The City of Lexington invites residents to check water quality in their own backyards this summer as part of the City’s Watershed-Focused Monitoring Program. The current round of testing will focus on the Wolf Run watershed, in the heart of Fayette County.
Training for new volunteers will take place Friday, May 5 at 9 a.m. at the Town Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant Training Room, 301 Lisle Industrial Ave. Volunteers should email Lindsie Nicholas at lnicholas@lexingtonky.gov to RSVP.
Trained volunteers can participate in up to ten sampling events this summer, from May to September. Alongside city staff, volunteers will visit sites in the Wolf Run watershed to collect and test water samples.
Draft water quality data is shared with volunteers. “LFUCG should be commended for its willingness to share the information with interested stakeholders in the community,” says Ken Cooke, a longtime volunteer and the Kentucky River Watershed Watch partnership liaison. “The volunteers participating get almost real-time looks at the draft data, community leadership are given reports, and results are discussed in a number of community forums that provide opportunities for input on solutions.”
This field work helps identify sources of pollution. “The comprehensive nature of this monitoring has given us real and actionable information to identify hot spots that need immediate attention, as well as a solid basis for evaluating long term efforts to improve our watersheds and water quality,” adds Mr. Cooke. For example, volunteer data has been helpful in determining whether high levels of E. coli in our streams are linked to leaking sewer lines or wildlife that naturally live in the environment. This information drives efforts to clean and protect local creeks.
Other parameters evaluated include flow, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, chlorine, detergents, phosphorus, ammonia, nitrate, and suspended solids.
With appreciation for this unique program and the municipal government’s commitment to quality, Mr. Cooke summarized his thoughts by stating, “If you like doing real science applied to real solutions, this activity is for you!”
