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Citizen science monitoring programme transforms freshwater ecosystem management

3 February 2025

Freshwater ecosystems globally are facing increasing stressors, while traditional surface water monitoring by regulatory agencies is often hampered by financial and political constraints. However, citizen science is providing a promising solution.

Person in high-vis acket holding tube with water sample

A new study by Dr Izzy Bishop and collaborators from the environmental charity Earthwatch Europe has outlined the criteria they used to develop the first global citizen science monitoring programme for water quality - called Freshwater Watch - based on standardized methodologies supporting the Agenda 2030 indicator 6.3.2 and the EU’s Water Framework Directive. The programme ensures robust quality control and training, enabling citizen scientists to support regulatory monitoring and decision-making processes effectively.

Key findings from over 80 use cases across four biogeographical regions highlight the potential for citizen scientists to contribute to water monitoring and management. Laboratory and field experiments validated the chemical and optical methods used, ensuring the reliability and transferability of data. The study revealed consistent seasonal and spatial trends in macronutrient concentrations, with nitrate and phosphate levels showing increases in areas of agricultural intensification and industrial land use. Additionally, seasonal variations were observed, with nitrate concentrations peaking in spring and autumn, and phosphate levels highest in summer and autumn.

Importantly, the observations made by citizen scientists are being used by local and regional stakeholders to manage freshwater ecosystems effectively. This study demonstrates the significant potential for scaling citizen science-based monitoring programmes to contribute to a global assessment of water quality.

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Article

UCL profile: Izzy Bishop

Freshwater Watch