Call to Action Help Protect Water Resources World Water Monitoring Day Starts Sept. 18

September 18, 2008 11:01 a.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Organizations are joining together to kick off the month-long international celebration of the annual World Water Monitoring Day, aimed at protecting the world's water resources.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is partnering with program coordinators in the event that runs from Sept. 18 to Oct. 18.

EPA officials say that raising public awareness and involvement in water monitoring is important to protecting water resources around the world.

"World Water Monitoring Day reconnects people with their watersheds and reminds us all to think globally and test locally," Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA's assistant administrator for water, said in a statement. "EPA supports this grass roots movement to measure for progress and develop community-based solutions."

During the event, people of all ages are encouraged to monitor the condition of local rivers, streams, estuaries and other waterbodies. By conducting simple monitoring tests, participants learn about the most common indicators of water health and often go on to participate in more formal monitoring efforts.

World Water Monitoring Day program coordinators are the Water Environment Federation and the International Water Association are joined by a number of partner organizations.

Organizers expect more participants this year than last year when more than 46,000 people tested water quality in 43 countries, with over 21,000 participants monitoring 2,250 sites in the United States.