In the United States, state, federal, and local agencies, universities, dischargers, and volunteers monitor fresh water bodies. Water quality data are used to identify trends, identify emerging problems, determine whether pollution control programs are working, help direct pollution control efforts and respond to emergencies such as discharges and spills.

Increasingly, US states are turning to networks of volunteers to assist in monitoring the water quality of the nation’s lakes and rivers. This trend has resulted in the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issuing a ‘how to’ document on the subject. The EPA’s manual is aimed at both the volunteer and the state agencies setting up the programs; it has practical guidelines and identifies ‘best practices’ that will result in consistency and uniform reporting standards….More