Washington, DC (September 13, 2018)
This September, explorer and environmental advocate Philippe Cousteau, Jr. and EarthEcho International invite you to take part in protecting one of your community’s most precious resources—water. In celebration of World Water Monitoring Day on September 18, EarthEcho is supporting water monitoring events around the world and equipping community members with online resources to help them monitor and protect the health of community water supplies. The World Water Monitoring Day tools and activities are part of the EarthEcho Water Challenge, an international program that equips anyone to combat the global water crisis starting in their own communities.
“The water that sustains our cities and towns needs our focus and support to keep these essential resources healthy and clean; we can’t depend on local or federal regulations alone to protect our community water,” said EarthEcho founder Philippe Cousteau, Jr. “When you participate in World Water Monitoring Day activities you are playing an active role in the ongoing health and prosperity of your community.”
Leading up to and during World Water Monitoring Day, EarthEcho will provide a variety of ways to engage individuals, organizations and communities in monitoring and protecting their water resources on September 18. Those interested in taking action in their community can visit www.monitorwater.org to order an EarthEcho Water Challenge test kit, share their water quality data and download toolkits and other resources to help guide their efforts to protect local waterways. Participants join a network of over 1.5 million citizen scientists who have taken action to monitor and protect water resources in 146 countries through this program. Throughout the day, EarthEcho will share live broadcasts and updates from water monitoring events across the country on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and encourage participants to join the conversation using hashtag #MonitorWater.
EarthEcho is collaborating with partners on a variety of water monitoring events that will take place on September 18 and developing new educational tools to engage young people in learning more about their local water quality. Highlights include:
World Water Monitoring Day Celebration in Chicago, IL:
Cousteau and EarthEcho team members will join Friends of the Chicago River in Chicago’s Clark Park on September 18, teaming up with local Chicago students to monitor water quality and cleanup the Chicago River Watershed. The event will provide an opportunity for student leaders to guide their peers and community members through the water monitoring process, while teaching them about opportunities to help restore the Chicago River Watershed. Volunteers from leading water technology company and EarthEcho Water Challenge sponsor Xylem, Inc. will be on hand to assist with testing and mentor participating students.
EarthEcho Water Challenge Ambassadors Lead Events Nationwide:
This year, EarthEcho selected its inaugural class of EarthEcho Water Challenge Ambassadors – 20 young leaders from across the United States tasked with leading their peers and community members to monitor and protect water resources in their local community. As part of their role, Ambassadors will carry out World Water Monitoring Day events in their communities to raise awareness about their local waterways and engage community members in protecting these ecosystems.
Collaboration with Brains On! to Inspire Young Water Scientists:
EarthEcho has teamed up with Brains On!, an NSF-Funded, award winning science podcast for kids and curious adults, to activate young water scientists and stewards. Through a new series of podcasts, young children are invited to investigate the fascinating world of water science and become a Brains On! Water Detective by monitoring local water quality through the EarthEcho Water Challenge. Podcasts and additional resources can be accessed at monitorwater.org/brainson.
The EarthEcho Water Challenge is made possible through the generous support of Xylem Watermark. In addition, the following organizations are collaborating with the EarthEcho Water Challenge through outreach, resources and events: American Kayaking Association; Austin Youth River Watch; BetterWorld Telecom; Brains On! through the Water Main Initiative, the City of Greenville; Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center; Drinkable Rivers; the EarthWays Center at the Missouri Botanical Gardens; the Florida Aquarium; Friends of the Chicago River; Girl Scouts of Silver Sage; Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition; Indiana University’s Bradford Woods; InHerit; the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation; LaMotte Company; Living Lands & Waters; Love A Sea Turtle; Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center; Miami Dade County Public Schools; Mote Marine Laboratory; Mystic Aquarium; Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores; Partnership for the Sounds; NYS Hudson River Estuary Program; Ocean Protection Advocacy Kids, Inc.; Ocean Steward; River Haggie Outdoors; River Park North; San Juan Bay Estuary Program; The Sink or Swim Project; Tennessee Valley Authority; Tinker's Creek Watershed Partners; the Water Environment Federation; Wander Like Water; and YES Prep Public Schools
For more information, visit www.monitorwater.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Media Contact - Ellie Klausmeyer
202.276.834 eklausmeyer@fenton.com
