman by determining oxygen levels in the water, so they know where the most active fishing is.