Your Stories 2008
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Brazil
- Cameroon
- China
- Cuba
- Ecuador
- Hungary
- India
- Israel
- Lithuania
- Macedonia
- Mexico
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Poland
- Romania
- Singapore
- Spain
- Swaziland
- Thailand
- Tobago
- United States
Argentina
Sixty students at CEI San Ignacio school in Paraje San Cabao (10 kilometers from Junín de los Andes), Argentina recently conducted water quality testing of the Chimehuín River in honor of World Water Monitoring Day. The Chimehuín originates at Lake Huechulafquen (in Lanín National Park), flows past the school, then flanks the city of Junín de los Andes, and finally flows into another river.
Sampling of the Chimehuín was conducted in different places. As part of the GLOBE program, the students monitor the river at its banks close to the school on a weekly basis (see their GLOBE data here). WWMD provided a good opportunity to sample at other locations such as the river's origin, elsewhere on the school grounds, various sites in Junín de los Andes, and at the outflow of sewers. The sampling was repeated on different days.
The population of Junín de los Andes has grown a lot in recent years. Its water supply stems from the Chimehuín. The city extracts water for aquatic production, agribusiness and small industries. CEI San Ignacio extracts water for human consumption, caretaking of animals, and irrigation of gardens, greenhouses and pastures. The Chimehuín River is also used recreationally by swimmers, sports enthusiasts and fishermen. This more extensive sampling along the course of the river shows that the water quality continues to be good, even as the river flows through town. Read the report en español.
Armenia
On September 18, the ecological NGO Sustainable Water Environment carried out monitoring of two Armenian rivers—Aghstev and Vanadzor—belonging to Kura river basin. The Kura is one of the major rivers in South Caucasus. Supported by GWP CACENA and the Country Water Partnership of Armenia, monitoring activities were carried out using the kits provided by the International Water Association. About 25 students from higher educational institutions in two Armenian towns took part in the monitoring. The rivers were selected for study by the students who were concerned with their pollution.
The Aghstev is a transboundary river that emerges within Armenia and flows to neighboring Azerbaijan. The river flows through the town of Ijevan and is polluted with both household wastewater and solid household waste. The Vanadzor River is of local importance. The river flows through the town of Vanadzor and makes an artificial lake in the town center, which is used by the population for recreational purposes. The study of the Aghstev River was done in the most polluted part of the river, near the town market. The Vanadzor was studied in the resort area of Vanadzor and at the artificial lake in the town center.
The results showed that the Vanadzor River had a water temperature of 16°C and a dissolved oxygen content of 4 mg/l, which means the oxygen saturation was only 41%. The pH was a little on the alkaline side at 8.
The water quality in the artificial lake in the town center was worse with the water temperature at 20°C and dissolved oxygen at 2 mg/l (only 22% saturation). The pH was decidedly alkaline at 9, and the lake water surface was completely covered with algae.
The Aghstev had better oxygen saturation at 88%; however, the pH was again high at 9.
The students concluded that the artificial lake in the Vanadzor town center is polluted and dangerous to use for recreational purposes. Though the rivers are polluted with household wastewater and waste, their self-cleaning level is high since they are rapidly running mountain rivers, and aeration processes work quickly in flowing water.
Brazil
Água em Unidade de Conservação (a partnership program sponsored by Programa Petrobras Ambiental) is training 80 teenagers to become activists in the environmental field. These teens recently gathered at Lago dos Patos, a small waterfall in Tijuca National Park, to test the water for pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen and turbidity in honor of World Water Monitoring Day. The results showed 
that the lake is in good condition for its fauna (native and exotic fishes) and flora (aquatic plants and plankton).
Professor Delmo Vaitsman, Ph.D., a partner of the project, presented a lecture about water monitoring to the teens. They also participated in an online chat with peers who were conducting the same tests in the northeastern region of Brazil. Thus, the two projects were able to exchange information about World Water Monitoring Day in Brazil.
Água em Unidade de Conservação is building a strong network of partners called Rede de Proteção ao Parque Nacional da Tijuca to mobilize every citizen to protect the Atlantic Forest and its biodiversity in Tijuca National Park. Tijuca is a draw for tourists, as it is home to the 125-foot (38-meter) statue Cristo Redentor or "Christ the Redeemer".
Cameroon
In the framework of the World Water Monitoring Day, activities were carried out at the University of Dschang on the 18th September and the 18th October 2008. The 14-person team, four ladies and ten
gentlemen, worked under the supervision of Dr. Théophile Fonkou.
Participants included: NOUMSI Bernadette (MSc in Ecology), NDOUNLA Juliette (MSc in Water Ecology), MBAKOU KEMTSA 
Pierre (MSc in Animal Biology), DONFACK Tazo Eric (Undergraduate), TSAGUE Jiofack Fabrice (Undergraduate),DJOUENANG Sévérin (Swim Master, Municipal Lake Dschang), AKO Charlotte (MSc in Water Management), KUETCHE Simplice (MSc Water Management), MBOGOL III Isaac G. (MSc Water Management), MEKONTSO Fabrice (MSc Water Management), NUMBESI Susana (MSc student Water Management), TCHEUKO François( MSc in Water Management), and ZEBAZE François (MSc Water Management).
The Dschang Municipal Lake was chosen as the site for investigations. Water quality monitoring was done through onsite and laboratory physicochemical analysis. The celebration started with a field lecture by Dr. Théophile Fonkou on the importance of the Day, and the different parameters and techniques used in water quality monitoring. The WWMD kit granted to the team by the Water Environment Federation was then presented to the crew. The significance of parameters like pH, turbidity, temperature, conductivity, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, nitrate-nitrogen and orthophosphates was explained to the participants.
China
Members of the microbiology team at the Nature Preservation Association (University of Science and Technology) monitored two sites at Chaohu Lake in Anhui province, China. What the team encountered at the lake is an ongoing threat for residents—human and not.
Blue-green algae has been growing profusely in Chaohu, which is China's fifth largest body of fresh water and the drinking water source for some 320,000 
people.
“Microcystis [a type of blue-green algae] grows crazily every year and produces a poison called MC. When monitoring the sample, we had to filter first, or we couldn’t see anything through the water. It was deadly green,” said team leader Silong Wang.
The team plans to continue work on Chaohu and neighboring wetlands such as Shengjin Lake, a national nature reserve, and Poyang Lake, which is home to a variety of birds.
A couple weeks following their WWMD tests, the team members revisited Chaohu and observed more than a thousand wild ducks. Wang and her teammates were encouraged by the site and believe this means there is still hope for Chaohu.
According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, ingestion of waters containing high concentrations of Microcystis can cause abdominal stress in humans and can kill wildlife that consume significant quantities of it.
Click on the below links for related articles:
http://www.mwr.gov.cn/english/20080506/90524.asp
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24467924/
Cuba
On October 13 at 9:00 am, the Cuba GSA (Global Sports Alliance) Team departed to the Guamá River, a great natural reservoir that goes around the westernmost head city of Cuba, Pinar del Río. This activity was organized by captain Lic. Fernando Emilio Valladares Fuente with the aim of monitoring the quality of water in the province. The team was eager to contribute to the international WWMD program and to the Ecoflag movement.
The Cuba GSA Team used the test kit provided by this program with the purpose of preserving and enhancing water environment as one of the activities strongly coordinated by both projects, the GSA and The WWMD. This test kit showed the following results:
|
Site 1 |
Date |
October 7, 2008 |
Place |
Guamá River, Pinar del Río, Cuba |
Air Temperature |
30 C |
Water temperature |
28 C |
Oxygen Dissolved |
4 PPM |
PH |
7 |
Turbidity |
40 JTU |
After deep analysis, the team found that the neutral pH of the Guamá River was conducive to supporting wildlife; however, the group stated that some measures would have to be taken not to accelerate pollution and rising water temperatures. The Guamá River flows to some damns around which many people live and fish.
The Cuba GSA team will continue evaluating some other reservoirs and will develop actions of prevention and intervention in the community. Some of the members of this activity were: Jorge Labrador, Juan Carlos Puente, Yosbel Gener, Alyagna Alonso, Jorge Rafael Cueto, Jose Luis Estrada, Aliandi Diaz, Roysel Samora, Wilfredo Gallardo, Alain Rojas, Jorge Angel Lemus.
Ecuador
El Chaco, Napo Province
On October 17, the NGO EcoCiencia (Fundación Ecuatoriana de Estudios Ecológicos) carried out the WWMD in the Andes in the Amazonian basin at the rivers Quijos and Oyacachi. These rivers are important tributaries of the Napo River, the biggest river in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Monitoring activities were possible using the kits provided by the International Water Association. About six high school students from Colegio Nacional 
El Chaco joined the monitoring day.
These rivers were selected by the students because they are very important sites for kayaking and rafting. In 2005, the World Rafting Championship took place in the Quijos. For local people, these rivers are very important for attracting tourists to their town. Both rivers are "born" in the western slope of the Andes from the glacier volcanos Cayambe and Antisana. Both of their watersheds in the upper part of the páramos (grasslands of high altitude above 3000 meters) are very important because this ecosystem provides water for Quito, Ecuador's capital.
The results for both rivers indicated that dissolved oxygen content was 8ppm, and the pH was 8 (a bit alkaline). Turbidity for the Quijos River was 40 JTU, which was probably due to rain in the watershed upstream. Turbidity for the Oyacachi was 0 JTU. The water temperature for both sites was about 12°C. The water is cold because the monitoring sites are at 1600 meters above sea level in the upper Amazonia in the Andes. The students were happy to know that their rivers still have good conditions for practicing water sports and for attracting tourists to their town.
In addition to these rivers, the students collected data from another stream, which is also important for local people because it provides water for the local water supply system. The results showed 8 ppm of dissolved oxygen, a pH of 8 and water temperature of 14°C. It was important for the students to know about the water quality of the stream that provides water to their houses.
Noroccidente de Quito
Monitoring activities were carried out on November 5 in the northwestern part of the Province of Pichincha, approximately one and a half to two hours from Quito, the capital of Ecuador. The participants included 13 Einstein School eleventh-graders that take IB Biology at either the standard level or the higher level, as well as three biology teachers.
Water samples were taken from four rivers in the area. The team was unable to learn the names of two of the rivers, but the others were identified as the Pahuma and the Tandayapa. Two water samples were taken from each river; and each sample was tested for pH, turbidity, temperature and dissolved oxygen. In addition, the team recorded counts for total coliform bacteria, noted fecal coliform levels and observed aquatic macroinvertebrates.
This area, which lies in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, has a hot and very humid climate. The environment surrounding the rivers consists mainly of forests without much human intervention and small towns with farm animals living alongside species inherent to the area, especially birds. We chose the rivers in this area because we had previous knowledge that they were not critically polluted, so we knew that we would not expose the students to the danger of infection, nor to the risk of coming into contact with any dangerous or toxic material. The water was, in fact, clean and clear.
The students were enthusiastic and highly motivated before, during and after the field work. Beforehand, they prepared themselves by doing research on the topic and on the area. Later, in the field, they conducted their work with responsibility and obtained accurate data. Afterwards, they processed the information and drew conclusions about their findings.
In a final reflection after all of the stages of the work had been completed, the students expressed a sense of satisfaction that they had been able to take part in this project. They realized that they had learned a great deal about the topic and had visited sites in their country that they were unfamiliar with and that were very different from their own reality. They were also proud to have collaborated with a large-scale project that contributes to the good of the planet.
Finally, the students recommended that the school take part in this project every year. They considered two options: either taking samples from the same rivers in order to make comparisons over time, or working at other sites in order to have samples from different areas of the country as input for determining priority sites for conservation efforts.
Riobamba
On November 6, 40 students monitored three rivers around Riobamba with the assistance of NGOs EcoCiencia (Fundación Ecuatoriana de Estudios Ecológicos) and Fundación Natura, the Universidad Nacional del Chimborazo (UNACH), and Riobamba's Water Company, Empresa Municipal de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado (EMAPAR). The students were from three local high schools—Colegio Riobamba, Colegio La Providencia and Colegio Bernardo 
Dávalos.
Monitoring took place at Río Cajabamba, Río Chimborazo and Río Guano. These rivers flow from high altitude grasslands (páramos), and the Río Chimborazo's origin is the glacier melting off of the highest volcano in Ecuador—Chimborazo (6310 meters above sea level). In the upper part of their watersheds, these streams are used for irrigation of potato crops by indigenous communities. In the case of the Río Guano, all untreated sewage water from the town of Guano winds up in the river. In this town, handicrafts are made from cow leather, which is also processed locally. Many pollutants drain into the river, including some heavy metals such as chrome. All three rivers have low dissolved oxygen levels of 4 ppm and slightly alkaline water (pH 8). In the Río Cajabamba, the turbidity was 40 JTU. The turbidity for Río Chimborazo was 100 JTU and the worse case was Río Guano with turbidity over 100 JTU.
A small opening ceremony was organized by EMAPAR to begin the monitoring day. This event was part of the nightly news on the local TV station. This helped to let people know about the importance of water quality. EMAPAR has decided to start an environmental education program for all Riobamba citizens.
Hungary
The students from the DE Kossuth Lajos Gyakorlo Altalanos Iskolaja school in Hungary created a movie in order to share their WWMD experience in 2008. To view it, click here.
India
New Delhi
Yamuna: The Life Line of Delhi – Under the Nationwide CLEAN-India programme (Community Led Environment Action network) of Development Alternatives, river water and drinking water quality is being monitored by school students using the Jal-TARA water quality monitoring developed by Development Alternatives (for testing for 14 parameters).
Water quality of River Yamuna has been monitored since 1994. Ram Ghat, where a board with Do’s and Don’t’s is displayed for the residents, was adopted by the CLEAN-India students. A cement tank has also been constructed for the composting of flowers (offerings), and the students clean up the river banks as “Shramdan” (voluntary service). The temple priest was also convinced and gave his support. Till 2002, the Ghat was clean (as seen in the top photo). Then many settlements came up near the river and the untreated drains from these joined the river directly near Ram Ghat. Now this stretch is completely covered with water hyacinth(as seen in the bottom photo), DO is zero, it is highly turbid, and phosphate levels are above 1 mg/l. So now devotees have to go 3-4 kilometers upstream. The CLEAN-India team has had discussions with the Development Alternatives scientists, the temple priest and the local residents for plan of action to help revive the river.
No. of participants: 1500 across the country
No. of water bodies (including lakes and streams): 30
No. of samples/season/year: 80
The river is now called "Yuk" Yamuna, and we will work towards celebrating the river, said one student.
Old Alwal
World Water Monitoring Day was celebrated by UFERWAS - ALWAL Circle - Education Cell on 18.9.08. This U.N. project initiative was the brain child of Wing Commander [Retd ]- Narasimha Rao Chilukuri, resident of Bhanu enclave Yapral. This project would not have been done so effectively without the total support of Shri D. Muralidhar Gupta, principal at Sri Datta Talent School, Suryanagar Colony, Old Alwal. Mr. Gupta arranged for the transport van and also 
provided the meditation hall of his school for introduction of the session.
UFERWAS - ALWAL Circle would also like to thank P.T. Teacher Shri Gabrielamma of the Zilla Parishad High School For Girls in Old Alwal; Mathematics Teacher Shri Shekar of the Zilla Parishad High School For Boys in Old Alwal; and Teacher Shri Srinivas of the Sri Datta Talent School.
This project created awareness amongst the children on saving the water bodies and also focused them more on environmental awareness. They performed the dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, and temperature tests and were charged with acquainting other students in their respective schools with what they’d learned. This was meant to be part of a cascading model of sharing knowledge where each of the 12 participating students would share knowledge with five other students in their class/school.
Israel
Fifth-grade students from A.D.M School in Kibbutz Gaash Israel recently participated in World Water Monitoring Day by testing a "puddle" that had formed after a heavy rain. Water that collects in this way is used for irrigation. To view the students' report, click here.
Lithuania
The event took place in Kaunas, Lithuania by the river Neris at 13:00 on November 25 and at Vydunas Secondary School on November 27. A group of 11 pupils and their English teacher Rasma Stuokiene attended the event. Later at school, pupils carried out experiments with their chemistry teacher Dalia Z. who explained the importance of dissolved oxygen and pH levels.
The Neris was chosen because it is the second biggest river in Lithuania, and it was really interesting to observe how much it is polluted after having flowed through Belorussia and our capital Vilnius. At this site we noticed that the turbidity was really low and the water seemed quite transparent. The pH was 7.5 and dissolved oxygen 8 ppm. Water temperature was 38°C.
In September, the pupils watched a powerpoint presentation about pollution and the importance of water in our everyday life. Thus the monitoring event was eagerly awaited by pupils, since they were already aware of its importance.
Macedonia
On November 9, a team from the Jane Sandanski school in Strumica, Macedonia participated in a World Water Monitoring Day event organized by the school. The team tested the water from several sites within its municipality using the WWMD test kit. We used the WWMD test kit. Though the team had only one test kit, the teamwork aspect was excellent. The group was comprised of 11 students and three professors. The group assessed a few samples from each site to ensure that the results were consistent and correct. The results from each set were averaged and reported to the WWMD program as follows:
|
Turbidity |
Temp |
DO |
pH |
Ladna Voda #1 |
0 |
12 |
4 |
8 |
Ladna Voda #2 |
0 |
12 |
4 |
7 |
Sv. Nedela Spring |
0 |
12 |
4 |
7 |
River Ciflik |
40 |
10 |
4 |
7 |
River Vodocnica |
0 |
10 |
8 |
8 |
River Trakajna |
0 |
14 |
8 |
7 |
Lake Turija |
0 |
16 |
4 |
8 |
Mexico
On the occasion of World Water Monitoring Day, the office of Mexico City, hosted a breakfast for representatives of the countries of Northern Latin America and various Mexican authorities relating to the treatment and distribution of water. The event took place at an elegant restaurant at the Lake of Chapultepec, historical site where the Emperor Moctezuma bathrooms were located in the fifteenth century.
Present were the Ambassadors of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Dominican Republic and Jamaica, also attended representatives of the President Office, executives of the National Water Commission, Mexico City Government officials and representatives of private companies such as DuPont, Pemex.
From CH2M HILL, Gene Lupia President of Environmental Services, Jennifer Writney, Carlos Pereyra from Buenos Aires office, and the project leaders of Mexico’s Office, attended.
To all of them were explained in detail the procedures for carrying out the test and subsequent registration on the website, that focus the global results, emphasized the need to inculcate in children the culture of caring for the water. Mexico City office team has registered many local sites where the test will be done; these sites are Universities Campus, Schools, condominiums, corporate buildings and other water sites like rural water wells and rural irrigation districts.
Pakistan
On November 9, 2008, Mr. Rangeen Khan along with his friends (Mr. Ayaz, Mr. Fali Rabi, Mr. Abdur Rehman, and Mr. Amjad) carried out the water monitoring activities by choosing a stream in Saleem Khan, a small village three kilometers north of Swabi, Pakistan. During monitoring, the instructions were followed, and the kits provided by WEF were utilized. The activity was coordinated by Mr. Khan (MBA), WES Coordinator SMU Swabi, who 
also selected the testing site. The group was excited to contribute to the international WWMD program.
The stream of Saleem Khan flows from North to West and merges with River Indus near to the motorway, eventually joining the Arabian Sea at Karachi. Tests were conducted and the results are as follows:
|
Site 1 |
Date |
November 9, 2008 |
Place |
Stream Saleem Khan, Swabi |
Air Temperature |
22 C |
Water temperature |
22 C |
Oxygen Dissolved |
4 PPM |
PH |
7 |
Turbidity |
40 JTU |
The team plans to continue evaluating other streams and rivers and will plan some interventions in the community.
Philippines
For the first time in South Central Mindanao region in the Philippines, 60 pupils from three public elementary schools trooped to three bodies of water for quality sampling and testing on October 14 and 15, 2008.
Mobilized by the South Central Mindanao Program Office of Save the Children and with the test kits provided by the World Water Monitoring Day, the pupils joined the global community in conducting basic 
monitoring of their local bodies of water to build public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world. The bodies of water examined on separate occasions are as follows:
El Lahak Spring situated in Barangay Lamlahak, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato – the smallest lake in the municipality of Lake Sebu located in the middle of Allah Valley Watershed Forest Reserve. El Lahak Spring serves as the main source of potable water for the community.
Lake Lahit in Barangay Lake Lahit, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato – serves as a sanctuary for freshwater shrimps and snails and is being used for fish farming (e.g. Tilapia culture) and duck-raising.
Macuag River – a tributary of Allah River, a huge river that bounds South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao provinces and flows to Liguasan Marsh, one of the biggest water basins in Mindanao Island. Macaug River is being used as a recreation site of schoolchildren and community residents of Barangay Tuka, Bagumbayan and a source of irrigation to about 500 hectares of rice fields.
Guided by Save the Children staff and partners from the Department of Education Divisions of South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat , the Rural Health Units of Lake Sebu, South Cotabato and Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat and the teachers of the respective schools, the participating schools with 20 pupils each were:
- Lamlahak Elementary School in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato
- Lake Lahit Elementary School in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato
- Tuka Elementary School in Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat
The test results for the Macuag River showed that there is already a certain level of chemical contamination and pollution present. The results for Lake Lahit and El Lahak Spring were better, showing that the water was free from micro-organisms.
Some of the actions proposed as follow-ups by the participants include: sharing the test results with other students and villagers, constructing a reservoir that could help protect Lahak Spring from contamination, proposing a strong waste management plan and clean-up measures to prevent the escalation of damages to the Macuag River, and advocating for fewer fish cages in Lake Lahit.
Given the results of the activity, the pupils together with the school administrators will continue to advocate to the whole community the value of environmental protection through continuous tree planting and proper waste management. The event will also be highlighted and shared with the local government officials and policy makers to strengthen local plans and agenda concerning environmental conservation.
In general, the activity was a success and memorable, particularly to all the children who gained a deeper sense of understanding and appreciation of the value of water and the environment as a whole. It also motivated them to act as the lead in promoting to their fellow pupils the importance of water as a fundamental element of daily living.
Poland
Animex Group organized WWMD on September 18th 2008 in 8 towns where Animex plants are located. The goal was to examine the water quality in nearby rivers, reservoirs and lakes.
The event started at 9:00 a.m. in some locations and at 11:00 a.m. in others. It continued for 2-4 hours. The number of participants in each place ranged from 31 to 75. The amount of attendants in all sites totaled 299, consisting mainly of 14-
17 year old students. The figures per site are given below:
Dębica - 34 students,
Suwałki - 35 students;
Starachowice - 31 students;
Iława - 29 students;
Ełk - 31 students;
Opole - 30 students;
Szczecin - 37 students;
Ostróda - 75 students.
The students, mostly from secondary schools, were supervised by their teachers and the representatives of Animex facilities responsible for technical and marketing departments. In addition to the students, numerous observers, supervisors, local authority officials and Animex representatives attended the events.
At the opening the General and Technical Managers of Animex facilities welcomed all guests: head-masters, city mayors, borough mayors, representatives of the Environment Protection Inspection, local governments, ecological foundations, and the students.
Next, Animex reps explained the idea of the World Water Monitoring Day, the role of Smithfield Foods and Animex Group and its facilities in preserving water and its natural environment.
Animex specialists at each site instructed the students in the subjects of water monitoring and environment protection. The students took samples of water and inspected them under supervision of laboratory specialists. Each participant drew up a test report. The students were pleased that they had a chance to examine the water quality themselves.
The students learned about environment protection and took part in an ecological quiz. Animex sponsored awards for the winners, as well as gifts and certificates with a logo of the event (info about each facility, Animex Group and WWMD) for each participant.
At the end Animex invited all participants to a hot snack and drinks.
Results by ANIMEX Group :
City |
T water |
pH |
DO % |
Turbidity JTU |
Dębica |
10 |
8 |
35 |
40 |
Suwałki |
8 |
7,5 |
39 |
0 |
Starachowice |
9,1 |
7,5 |
37,3 |
0 |
Iława |
14 |
8 |
39 |
40 |
Ełk |
15,8 |
7,8 |
41 |
0 |
Opole |
10 |
7,7 |
35 |
0 |
Szczecin |
11,5 |
8 |
37 |
0 |
Ostroda |
16 |
6 |
42 |
0 |
Romania
Corocaiesti Village
A WWMD event was held in Corocaiesti Village (Northern Romania) near the Siret River on Tuesday, 28 October 2008. Ten teachers and students from the Secondary School Corocaiesti attended the event. The group collected many water sample from the main waterbody and used the WWMD test kit. This Siret was selected for monitoring because it is the main source of water in the area. Both teachers and students were happy to test this water for their community.
Galati
Water has no taste, no color, no odor; it cannot be defined, art relished while ever mysterious. Not necessary to life, but rather life itself. It fills us with a gratification that exceeds the delight of the senses.
ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPERY (1900-1944), Wind, Sand, and Stars, 1939
A group of seventh grade students accompanied by Ms. Georgiana Munteanu, the teacher responsible for European projects, left school on 25 November—a beautiful autumn day—and headed for the Danube. The river is quite near their school, School 2 Galati, so that in about fifteen minutes they reached the bank. The Danube is the second biggest river in Europe, and the city of Galati is 160 km from its flow into the Black Sea, 
forming the richest and wildest delta on the continent.
Water samples were taken from three different places along the Danube bank, all in the city area. Lacking special test kits, the experiments and the measurements were done at school in the chemistry laboratory. Ms. Viorica Cortojan, the chemistry teacher, prepared all the equipment necessary to analyze the different water samples. The students could determine some characteristics of the water such as temperature, clarity, color, smell, pH, ions of chlorine and sulphur.
The results of the experiment proved that the Danube water contains small quantities of ions of sulphur and chlorine; the pH is between 6.5 and 8; and the clarity is at average level. Due to this activity, the students could demonstrate that the water of the Danube is not polluted or (at least) it is under the suspicion level.
Very encouraging and appreciated by the teachers was the students' enthusiasm and their desire to be engaged in further activities for the environment. Everybody agreed that more teams need to be formed to check the parameters of the Danube at regular intervals.
Hunedoara County
Scoala Generala Petros-Baru, located in a village in Hunedoara County, participated in the World Water Monitoring project from November to December. 80 students participated in this event, collecting 100 samples from four different bodies of water: the Barisor River, Strei River, Muncel River and Crivedia River.
The surrounding areas of the rivers are mainly agricultural. While the water is mostly clean and clear, conditions that 
were noted were "dirty" water and trash, which had been thrown in the rivers or on the ground. Throughout the month of the sample collections, the outside temperatures ranged from 3°C to 18°C, and the water temperatures ranged from 1°C to 13°C. The pH levels of all the waterbodies ranged from 4 to 10, and turbidity ranged from 0 JTU to 100 JTU. The sites where samples were collected were selected because they are the main bodies of water in the area. Also, they were chosen so that students could have hands-on experience in learning and seeing how their water is polluted by the community’s inhabitants and the local factory.
All students were glad to be able to partake in this project. They said that it was very nice to be able to go out into their village and learn about pollution and actually see what was happening with their water. The adults, including Ms. Ana Tecau, the English teacher, and Ms. Sara Renals, a Peace Corps volunteer, who participated in the project also enjoyed learning about the surrounding environment and how pollution can have an impact on water resources.
Timisoara
Smithfield Ferme, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods, Inc., hosted World Water Monitoring Day activities in Timisoara on October 16. On the shores of the Bega River, eighth-grade students from William Shakespeare High School conducted basic water quality tests, assisted by their teachers and Smithfield Ferme employees. “The water from Bega is not too clean, as I can see. I did not see how it is tested before now," said Elena Sinoi, a pupil in the eighth grade E3. Representatives of local authorities, media outlets, water quality experts, and parents also attended the event.
Smithfield Foods, Inc. has invested over EUR 30 million so far in non-polluting technology and, together with the Pedological and Agrochemical Studies Office, it continuously monitors the quality of waters in the areas where it owns production units.
Singapore
Tertiary students from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) participated in World Water Monitoring Day hosted by CH2M HILL this October. They gained first-hand experience in assessing the health of their local watershed and learned more about the technical aspects of designing a blue and green network via conversion of existing concrete canals into aesthetic and clean waterways for residents and users.
Students were given a tour and conducted testing of the Kallang River (Kolam Ayer ABC Waterfront), the first completed project from the Active, Beautiful and Clean (ABC) Waters Programme by PUB, Singapore’s national water agency. Conducted personally by Mr. Tan Ngo Chiaw, the Managing Director of CH2M HILL Singapore, students were given first-hand information and tryouts on the various elements such as water play sculptures — Archimedes Screw, Waterwheel, Hand Weirs, a floating deck that extends out into the river — as well as learning about cleansing biotopes.
The second half of the morning was spent back in NTU where Project Manager Mr. Lee Tuck Wai gave a presentation on “Stormwater Management Best Management Practices”. Students were then separated into smaller groups to discuss the question “How can we incorporate Sustainable Stormwater Management design in Singapore?”
Overall feedback for the program was positive, "I think this site visit is very meaningful, because I learnt a lot about practical things. And I feel so good to get close to nature; surely I will participate in more site visits in the future," said student Lai Chuen Hien.
Spain
ADECAGUA, a WWMD Partner and WEF Member Association, organized El Día Mundial del Control de la Calidad del Agua (World Water Monitoring Day) for the second year thanks to the economic and technical help of the Ministerio del Medio Ambiente, Medio Rural Rural y Marino.
In addition to the four indicators usually tested for WWMD, ADECAGUA has added tests for nitrates, hardness and benthos, as well as habitat assessments (vegetation) to its program.
Since September 18, ADECAGUA has provided 600 WWMD kits to its collaborators, who represent more than 7,000 participants throughout Spain and four Spanish-speaking countries in South America that also asked to participate. These participants include 68 schools, 55 associations, 26 environmental education centers, 11 town halls, eight universties and 110 individuals.
Hundred of places are being monitored in Spain, and ADECAGUA looks forward to reaching some 2000 sampling points in 2008. The association hopes that this experience will be the basis to produce new feelings in Spain about water quality and contribute to citizens' water quality knowledge.
Swaziland
Ngomane High School is in the east of the kingdom of Swaziland in Africa. Water testing was done over two days on October 22 and 23. The waterbodies first tested were Manzempunga, Black Mbuluzi, Lusushwana and Mbuluzana streams. These water bodies are found in Simunye and Manzini. The idea was to test water in different environmental conditions such as agricultural and industrial.
The event was attended by about 300 pupils and teachers. The day started with traditional dances to spice the day and lectures to students on the general importance of water and the importance of the water testing exercise. After that, the group watched the instructional DVD provided by the World Water Monitoring Day program. The activity was very educative to the students and teachers who resolved to test the water twice a year to compare the results. Most of the sites had cloudy water but water was running well.
Ngomane High School wishes to thank the school adminstration for sponsoring transport to go to these sites, the World Water Monitoring Day program for donating the test kits that enabled all 300 students to test, ENO (Environment Online) for the encouragement and Ms. Lieke Van Hoven for her effort in making sure that the kits were received.
Thailand
On Friday, 17 October, SLP Environmental sponsored a World Water Monitoring Day event on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand with the objective of promoting public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world.
Liz Pearmain, an Environmental Consultant and Director at SLP Environmental based in South East Asia, co-organised and sponsored the event with Green Networking Days, a networking group that meets on a monthly basis with the aim of bringing together individuals and businesses interested in issues related to the environment. The water monitoring event was held along the lower reach of the Chao Phraya River running through Bangkok, aboard the Prem Centre Magic Eyes Barge, an educational classroom and floating laboratory housed upon a converted rice barge.
Thirty members of Green Networking Days, with assistance from experienced water monitoring volunteers from both SLP Environmental and the Prem Centre Magic Eyes Barge performed water monitoring tests on water samples for dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity (clarity), and temperature (the four parameters required by the Water Monitoring Day program). The water monitoring was undertaken at two locations along the Chao Phraya River. The first sampling location was upstream in the centre of the Chao Phraya River near the Rama VIII Bridge and the second was downstream at Wat Dao Khanong Pier, Thonburi where Dao Khanong Klong (Canal) joins the Chao Phraya River.
The results indicated a slight deterioration in water quality between the two monitoring locations and this is considered to reflect the fact that Klong Dao Khanong discharges waters with a higher level of organic and suspended solids into the Chao Phraya River at this location. Speakers at the event also gave participants an overview of the significance of the Chao Phraya River and its watersheds to Thailand. They also explored the environmental issues associated with the degradation of water quality in the river as a result of anthropogenic activities. In addition, participants discussed the benefits of adopting a more environmentally friendly and ecologically sustainable way of life.
The Chao Phraya River Basin covers approximately 35% of Thailand’s land mass, rises in the mountains of Doi Inthanon National Park in north west Thailand near Chiang Mai and runs for 1,085 kilometers before entering the Gulf of Thailand in Samut Prakarn Province. The Chao Phraya watershed contains several large rivers, including the Ping, Wang, Yom, and Nan, and it also includes many smaller rivers such as the Tha Chin, Pasak and Lopburi.
Much of Thai history can be traced along the banks of the Chao Phraya River and today the Chao Phraya River remains the most important waterway for the people of central Thailand as a source of water for domestic use, agriculture, industry, transport, religious festivals and leisure. Feedback from the day was extremely positive and all agreed that it is critical that a holistic management plan for the Chao Phraya River and its Basin is formulated and implemented in order that future generations of Thais can continue to enjoy the enormous benefits this vital watercourse bestows upon the Country.
Tobago
As part of Tobago’s campaign to promote clean water, Barry Lovelace (Education and Outreach Coordinator, Buccoo Reef Trust (BRT)) and Jan-Willem van Bochove (Chief Technical Advisor, Coral Cay Conservation (CCC)) were invited to Channel 5’s ‘Rise & Shine’ television program to share their views on the importance of clean water to the health of Tobago’s people and its natural resources. The guests emphasized the importance of 
clean water, not only for the citizens of Tobago but also to support healthy coral reef systems which are sensitive to polluted and dirty water runoff.
The one-hour program presented a valuable opportunity for WWMD to reach a wider audience and
stimulate local community groups and schools to get actively involved in the educational and
scholarship programs BRT and CCC run. The BRT has been actively involved in this program for several years, providing local schools with monitoring kits kindly donated by the WWMD organizers.
The BRT also organized and held several field trips on the 19th and 26th September for high school
students from Tobago as part of awareness raising for WWMD. Students were firstly taken to inland water catchments before heading down to Buccoo Beach. They were given on-site lectures from BRT staff (Hyacinth Armstrong and Barry Lovelace) covering water catchment management and the role mangroves play in sediment trapping. Clint Cameron (Project Scientist) from CCC complemented these lectures with a talk on the effects of land based pollution and water runoff on coral reef health. Students were then taken on a glass bottom boat tour of Buccoo Reef Marine Park, which enabled them to see the progression of ecosystems from mangrove forests through to seagrass beds and coral reefs.
The BRT and CCC would like to thank the WWMD organizers for providing water monitoring sampling kits.
United States
Alaska
More than 200 people participated in WWMD events in Alaska thanks to a partnership with the State of Alaska’s Department of Environmental Conservation and watershed groups in the state’s three largest cities.
In the capital city, Juneau, DEC and Juneau Watershed Partnership members took 50 sixth graders from Dzantik’l Heeni Middle School to conduct water quality 
monitoring at Switzer Creek.
More than 900 miles north in Fairbanks members from DEC, Tanana Valley Watershed Association, and Secondary Education majors (student teachers) from the University of Alaska Fairbanks set up a water carnival with games and testing stations on the Tanana River. Games included a “pH Toss” where kids threw balls into buckets and won a prize if they made it in a bucket with a healthy pH, a water equivalence activity that demonstrated how much water is in the world compared to how much groundwater and how much freshwater, and a “go fish” game where kids would fish with a magnetic pole and would bring up sick or dying fish with the reason they are sick—kids would keep fishing until they get a healthy one and get a prize.
In Anchorage, members from the Anchorage Waterways Council and DEC set up a testing station at Chester Creek and had buckets of water from the city’s two other major creeks available for testing.
Arizona
In celebration of World Water Monitoring Day and Children’s Environmental Health Month, on October 8, Show Low High School biology students tested the water quality of Show Low Lake and Fool Hollow Lake. See their report.
California
On September 25, 61 Bell Elementary students from Ellen Ochoa Learning Center participated in the first World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) event hosted by the Los Angeles CH2M HILL office (LAC). In spite of the hot weather, students arrived at De Forest Park very enthusiastic and eager to start using their World Water Monitoring Day test kits.
Dave 
Jones, Water Business Group Lead of the Los Angeles office, was excited to welcome the children and increase their awareness in the protection of water quality. CH2M HILL employees from the Santa Ana office were also a part of this year’s WWMD effort. Maryam Alborzfar and Rob Henderson donned WWMD t-shirts and joined LAC employees in showing the kids how to test water for dissolved oxygen, acidity, turbidity and temperature.
During the overview of WWMD, the children demonstrated great interest and knowledge on water quality thanks to the great job their teachers Claudia Morales and Melanie McCord did in instructing them prior to the event. Going over the safety instructions was an interactive process in which the children again demonstrated great familiarity and excitement.
After the kids became acquainted with their CH2M HILL team leaders, they were taken to the bodies of water, which were fed by a storm drain. The process was very fun and educational especially because the site was full of trash, which allowed the children to better understand the harmful effects of pollution. Plastic bags, cans, water bottles and even a Barbie car were found in the water.
CH2M HILL/LAC was honored to have support from Zora Baharians of the City of Los Angeles Watershed Protection Division during this event. Baharians was very enthusiastic about teaching the children how to test for the different parameters and how to understand the results. Once all the children had an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in water monitoring, they boarded the bus to continue their World Water Monitoring Day adventure. It was then off to Dominguez Gap Wetlands, one of CH2M HILL’s projects.
Unlike the waterbodies at De Forest Park, the Dominguez Gap Wetlands were clean, beautiful and filled with wildlife. The children observed a mosaic of native plant communities and habitats—from tricolor blackbirds in the cattail thickets to great blue herons, ducks and other bird species. The Dominguez Gap Wetlands, located along the Los Angeles River north of the 405 Freeway, is a one-of-a-kind project in the Los Angeles County area. It maintains the integrity of flood protection along the urban lower reaches of the L.A. River, while introducing new water quality elements, groundwater recharge, restoration of native habitat, pedestrian/equestrian trails and environmental education.
After first monitoring a site filled with trash, the children now had an opportunity to see how engineered wetlands are an excellent way of treating contaminated water. At the wetlands, the group learned about the water cycle and how the wetlands’ large basins store water from the Los Angeles River and storm water, and recharge groundwater. David Towel, Senior Project Manager at LAC, shared his knowledge with the children on how wetlands function to enhance water quality.
The LAC World Water Monitoring Day event ended around noon with a tour of the wetlands. Throughout the tour the children demonstrated their interest in understanding the functions of wetlands plant life and posed questions about wetland engineering.
The WWMD event hosted by the LAC office was a great success thanks to all those who supported it. Despite the very hot weather, the children of Ellen Ochoa Learning Center really enjoyed the event and were very thankful for the opportunity to monitor the water. The world has now gained 61 new water monitors!
Colorado
Denver
Denver area students helped kick-off World Water Monitoring Day 2008 on September 18 by monitoring water quality at the South Platte River. Volunteers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CH2M HILL, and REI hosted over 100 middle and high school students from Earth Force, the Colorado I Have a Dream Foundation, cityWILD and ELK (Environmental Learning for Kids).
Participants learned firsthand about water quality by testing the South Platte River for four basic parameters of water quality (pH, turbidity, temperature and dissolved oxygen) and entering their results into the World Water Monitoring Day database. EPA displays, equipment and staff provided hands-on opportunities to learn about polluted runoff, microbiology and stream macroinvertebrates. Mayor John Hickenlooper proclaimed September 18 World Water Monitoring Day in the City of Denver as an opportunity to bring communities closer to their local waters.
Greeley
This year, the City of Greeley (Colorado) Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) and the Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP) sponsored a World Water Monitoring Day event. The entire 5th grade—80 students—from Dos Rios Elementary School participated in the WWMD event, which was conducted at the Poudre Learning Center.
Mrs. Lynn Perrich, one of the many teachers who 
organized the children's participation stated, “This event is very important to the kids and allows them to interact with specialists, collect data and understand what affects our water resources.”
IPP technicians Eddie Treviño and Bob Alexander demonstrated to the groups how to collect the water samples and conduct the tests. Mrs. Yenni Garcia, a Graduate Fellow from the University of Northern Colorado, said she would like to collect the information several times throughout the year to create a database of the sampling sites. Two sites were sampled: a small lake (top picture) and a section of the Cache La Poudre River (bottom picture).
“We would like the kids to see what, if any, changes occur throughout the year and what impact that has on the aquatic life in these two bodies of water,” said Mrs. Garcia.
The children collected lots of data that now needs to be looked at to determine the health of the lake and the river. Isaac Sosa told IPP technician Eddie Treviño, “I really liked being a scientist for the day, collecting important information about the health of our river.” And Vanessa Gonzales said, “I really liked learning about our water resources and why we need to keep our rivers and lakes clean.”
Georgia
On the afternoon of October 10th, 2008, two classes each of third and fourth graders from May Howard Elementary School, gathered to conduct the first World Water Monitoring Event in the Savannah, Georgia, area. As a coastal community that relies on water for recreation, tourism, industry, as well as potable drinking water, water quality is a topic of high interest for all community 
members. However, special emphasis was placed on this day, at educating the 70 students in attendance.
The students were able to collect water samples from the dock of Miss Judy’s Fishing Charters, located across the street from their campus on Wilmington Island. Miss Judy is a local fishing legend, who for three decades has owned and operated her fishing charter business, and routinely supports the local elementary school and community around her. The students were thrilled to meet Captain Judy, who is known for providing the daily fishing forecast for the local news and radio stations, and who not only generously offered the students access to beautiful Turner Creek, but even stuck around for the sampling activity!
The previous day had brought thunderstorms to the area, but that afternoon the weather stayed overcast and warm. Remarks about the importance of good water quality were made by the school principal, Vernon Cole, as well as City of Savannah Councilman, Larry Stuber. County Commissioner Pat Farrell, on behalf of Chatham County Commission, presented the school with a proclamation – that October 10th, 2008, was to be recognized as World Water Monitoring Day for the residents of Chatham County. Also in attendance was Leo Beckman, representing the Georgia Ports Authority.
The City of Savannah Environmental Affairs and Stormwater Department, along with the Metropolitan Planning Commission, printed posters for the students to take home, earmarking this special date in local history, as well as reminding them of a few important facts about water. 4th grade teachers Dawn McKinstry and Constance Hinely also ordered a copy of “A Waterproof Case” for each of the students, who even completed a homework assignment the night prior, to prepare for a successful event!
The students collected water samples from the dock in two groups, then split up into groups of 5 students to complete the four tests with assistance from their teachers, parents, and volunteers from the CH2M HILL Savannah office. There was lively discussion about the results of the testing, and how the community enjoys the benefits of clean water every day, whether swimming, fishing, boating, or making a living, relying on the coastal waters. A total of eight samples were tested, with results that indicate a healthy condition in our nearby waterways, but the students know it will be up to them, as the community’s future leaders, to keep these waters in condition to keep enjoying these rewards of coastal living.
Indiana
Cub Scouts, students from local schools, and parents came together to monitor water quality in White Lick Creek in Brownsburg, Indiana on a beautiful Saturday morning in early October. Local scientist, Greg Bright from Commonwealth Biomonitoring, helped the group collect fish from the stream to demonstrate how water quality affects fish communities. The group collected 12 fish species, including some, like smallmouth bass and darters, that require excellent water quality. Everyone then had a chance to touch the fish and return them to the stream. The day was planned by the City of Brownsburg storm water program.
Iowa
The staff and students at the Iowa School for the Deaf (ISD) have been involved in their local watershed improvement project for several years. In 2006, they began IOWATER monitoring in the Little Pony Creek and the rehabilitated wetlands on their Council Bluffs, Iowa campus. They participated in their first World Water Monitoring Day in 2007.
On 
September 25, the students from ISD, their instructor Kris Newton and a visiting student from neighboring Lewis Central Middle School met at Lake Manawa State Park to enjoy a WWMD field day. The group met with staff from United States Geological Survey (USGS), The Iowa Department of Ag & Land Stewardship (IDALS) and Pottawattamie County Resource Planner Kevin Seevers. Staff photographer Josh White from The Council Bluffs Nonpareil was also in attendance.
The students started at the Longs Landing Missouri River access site. The students were shown the boat, probes and sampling equipment that USGS uses to monitor the river. The students learned that USGS tests for the same parameters that they test for and how the data is used.
As part of their campus water monitoring project, USGS has partnered with ISD and the West Pottawattamie Soil & Water Conservation District to install a real time monitoring station on the school grounds. The monitor collects data from both the wetlands and the creek every 15 minutes and uploads the data to the USGS website. The students can monitor the gauge depth, precipitation, and the air and water temperature from their computers anytime. The data can be found on the USGS website.
The students then moved to Boy Scout Island, a public area on Lake Manawa. Lake Manawa is a large recreational lake that is on the Iowa Department of Natural Resources 303D list of impaired waters. There the students collected several water samples for testing. Using IOWATER testing techniques. tests were done for pH, dissolved oxygen, chloride, phosphates, nitrates, nitrites, and water and air temperature.
The kids’ favorite part of the day was wearing hip and chest waders as they waded into the lake to collect specimen macrinvertebrates for identification. The students also enjoyed seeing their story in the newspaper the next day ("More to Lakes than Water and Fish”) and have learned the importance of the conservation practices used to improve water quality.
Kentucky
Grayson
On September 23, 2008, 12 employees from Smithfield Food's Grayson plant, led by Wastewater Manager Cliff Evans, participated in World Water Monitoring Day. Seven new employees, bringing the total
number of new hires for the facility to over 300, participated in the effort during their orientation to the plant.
The employees sampled water quality from the Little Sandy River located behind the plant. Being an environmentally friendly plant is something that has been taken seriously over the years. Together we can keep our earth healthy and this world beautiful for generations to come.
Lyon County
More and more, students are leading the efforts to protect their local environment. Living in a world shrunken by technology, they have a better understanding of the interdependence of important natural resources in a larger, global setting. The Lyon County Conservation Youth Board participated in World Water Monitoring Day by testing the waters at Kuttawa Beach area on Monday, September 22. Each month the Youth Board members test the waters and send in the results to the Division of Water. In observance of World Water Monitoring Day, the youth also conducted a habitat assessment at the test site.
Each year, World Water Monitoring Day presents an important opportunity for young people to become involved in safeguarding natural resources on a local, national and international scale. While engaged in this annual event, students can learn more about the watersheds in which they live, how watersheds work and how protecting their waters can have beneficial impacts downstream.
Louisiana
This year, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality scientists Kyle Levy, Rhyshima Parms-Green and Al Hindrichs have taken on the responsibility of recruiting and assisting four local educational organizations with their involvement in this year’s event. They will be going to each organization’s selected testing site, delivering free-of-charge special water quality test kits to them and remaining on site to assist them with the use of the kits.
The educational organizations participating are Baton Rouge Magnet High School Environmental Science Club, who have chosen to test Bluebonnet Swamp, Baker Middle School, (Cypress Bayou), Greater Mount Carmel Baptist Church Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts Troop (Comite River) and St. Thomas More Catholic School (School Pond). Each will perform water quality tests on their chosen waterbody for dissolved oxygen, temperature, turbidity and pH by using the special test kits provided. After performing the tests, they will share their results with the entire world on the World Water Monitoring Day website at www.WorldWaterMonitoringDay.org.
By participating in World Water Monitoring Day, the students and members of each organization will gain an increased knowledge of how they can help build public awareness and become an active participant in protecting water resources in their community.
Massachusetts
On October 16, two third grade classes from Ditson Elemetary School in Billerica, MA participated in World Water Monitoring Day 2008. The field trip was concurrent to the third-grade curriculum of studying surface water. Students tested acidity (pH), clarity, dissolved oxygen levels and temperature in Nuttings Lake.
Woodard & Curran Vice President Jay G. Sheehan, PE, who participated in the event, commented, “At Woodard & Curran, we believe we have a responsibility to introduce future generations to the environment and foster good habits for environmental and pollution prevention.”
- Volunteers who made the project possible include:
- Local environmental consulting firm Woodard & Curran;
- Billerica Wastewater Treatment Plant Lab Technician Jeff Kalmes;
- Superintendent Lorraine Sanders;
- Numerous Billerica town employees;
- Teachers Lisa Bejian and Kathy Leavit;
- Parents and other school chaperones.
On average, the results came back with a pH of 5.5, a clarity of 40, a dissolved oxygen level of seven parts per million and water temperatures of 19 degrees—generally as expected for the waterbody, excepting the low pH level.
Michigan
Hundreds of Michigan students will have first hand-hand experience raising fish this year but unlike the usual home pet fish scenario with guppies or goldfish, these students are raising Chinook salmon. Michigan’s Salmon in the Classroom program, sponsored by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, allows educators the opportunity to raise salmon from eggs they acquire at a hatchery in the fall until their release in a Michigan streams each spring.
During the developmental period in-between, the educators use activities provided in a teacher resource kit to educate their students about Michigan’s freshwater resources and the aquatic life that flourishes there. Many contributions make the resource kit popular including the World Water Monitoring Day kits donated to the program by Glenn Oliver, founder of H2bid.com. “The partnerships make this whole program possible,” said the DNR’s Kevin Frailey who manages the program. “There is no better way to teach stewardship for our natural resources than to have students actually be responsible for their success.”
New Hampshire
In honor of World Water Monitoring Day 2008, fifth- and sixth-grade students at Seacoast Charter School in Kingston, New Hampshire studied their portion of the Powwow River Watershed. Brian F. Goetz of environmental consulting firm Weston & Sampson led the students through the two-week project.
During his first visit to the class, Goetz discussed watersheds and sub-watersheds with the students. His presentation gave a broad overview and then highlighted the Powwow River Watershed, which drains to the Merrimack River and, eventually, the Atlantic Ocean. During the presentation, the class was instructed to “be a watershed.” This exercise involved the students holding buckets of varying sizes to represent the ponds, lakes, and rivers that feed into the Kingston portion of the watershed. The class then simulated a one-inch rainfall event. Each bucket was filled with an inch of water, and the students then worked their way through the “watershed” by emptying buckets from the top all the way down to the ocean. This demonstration gave the students a personal example of the interconnections that water bodies have in a watershed.
The second week, Goetz and the students sampled waters from the major water bodies in Kingston, drawing attention from the local newspaper. The results of the students’ monitoring have been posted to the WWMD database, and the class plans on sampling again next year.
New York
On September 18, the students of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School (Beverly Hills, Mich.) spilled into the streets of upper Manhattan. Armed with their science kits, they set out on a mission to test the rivers in the Inwood area of Manhattan on World Water Monitoring Day. Grades one through eight actively took part at three different testing locations.
At approximately 9:30 in the morning, the first- and fifth-graders set out on their journey west to the Hudson River, located at Swindle Cove, to begin their testing for turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), air temperature and water temperature. Fifty-two students participated in this group.
Around the same time, approximately 50 second- and fourth-graders proceeded to the east end of Dyckman Street to test the water.
The largest group, 120 third-, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders went to the northern section of Inwood Hill Park to the estuary. At this point, the Hudson River and East Harlem River meet. This group was larger because the schools’ eighth-graders are familiar with the process of water testing and were able to lead and monitor the younger students.
Before setting out, the students familiarized themselves with the information needed to perform the task ahead. Analyzing the data collected made the actual testing of the water meaningful and educational. The students were presented with new ideas and concepts and, in the end, successfully tested the three river sites. Our Lady Queen of Martyrs hopes to be involved in the future and welcomes any new methods of teaching science and helping our environment.
Rhode Island
During the month of October 2008, the Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) in Providence, Rhode Island hosted water quality monitoring field trips for more than 500 students and teachers, from nine different Rhode Island communities. The water quality monitoring field trips are a part of the NBC’s year-long environmental education program, the Woon Watershed Explorers.
As a Woon Watershed Explorer, students in grades 3-5 complete hands-on activities to learn more about the health of their local watersheds. Through the Woon Watershed Explorers Program and the help of amazing students, the NBC is able to collect extensive water quality data every year. This year, water quality data was collected from eight different testing sites in Rhode Island.
NBC will complete more water quality tests with the students in January and April to see if there are seasonal impacts on the water quality. Through the Woon Watershed Explorers Program and the help of the Green Water Quality Monitoring test kits, students learn about the water quality parameters of dissolved oxygen, phosphate, nitrate, pH, temperature, and fecal coliform bacteria. They also learn about ways that they can help make a positive impact on their watershed.
Almost all of the testing sites in Rhode Island had low dissolved oxygen levels, but tested well for pH, nitrate, and phosphate. One site on the Woonasquatucket River in Smithfield, Rhode Island tested well for every single test including fecal coliform bacteria. It was also at that site where the salamander in the picture was found.
The Narragansett Bay Commission would like to sincerely thank all of the students, teachers, and chaperons involved in its Woon Watershed Explorers Program field trips for their hard work and dedication this October. Their data has been posted on the World Water Monitoring Day website so that others can view their findings.
South Dakota
On Friday, October 3 a group of 21 third- through seventh-grade students tested the waters of the Missouri River and the Bad River, which border Lilly Park. The students are participants in the 21st Century Community Learning Center, a federally funded program that provides children with academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours. The program is staffed by the South Dakota Discovery Center.
Twice a month on Fridays, this group meets at Lilly Park in Fort Pierre. The group voted to test the water for its program on the third in honor of World Water Monitoring Day. After jotting down some personal water quality predictions, they headed off to monitor. Their first stop was the boat dock on the Bad River, where some students saw a fish jump. The second stop was through the tall grass trail leading to the Missouri River. There many noted that while they had swam in the river, they had never tested the water quality before. After lots of learning and fun, the majority voted to test the water again next year (if not before)!
Tennessee
September 25 and 26 were great World Water Monitoring Day(s) at Discovery Center in Murfreesboro. Homeschool children, public school classes and private school classes all joined in the investigative fun— called Walk on the Wild Side.
Sponsored in part by a grant from Project WET, Tennessee students and adults spent 
the day engaging in hands-on activities of many kinds, including water testing. Discovery Center at Murfree Spring is located on a 25-acre urban wetland with a spring feeding it. Wading in the creek and testing the water quality for pH and temperature were a part of the days’ activities. Other stations included live wetland wild animal observations and petting of Discovery Center’s tame pets. Art and science about water were the focus of the field day.
Stations were designed to expose children to many aspects and the importance of wetlands. Food webs, catch and release of pond critters and plants, microscopic examination of protozoans that were living in the water, lessons on karst topography and watershed activities were all stations that were placed throughout the wetland. Students and adults chose their stations of interest. A count of 800+ students and adults attended the two day celebration.
Volunteer presenters included local municipal stormwater directors, Tennessee Wildlife and Environmental Conservation personnel, Murfreesboro City Park Department personnel, college students and Discovery Center Board members. Several local grocery stores and restaurants contributed reusable shopping bags and food for all of the volunteers. The two day event was a community affair and very successful in encouraging the public in the business of water quality concerns and monitoring.
Virginia
On September 24, 2008, six associates from the Tetra Tech EM Inc office in Reston, Virginia participated in World Water Monitoring Day. The group of environmental scientists and engineers collected water samples from the dock at Lake Anne, which is close to their office. A resident goose also tried to join in the fun. The activities led to lively discussion about the monitored parameters and what they indicate. The group was relieved when the sampling was complete, and no one had fallen off the rickety dock into the lake. It was a nice fall afternoon for a volunteer/community service event, and a good reason to get out of the office for a break!
In conjunction with this event, two Stafford County residents also collected samples at Lake Curtis in Stafford County, Virginia on September 20. They had been looking forward to it as a way to give back to their community and help the environment. During water sampling activities, lots of small fish were observed in the lake.
West Virginia
In the last few decades, global concern has narrowed its scope and focused on sustaining a healthy environment for future generations. On September 20th, Girl Scouts of the Black Diamond Council joined Project Flow in an effort to enhance environmental awareness. Girl Scouts from troops 3352, 8048, 4904, and 8010 celebrated World Water Monitoring Day by successfully monitoring the health of Waddles Run, located in Oglebay Park, Wheeling, West Virginia.
The Girl Scouts completed a series of chemical tests used to calculate the health of a stream. After the completion the chemical tests, the Girl Scouts monitored the biological health of the stream by catching and identifying Benthic Macroinvertebrates. The day was commenced by taking a closer look at the Benthic Macroinvertebrates underneath a projecting microscope. The Girl Scouts examined the intricate anatomy of the invertebrates and discussed specific adaptations for individual species.
Wyoming
Seventy-eight students from Saratoga Elementary and Saratoga Middle High School participated in
World Water Monitoring Day through the Saratoga-Encampment-Rawlins (SER)
Conservation District. In the beautiful Snowy Range Mountains fourth through sixth
grades tested water at Brush Creek Ranger Station in the Medicine Bow National Forest.
Earth Science and Chemistry classes from Saratoga Middle High School conducted tests on the North Platte River which runs through the town of Saratoga. “Students who live here are very aware of natural resources and the importance of maintaining the health of those resources, especially our water”, explains Jean Runner, Education Coordinator for SER Conservation District. One sophomore chemistry student observed, “Our water is really clean and healthy and I like being out here doing testing instead of in the classroom.” This is the sixth year SER CD has involved area students in WWMD.