September 18
World Water Monitoring Day
World Water Monitoring Day is an international day established in 2003 by the American Clean Water Foundation (ACWF) as a global educational program. The program, subsequently named the World Water Monitoring Challenge and the EarthEcho Water Challenge, aims to build public awareness and engagement in water conservation around the world by empowering citizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local water sources.
A simple testing kit allows anyone, children and adults alike, to collect samples of local water for a range of water quality parameters including temperature, pH acidity, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen (DO). Information on purchasing low-cost testing kits is available from the current sponsor organization, EarthEcho International, and the results of monitoring activities are then shared with participating communities worldwide on the sponsor's website.
World Water Monitoring Day was originally celebrated annually on October 18. This date was originally chosen a month later to commemorate the Clean Water Act, which was enacted by Congress in 1972 to restore and protect water resources. In 2007, the date was changed to facilitate participation in parts of the world where temperatures reach freezing at that time.
