What is Water Monitoring?

2008 Water Monitoring Calendar

Volunteers conduct chemical and bacterial analysis of the water in the Wolf Bay watershed. Consistent sampling over several weeks or months can determine the general condition and trend of the water quality at a particular site.

Chemical monitoring looks at the levels of dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, alkalinity, turbidity, salinity and water temperature.

Bacteriological monitoring has become an increasingly important part of AWW over the last 5 years. AWW was one of the first citizen monitoring programs in the U.S. to receive EPA endorsement for bacteriological monitoring. No group has participated more in bacteriological monitoring than WBWW.

You can see reports for all of the Wolf Bay monitoring sites by clicking Alabama Water Watch Wolf Bay Water Monitoring Reports. To see a map of all of the sites click on Map of the Alabama Water Watch Wolf Bay Water Monitoring Sites.