FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Lori Burkhammer, (703) 684-2480
lburkhammer@wef.org
September 19, 2006
Water Environment Federation Celebrates World Water Monitoring Day on the Anacostia River in Washington, DC
Alexandria, VA · The Water Environment Federation (WEF) will join with Earth Conservation Corps (ECC) to host World Water Monitoring Day™ 2006 on Wednesday, October 18 at the Anacostia River in Washington, DC. Ben Grumbles, Assistant Administrator for U.S. EPA’s Office of Water, will lead local dignitaries, water quality professionals, environmental groups and local-area students in hands-on testing of the river’s water quality.
World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) is an international outreach program that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world. Held annually between September 18 and October 18, the program engages communities in monitoring the condition of local rivers, streams, estuaries and other water bodies. Since its inception in 2002, more than 80,000 people have participated in 50 countries.
Sponsored by CH2M Hill and Smithfield Foods, the event will take place at ECC’s Matthew Henson Earth Conservation Center located at 2000 Half Street, SW in Washington, DC from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm. Following brief opening remarks, attendees will participate in a water monitoring demonstration by ECC corps members and then break into groups to conduct hands-on testing of the water. The event is open to the media and will include a continental breakfast for members of the press and opportunities to interview dignitaries, corps members and students.
“Monitoring of streams, lakes and rivers is taking place all over the world by people of all ages and backgrounds who care about protecting water in their communities,” said Linda Kelly, Managing Director of Public Communications for WEF. “There’s no better place to show the U.S. commitment to water quality than by holding World Water Monitoring Day in our nation’s capital.”
An easy-to-use test kit enables everyone from children to adults to sample local water bodies for a core set of water quality parameters including temperature, acidity (pH), clarity (turbidity) and dissolved oxygen (DO). Results are then put into an international database and summarized on the program's web site.
Formally adopted by the Federation in July 2006, WEF and its primary international partner - the International Water Association (IWA) - encourages citizens and organizations from around the globe to share in this unique experience of water quality monitoring. For more information, visit www.WorldWaterMonitoringDay.com .
Note to editors:
Media representatives interested in attending should contact Lori Burkhammer, WEF Director of Public Information at lburkhammer@wef.org or 703-684-2480. In addition to coverage opportunities, media are also encouraged to participate in the monitoring activities.
About WEF
Founded in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with members from varied disciplines who work toward the WEF vision of preservation and enhancement of the global water environment. The WEF network includes water quality professionals from 76 Member Associations in 30 countries.