Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) will be running a water testing training session in Traralgon this Saturday for members of the community interested in learning how to protect their environment by getting involved in EPA’s citizen science program.
Participants will have access to comprehensive water testing kits to test water quality in the region and data collected by citizen scientists will be shared with EPA and the community.
The citizen science program aims to empower the Latrobe Valley community to actively participate in protecting their environment. The program relies on local volunteers to monitor water, air and other environmental data and share their findings.
EPA Citizen Science co-ordinator for Latrobe Valley, Carolyne Boothman said participants would use different types of scientific equipment to test water quality by measuring temperature, turbidity, pH, phosphate, water flow, and electrical conductivity.
They would also catch and identify aquatic macro invertebrates (animals in waterways without a backbone that are visible to the naked eye) as an indicator of water quality.
“The program has received strong support from the community. It’s great to see so many people wanting to contribute to environmental protection,” she said.
“We have eight schools involved in the program, monitoring local creeks and waterways and there are currently seven community members conducting water and air monitoring at a range of sites across the Latrobe Valley.
“We’re expecting this number to increase as more people are trained later this month.”
The event will be held at Federation Training Traralgon Campus, Princes Hwy, Traralgon (near the train station) this Saturday 18 April from 9.30am until 12.30pm.
The morning session will be followed by lunch (provided), and then quality assurance training with WaterWatch at the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, Hotham St, Traralgon from 1.00pm until 4.00pm. Potential citizen scientists will have to complete this session to be part of EPA’s citizen science program.
Registration is not necessary, community members are welcome to attend on the day. Participants are asked to bring a pen and notepad, and a snack for morning tea.
For more information, please contact Carolyne Boothman at EPA Traralgon, on 0417 176 365 or email: citizen.science@epa.vic.gov.au