Description

Becoming a volunteer with Ballinderry Rivers Trust through Earthwatch’s Freshwater Watch is a hands-on way to make a real difference to the health of your local rivers and streams. As a citizen scientist, you’ll help monitor water quality and contribute valuable data to support conservation work across the Ballinderry River catchment.

As a volunteer, you will:

• Attend a short training session to learn how to safely carry out water sampling and record environmental data.
• Visit local rivers, streams, ponds, or lakes to collect water samples on a regular basis.
• Use a simple Freshwater Watch test kit to measure:
  • Nitrate and phosphate levels (nutrient pollution)
  • Water clarity (turbidity)
  • Visible signs of pollution (algae, litter, odour, etc.)
• Record observations about weather conditions, land use, and any wildlife sightings.
• Upload your results to a global online database, contributing to a worldwide effort to monitor freshwater ecosystems.

Your data will help the Ballinderry Rivers Trust:

• Track changes in water quality over time
• Identify sources of pollution or stress
• Support community-led conservation and restoration projects
• Inform local environmental decision-making

Whether you’re passionate about the environment, looking to learn new skills, or just want to get involved in your local community, this is a meaningful way to protect freshwater habitats for future generations.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Collect a water sample from a site within the Ballinderry River Catchment
• Test the levels of Phosphate and Nitrate in the water
• Record observations and upload results