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Maine Celebrates World Water Monitoring Day

Release Date: 10/24/2006
Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. – Oct. 24, 2006) - Several Maine groups were recognized by EPA for their efforts to provide volunteer water quality monitoring, which is helping Maine residents to have a cleaner environment.

EPA, joined by state officials and local environmental groups celebrating World Water Monitoring Day today at Riverbank Park in Westbrook, awarded equipment to volunteer water quality monitoring groups, including the Pleasant River Watershed Council and Narraguagus River Watershed Council; the HighLand Lake Association; the Spruce Creek Association; the Union River Watershed Coalition and the Presumpscot River Watch. Using this equipment, volunteers will assess the water quality conditions of Maine lakes, rivers and estuaries with the data collected. Over the years, volunteers have been successful in raising awareness of failing septic systems, illicit discharges of sanitary sewerage, and nonpoint source runoff.

“At least 200 New England groups are helping to protect our environment by doing volunteer water quality monitoring,” said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “These volunteers are an incredible resource helping all of us to know the condition of our streams, rivers and ponds, and I’m pleased that we can provide equipment to these groups to help them expand their sampling programs. EPA commends all the volunteers doing their part to monitor Maine’s waters.”

World Water Monitoring Day is an initiative co-sponsored by EPA and the Water Environment Federation to urge people around the world to test the quality of their streams, lakes, wetlands and coastal waters. This international outreach program builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world. Held annually, it encourages communities to monitor the condition of local rivers, streams, estuaries and other water bodies. Since its inception, more than 80,000 people have participated in 50 countries.

More information on World Water Monitoring Day (epa.gov/owow/monitoring/)

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