 Waterwatch perform a number of physical and chemical water tests that can tell us a lot about the health of the waterway and its creatures. We choose these tests because they:
- are easy to do
- are inexpensive
- can be done beside the waterway to get an immediate result (no lab required)
- can tell us about the ecological health of a waterway, such as if a river can sustain life
Once the tests are done the results are compared to a ratings table, or guidelines on ecological health. Over time (seasons and years) if the results continue to exceed these guidelines, action should be taken to discover what is causing the waterway to get these results, and to come up with a solution. Solutions include planting trees, installing litter traps, or raising awareness within the local community and landowners to stop the pollution they may be inadvertently causing.
Waterwatch Melbourne Field Monitoring Methods
Waterwatch Melbourne uses its own methods for field monitoring. These methods are common parameters that are measured in the field by Waterwatchers. They include measuring:
- Temperature
- Dissolved Oxygen
- pH
- Electrical Conductivity
- Turbidity
- Phosphorus
- Nitrogen/Ammonia
- Water bugs (Macroinvertebrates)
For more information on these methods, see the Waterwatch Melbourne Monitoring Methods Manual.
Other Waterwatch Monitoring Manuals and Guides
The following references may also help you to gain a better understanding of monitoring:
Safety
When collecting samples in the field, or handling samples or chemicals, safety is extremely important. Find out more about monitoring safety.
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