World Water Monitoring Day

18 September (or any other day from 22  March to 31 December) (international)

While it is officially celebrated on 18 September, WWMD entails an extended monitoring period from 22 March (World Water Day) until 31 December, so that groups from around the world can be part of the global water quality monitoring programme.

World Water Monitoring Day is an international education and outreach program that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by engaging citizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local water resources (rivers, streams and standing waterbodies).WWMD is coordinated internationally by the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the International Water Association (IWA), with the assistance of many sponsors and partners in planning and promotion of the process.

Many people are unaware of the impact their actions have on the quality of their water resources. By conducting simple water monitoring tests, participants learn about some of the most common indicators of water health. This encourages them to become more involved in civic engagement and monitoring their water resources.

The results of monitoring tests performed by WWMD participants helps bring communities together. The results are published each year in the Year in Review report and made available on the WWMD website.

More info: the Kowie Cathment Campaign in Grahamstown and http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org/