Global Participation in World Water Monitoring Day(TM) Increased by 67 Percent in 2009

More than 120,000 people on six continents monitored the condition of their local water bodies

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A total of 122,599 people worldwide visited their local streams, rivers, lakes and other water bodies in celebration of World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) 2009, according to the program's Year in Review report released this week by the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the International Water Association (IWA). The 2009 results represent a 67 percent increase in program participation from the previous year.

As an international education and outreach program that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world, WWMD engages citizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local water bodies. Although some participants acted as individuals, many took part with schools, universities, civic, environmental, and faith-based groups. Data was reported from 81 countries, up 11 from the 70 logged in 2008, including the United States with 4,155 monitored sites, followed by Spain (1,651), Malaysia (439) and India (288).

Participants from Argentina to Zimbabwe tested their local waterways for four key water quality indicators: dissolved oxygen (DO), pH (acidity), temperature, and turbidity (clarity). Some groups also monitored for the presence of certain macroinvertebrates such as dragonflies, mayflies and scuds. Samples were taken in a range of settings -- agricultural, commercial, residential and industrial -- on six continents. Throughout 2009, the program distributed 16,000 WWMD monitoring kits worldwide -- 773 more kits than those distributed in the previous year.

WWMD is officially observed each year on September 18. Beginning in 2009, the monitoring window was expanded to allow participants the flexibility to monitor and report data to the WWMD database anytime from March 22 (World Water Day) until December 31.

WEF and IWA received financial and in-kind support from the program's primary sponsors including the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, PerkinElmer, ITT Corporation, Sinclair Knight Merz, and Smithfield Foods.

For a complete list of program partners, as well as more detailed statistics, please see the World Water Monitoring Day 2009 Year in Review, which is available online at www.worldwatermonitoringday.org or via request to [email protected].

About WEF

Formed in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with 36,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing water quality professionals around the world. WEF and its Member Associations proudly work to achieve our mission of preserving and enhancing the global water environment.

About IWA

The International Water Association (IWA) is a global network of water professionals that spans the continuum between research and practice, covering all facets of the water cycle. IWA membership comprises 10,000 individuals and 400 corporate members working in 130 countries. The Association seeks to connect water professionals worldwide to lead the development of effective and sustainable approaches to water management.

SOURCE Water Environment Federation