World Water Monitoring Challenge spurs monitoring in 66 countries

People in 66 countries reported water quality data as part of the 2012 World Water Monitoring Challenge, according to a Water Environment Federation release.

Citizens of those countries made more than 250,000 visits to local waterways to collect data on water quality and biological indicators. Click here to see the recorded data from all participating countries.

The challenge was initiated by the Water Environment Federation to spur interest and understanding of the importance of healthy waterways.

The United States had the most monitoring sites, totaling 2,971. Spain followed with 1,320. Romania and Canada had the third and fourth most with 176 and 175 sites respectively.

Citizens in many developing countries also partook. The release specifically mentions that citizens in Zimbabwe monitored dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature and turbidity.  Click here to see the World Water Monitoring Challenge’s Year in Review.

Image: World Water Monitoring Challenge participants from Maclay School, Tallahassee, Fla. (Credit: World Water Monitoring Challenge)