Article

Put your river to the test

What does the sacred spring at Lake Tana, the might Zambezi, the Blue Nile or the Mississippi have in common with scholars, scientists, volunteers and students across the globe?  They may all be involved in a world-wide experiment culminating on 18th October this year to test the state of your local river, lake or stream. 

And you need not be an expert. World Water Monitoring Day calls on just about anyone concerned about the state of their local water from amateurs to experienced volunteers to assist in capturing data on the state of our water.

All that is needed is a water-testing kit capable of testing four basic water properties: temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and water clarity (turbidity). Budding scientists and volunteers can take measurements anywhere between 18th September to 18th October. The data received will then be captured on data sheets entered by country and location on the World Water Monitoring Day website: www.worldwatermonitoringday.org 

The event is targeted at schoolchildren and budding young scientists, to those who rely on fresh water for sport and recreation such as anglers, swimmers and canoeists to water industry professionals and to anyone with an interest or concern for the environment. World water monitoring day is a fun proactive way for ordinary people to protect and preserve their local freshwater.

The event has even caught the attention of a team of rafters. In one exciting part of the World Water Monitoring Day celebrations, a team of rafters called the 'Colour of the Nile' will conduct water experiments in several countries as they complete and unbroken journey from the source to the mouth of the Blue Nile. Passing through Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt they will test the waters of the Blue Nile in all countries. They will even be visiting a sacred spring which empties into Laka Tana and guarded by Coptic Monks who claim that their spring is the true source of the Blue Nile. They hope to be able to test the water of this sacred spring.

The organizers, behind this annual event, the International Water Association and America's clean Water Foundation are calling on organizations globally to help sponsor local testing of water by funding the purchase of water-testing kits.

The water testing kits can be ordered via the following website www.worldwatermonitoringday.org and consist of enough materials to be reused up to 50 times.

African countries initially being targeted include Morocco, South Africa, Mozambique and Zambia where IWA has already developed strategic contacts and infrastructure. However, contributions from water monitors across the globe are encouraged and sought.

More information:

To get involved, contact the co-ordinators at the International Water Association www.iwahq.org.uk or email wwmd@iwahq.org.uk. 

Science in Africa - Africa's First On-Line Science Magazine

Copyright  2002, Science in Africa, Science magazine for Africa CC. All Rights Reserved

Terms and Conditions