Happy World Water Monitoring Day!

Each year since 2002, thousands of people across the globe have participated in World Water Monitoring Day. This important annual outreach invites citizens throughout the world to monitor the quality of local streams, rivers, lakes, ponds and other water resources. The official World Water Monitoring Day is being observed today, September 18th, but citizens can test water anytime between March 22 and December 31 and report the results to an international database.

You don't have to be an experienced water monitor to participate. An easy-to-use test kit will enable everyone regardless of age or experience to sample for a core set of water quality parameters including temperature, pH (acidity), turbidity (clarity) and dissolved oxygen (DO). Results can then be shared with participating communities around the globe through the World Water Monitoring Day Web site.

Here at URWA, we test the water in the pond at Fairview Farm as part of World Water Monitoring Day, and URWA volunteers conduct an extensive sampling program each spring and summer on the Rockaway Creak, Peapack Brook and North Branch of the Raritan River. Results of this year's sampling program will be posted on our web site soon.

We are going to start monitoring the Black (Lamington) River, and we invite all prospective river monitors to a training session on October 3rd:

Black River Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program Training
Saturday, October 3rd from 9:00 a.m. to Noon
Purnell School, Pottersville Road, Pottersville
There is no cost to attend. Please email LTheis@urwa.org or call (908) 234-1852, ext. 12 to register by Wednesday, September 30th

To learn more about World Water Monitoring Day or URWA's Stream Monitoring Program, contact URWA at (908) 234-1852

Susan Brookman, Membership Program Director