[Excerpts from Aug. 8th EPA Press Release]
To ensure that Americans and citizens around the globe have clean water for domestic, agricultural, commercial and recreational uses, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is partnering with America's Clean Water Foundation and the International Water Association to urge people around the world to test the quality of their streams, lakes, wetlands, and coastal waters. The first World Water Monitoring Day will be held Oct. 18, 2003.

EPA Assistant Administrator for Water G. Tracy Mehan III, Roberta Savage, President of America's Clean Water Foundation, and Andrew Speers, representing the International Water Association, London, England, held a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. to announce the first World Water Monitoring Day and to talk about the importance of monitoring water quality by collecting and analyzing water samples and using adequate data to protect the world's water resources.

Roberta Savage, President of America's Clean Water Foundation said, "As the creator of National Water Monitoring Day, America's Clean Water Foundation was delighted by the participation of more than 75,000 Americans in 2002. Now in 2003 we have the opportunity to work with the International Water Association, the US Environmental Protection Agency and other federal partners, state and interstate agencies, watershed organizations and individuals throughout the world to promote personal stewardship and individual responsibility for the integrity of our world water. Our goal is to involve people throughout the world in this annual event and establish a base line for evaluating water quality trends."

Full Release
World Water Monitoring Day Website

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