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• Gabrielle Parent-Doliner, Director of Swimmable Water Programs
  October 30, 2017

The primary purpose of recreational water quality monitoring is the protection of public health and safety from contaminated water.

However, in both Canada and the US there are major gaps in monitoring of the waters where people love to swim.

In collaboration with Swim Guide, IDEXX Laboratories hosted a webinar series on citizen science, and what people are doing to address the gaps in recreational water quality monitoring.

The webinars look at the importance of recreational water quality monitoring for the protection of public health. They provide an overview of recreational water use in the USA and Canada, and what beaches mean to Americans and Canadians. Recreational water quality monitoring practices across the USA and Canada are reviewed, as are the gaps in water quality information in both countries. Finally, the webinars discuss the contributions that citizen science and independent monitoring are making to the protection of public health and the protection and restoration of the health of our favourite beaches, and swimming spots.

Accessing the webinars

US: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/1479110/78A28924D7A98C86B49BEA476897B638
This webinar will focus on the importance of recreational water quality monitoring for the protection of public health. Recreational water quality rules, and water quality monitoring practices and public notification systems across USA will be reviewed in detail. The webinar will also discuss recreational water quality programs that organizations and citizens have launched in order to fill the gaps in the public’s awareness of the water quality at their favorite swimming place.

Canada: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/1479137/B17A24108F8AA18F843D3D6B8B0D27CB
Over half of Canadians feel very strongly that water is part of our national identity, according to the 2017 RBC Canadian Water Attitudes Study.
This webinar will focus on the importance of recreational water quality monitoring for the protection of public health. Recreational water quality rules, and provincial water quality monitoring practices and public notification systems across Canada will be reviewed in detail. The webinar will also discuss recreational water quality programs that organizations and citizens have launched in order to fill the gaps in the public’s awareness of the water quality at their favourite swimming place.

Thank you IDEXX LABORATORIES for supporting Swim Guide.