The Southwest Florida Water Management District would like to invite local schools to participate in this year’s World Water Monitoring Day activities.
World Water Monitoring Day is actually a month-long, international outreach program that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world. The annual event invites students to monitor the quality of their local rivers, streams, estuaries, and other waterbodies from September 18 to October 18, and enter the results of their efforts in an international database. Participants have until Dec. 18 to register their data online.
The District is looking for interested teachers and students to participate by monitoring a local waterbody and reporting their findings. Participants will test for temperature, pH or acidity level, clarity and dissolved oxygen levels.
The District’s Youth Education Section will provide schools with a sample water quality testing kit, if needed. The District has two different water quality testing kits available, which are based on grade levels. One kit is for elementary students in kindergarten through fifth grade, and the other is for middle and high school students in sixth through twelfth-grade. Limited quantities are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
By participating in World Water Monitoring Day, local students will have the opportunity to join with thousands of volunteers across the nation. As part of last year’s World Water Monitoring Day, 46,000 people in 43 countries monitored water quality.
“While comprehensive monitoring goes on all year through District-sponsored programs, participating in this event is one more way to educate residents, and students about the importance of protecting our water resources,” said Mary Margaret Hull, lead communications coordinator.
More information on the program is available on the World Water Monitoring Day web site at www.worldwatermonitoringday.org.
If your school would like to participate in World Water Monitoring Day, please contact the District’s Youth Education Section at 352-796-7211, ext. 4757.