Sept. 11, 2007 -- The Water Environment Federation (WEF) will join with the International Water Association (IWA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and other partnering organizations to kick-off activities for World Water Monitoring Day 2007. Benjamin H. Grumbles, Assistant Administrator for U.S. EPA's Office of Water, will lead a diverse group of participants in hands-on testing of the Potomac River. Special guest Joe Witte, weekend meteorologist for ABC 7/WJLA-TV, will provide remarks during the opening program.
World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) is an international outreach program that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world. Held annually between Sept. 18 and October 18, the program engages communities in monitoring the condition of local rivers, streams, estuaries and other water bodies. During the kick-off event, attendees will break into small groups to conduct hands-on testing of the river for a core set of water quality parameters including temperature, acidity (pH), clarity (turbidity) and dissolved oxygen (DO).
The day will also feature fun and educational activities on a number of water-related topics such as stream flow, rainwater recycling, aquatic insects and a Chesapeake Bay blue crab display. In addition, attendees will also have the opportunity to use Enviroscape, an interactive learning tool that helps make a visual connection between land use and water quality. Participating organizations include the Girl Scouts of the USA, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, the Jewish National Fund, LaMotte Company, the Washington Area Sewer Authority, the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, the National Environmental Education Foundation, the Campagna Center and the Alexandria Division of Environmental Quality. Program sponsors include EPA, USGS, Perkin Elmer Instruments, Smithfield Foods, CH2M Hill and ITT Corporation.
When: Tuesday, Sept. 18, 10:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Where: Oronoco Bay Park, Alexandria, Va.
Why: The primary goal of World Water Monitoring Day is to educate and engage citizens in the protection of water resources around the world. Many communities around the world are unaware of the condition of their water quality and the impact of their behaviors on the quality of their water resources. Conducting simple monitoring tests teaches participants about some of the most common indicators of water health and encourages further participation in more formal citizen monitoring efforts. Since its inception in 2002, more than 80,000 people have participated in 50 countries. For more information, visit www.WorldWaterMonitoringDay.com.
The event is free and open to the public.
Formed in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with 32,000 individual members and 80 affiliated Member Associations representing an additional 50,000 water quality professionals throughout the world. WEF and its member associations proudly work to achieve our mission of preserving and enhancing the global water environment.
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