Source: Brandon University http://www.brandonu.ca/news/article.asp?A_ID=1134 Brandon University students participate in World Water Monitoring DayOctober 20, 2006 BRANDON, MB – On Wednesday, October 18, Brandon University Professor and Chair of Botany Dr. Bill Paton and several of his students participated in World Water Monitoring Day. World Water Monitoring Day offers communities around the world a chance to positively impact the health of rivers, lakes estuaries and other water bodies. On this day, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and its primary international partner, the International Water Association (IWA) invite citizens and organizations from around the globe to share in this unique experience of water quality monitoring. Volunteer water monitoring groups, water quality agencies, students and the general public are asked to register a test site through the World Water Monitoring Day web site and test four key indicators of water quality at that site: temperature, pH levels, dissolved oxygen levels, and turbidity. Dr. Paton and his students tested three different sites along the Assiniboine River as it passes through Brandon, Manitoba. The information was then registered at the World Water Monitoring Day web site, which plays host to a database through which users can collect and compare water quality data from around the world. To visit the World Water Monitoring Day web site and the database, please go to: http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.com/ "Joining in this world-wide event begins to establish a record of water quality parameters in the Assiniboine at Brandon and will allow an ongoing assessment as to how the river is coping with our footprint in the region" says Dr. Paton. "We will also analyze some chemical parameters since there is great concern about the health of Lake Winnipeg downstream." Founded in 1928, the Water Environment Federation 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. For more information, please visit: http://www.wef.org. The International Water Association has its roots in two strong associations: the International Water Supply Association (IWSA) and the International Water Quality Association (IAWQ). IWSA was established in 1947 while IAWQ was originally formed as the International Association for Water Pollution Research in 1965. IWSA and IAWQ came together in a merger in 1999 to form IWA. The Association is a non-profit organization, self-governing and responsible to its governing members. A board, executive committee, a strategic council and various committees guide and direct the Association. IWA’s Vision is connecting water professionals worldwide to lead the development of effective and sustainable approaches to water management. The IWA missions is to create and foster a global network of leading-edge water professionals through the provision of services and products to members, including conferences, publications and support for member groups. In addition, to represent the views of members in international forums and to project key messages to the sector at large, aimed at advancing best practice in sustainable water management. For more information on the International Water Association, please visit: http://iwahq.org. For further information, please contact: Kelly Stifora Communications Officer Brandon University Phone: (204) 727-9762 Email: communications@brandonu.ca - 30 -
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