Today more than 100 fifth-grade students from the metro-area are participating in water quality testing as part of Denver’s fourth annual World Water Monitoring Day event at Confluence Park.

Students from Denver’s Teller Elementary School and Aurora’s Fletcher Intermediate School are testing the water quality of the South Platte River. Through this event, the students will gain first-hand experience with water quality monitoring assessments, designed to be a basic “checkup” for the river. The goal of the event is to promote environmental stewardship by teaching students about their local water resources and empowering them to take ownership in protecting our environment. At the completion of the event, students will share the results of the water quality tests in a global database.

Beyond water testing, students will participate in a number of activities to teach them about water quality. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Trout Unlimited will help students identify aquatic insects, which are indicators for ecosystem health. Students will also learn about stormwater runoff by participating in an interactive role-playing game facilitated by Earth Force and the Colorado Department of Transportation.

The World Water Monitoring Day event is sponsored by The EPA, CH2M HILL, Denver Public Works’ Keep It Clean program, Earth Force, Trout Unlimited and the Colorado Department of Transportation.   Denver’s Keep It program and Earth Force develop and implement water quality education programs in Denver Public Schools.

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 bodies.

Do you know of other World Water Monitoring Day events happening near you? Share them!
Do you monitor water quality regularly? Set up a volunteer water monitoring group in your hometown by working with Colorado River Watch.