World Water Monitoring Day, September 18, 2007

The USGS is proud to be a sponsor of World Water Monitoring Day on September 18, an annual event coordinated by the Water Environment Federation and the International Water Association. Citizens of the global community will join in this worldwide opportunity to positively impact the health of rivers, lakes, estuaries and other waters. Volunteer monitoring groups, water quality agencies, students and the general public are invited to test four key indicators of water quality: temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and turbidity.

As in past years, monitoring, water-related festivals, and other events will take place starting September 18 and last through October.

Under sunny, but abnormally warm western New York skies, Bill Kappel, Ed Bugliosi, Steve Shaw, and Bill Coon of the NY Water Science Center, assisted over 150 students in stream sampling and water-quality testing. For the sixth year in a row, middle and high school students from six different schools gathered as part of World Water Monitoring Day celebrations, sponsored by the USGS, US-EPA, the Onondaga Lake Partnership, and the Onondaga Environmental Institute. The sampling took place on October 3rd and 4th in Onondaga Creek, south of Syracuse, NY. Water sampling kits were provided by the US-EPA and the Onondaga Lake Partnership, and USGS provided water-sampling equipment and personnel to instruct the students on proper stream-sampling techniques and water-quality testing procedures.

USGS joined Water Environment Federation and International Water Association in officially celebrating the kick-off of the 2007 World Water Monitoring Day along the banks of the Potomac River in historic Alexandria, Virginia. USGS Associate Director for Water, Bob Hirsch, served as one of the dignitaries in this well-attended event, along with Environmental Protection Agency Assistant Administrator for Water, Ben Grumbles, Congressman Jim Moran (D-Va), and ABC Meteorologist, Joe Witte.

USGS Hydrologists, Robert Mason and Pixie Hamiton, spearheaded hands-on, educational booths on streamflow and water-quality monitoring for about 80 school-age children.

It was a great opportunity to demonstrate the value of streamgaging and real-time data on stream flow and water quality.

"Water Jeopardy" North Dakota Style and So Much More!
In celebration of World Water Monitoring Day, the USGS North Dakota Water Science Center will team up once again with sixth graders from Pioneer Elementary School in Bismarck on September 27, 2007. As part of their classroom science studies, students visit a local river environment and collect water samples from the Missouri River at nearby Cross Ranch State Park. USGS scientists will lead students in lab activities and discussions about water quality and the effects of pollution on the State’s water systems. Teams of students will also participate in a computerized version of “Water Jeopardy” – North Dakota-style. This is the third year that the USGS and Pioneer Elementary have teamed up for these activities. For more information about this event, contact Gregg Wiche at gjwiche@usgs.gov.

New Jersey students will have the opportunity to conduct their own simple water quality tests during the USGS New Jersey Water Science Center’s World Water Monitoring Day activities, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007, at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey. More than 100 students from local high schools will be attending the event, which is being organized by the USGS and other partnering organizations. Students can witness streamgage demonstrations, water quality sampling techniques, and equipment installations. Monitoring kits will be available for teachers to take back to their schools so they can collect data on a local water way. For more information contact Robert Reiser at (609)771-3980 or rreiser@usgs.gov.

Virginia is for Lovers of Water Quality: Scientists and school-age children can explore five different “stations” at Robious Landing Park on the James River near Richmond, Virginia. Stations will include water monitoring, exhibits, and demonstrations. All are invited to find out how healthy the river is on Friday, October 19, 2007. The USGS Virginia Water Science Center site contains information on how to register to monitor your own stream. For more information contact Gary Speiran at (804)261-2642 or gspeiran@usgs.gov.

In support of World Water Monitoring Day activities, the USGS Maryland-Delaware and District of Columbia Water Science Center is holding an Open House at their new location at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County Research Park. Everyone is invited to celebrate the new site on October 24, to meet with scientists and learn about the numerous programs that investigate the occurrence, quantity, quality, distribution and movement of water. This event will also provide an opportunity for visitors to get an overall perspective of USGS programs and science. For more information visit the Maryland-Delaware and DC Water Science Center website or contact Mastin Mount at (443)498-5566 or mmmount@usgs.gov.

In conjunction with World Water Monitoring Day, hydrologist, Cheryl Miller, will begin a program to engage high school students near Cheyenne, Wyoming in water-quality monitoring of a local watershed. The monthly program will kick off on September 26. Students will design a monitoring plan, track changes in the stream and learn more about the local ground and surface water throughout the school year. For more information please contact Cheryl Eddy Miller at (307) 775-9167.

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Page Last Modified: Tuesday, July 08, 2008


Ed Bugliosi (front) and Bill Kappel (rear) instruct students on proper water-quality testing techniques for World Water Monitoring Day activities.	Ed Bugliosi (left) and Bill Kappel (right) of the Ithaca Office, New York Water Science Center instruct a class of 10th grade students on the proper way to collect stream samples in Onondaga Creek, south of Syracuse, NY.	A class of 10th grade students are outfitted with waders and personal-flotation devices prior to being instructed on proper water-quality data collection and testing techniques.