Waterwatch Melbourne provides support and expertise to co.jpg) mmunity members so they can:
- Understand waterway health issues
- Learn how to monitor and collect data from their local rivers and creeks
- Interpret and understand the data they collect
- Discover how to improve the health of our rivers and creeks
- Become involved in activities to improve the health of our rivers and creeks
Waterwatch groups are taught to monitor water quality, conduct bug (macroinvertebrate) surveys and assess habitats.
Waterwatch Melbourne provides educational activities for schools, communities and businesses. It also provides education resources and support for teachers wanting to involve their class in Waterwatch or to simply raise awareness of waterway health issues amongst school children.
Waterwatch Melbourne engages with businesses to educate and raise awareness of waterway health issues and to involve them in local waterway projects.
Water Quality Monitoring
Waterwatch groups are taught how to use water testing kits to monitor the quality of their local waterways. Information collected by Waterwatch groups helps to improve understanding of local rivers and creeks, and is useful in helping to identify the source of pollution entering our waterways. Using this information, Waterwatch groups can identify what can be done at a local level to improve the health of their rivers and creeks.
Water Bug (Macroinvertebrate) Surveys
Surveys of macroinvertebrates, or water bugs as they are more commonly known, are a popular part of the Waterwatch program. These surveys involve identifying the ‘bugs’ living in our waterways. Some macroinvertebrates are very sensitive to pollution which means they provide an excellent indicator of the health of our waterways. Waterwatch groups are taught how to sample, identify and classify bugs in their waterways.
Habitat Assessment
A habitat assessment involves looking at the vegetation and conditions of the banks and bed along a river or creek. The condition of the vegetation, banks and riverbeds provides a good indication of the health of the waterway. Habitat assessments are often used by Waterwatch groups to identify areas that need rehabilitation to return the habitat to its original condition.
Educational Activities
Waterwatch educational activites are popular with both primary and secondary school students as well as businesses and community groups. Hands-on activities help people to understand how their everyday activities can affect the health of our waterways.
Find out more about what we monitor. |