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.

The State of Illinois has administered a volunteer-based monitoring program since 1981. Set up through the State EPA, the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program (VLMP) utilizes the time and talents of citizen volunteers. The VLMP serves as an educational program for Illinois citizens to learn about lake ecosystems, as well as a cost-effective method of gathering fundamental information on inland lakes. The VLMP basic program includes training volunteers to measure water clarity using a Secchi disk. The disk consists of an eight-inch diameter weighted metal plate painted black and white in alternate quadrants and attached to a calibrated rope. The disk is lowered into the lake, and the depth at which it is no longer visible is noted. This Secchi depth is used to document changes in the transparency of lake water within a given year, and transparency trends over many years. This water clarity monitoring is conducted twice a month from April - October, typically at three sites per lake.

Since 1985, Illinois has offered an expanded program, as well. In the expanded program, volunteers also collect water samples from one foot below the surface of the water. Samples are shipped to State EPA laboratories for analysis of water quality parameters including ammonia, nitrates, total phosphorus, and total and volatile suspended solids. This effective use of volunteers has allowed the State to monitor lake water quality more frequently and more broadly; prior to the program, State EPA employees were only able to collect samples from a fraction of the lakes, a few times per year.

Local and regional governments around the world should strongly consider setting up similar monitoring programs in their areas. Such programs can offer early warnings on potential health threats when there is still ample time to steer the outcome in a favorable direction. For those that are interested, the EPA’s manual can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/volunteer/lake/lakevolman.pdf

Along the same lines, World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) is an international outreach program administered by the Water Environment Federation (WEF) that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world. Held annually between September 18 and October 18, the program engages communities in monitoring the condition of local rivers, streams, estuaries and other water bodies. Since its inception in 2002, more than 80,000 people have participated in 50 countries. Help to celebrate World Water Monitoring Day by setting up a program or volunteering in your community.