Fresh Water
Fighting for healthy freshwater habitats
Every drop of fresh water is precious.
But pollution, climate change and over-exploitation have brought our fresh water systems to crisis point. We want to transform our rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, wetlands and reservoirs into clean, thriving habitats for people and wildlife. Through the FreshWater Watch programmes, we use the power of citizen science to give communities across the globe the tools to monitor water quality, identify problems and fight for improvements.
By 2030, we want to see 100,000 people safeguard 10,000 water bodies across Europe and Africa.
Fresh water is scarce and freshwater ecosystems are endangered on a global scale.
Only 2.5% of all water in the world is fresh water, and less than 1% of this is accessible. By 2050, nearly 50% of the world’s population will be living in areas where water is scarce.
10% of the world’s animal species live exclusively in freshwater habitats, many of which are currently threatened with extinction.
Only 14% of the UK’s rivers are considered to be in good ecological health, and every single one of them fails to meet the required chemical standards.
How we make a difference
More than a decade of freshwater monitoring expertise
Since 2012, we have been connecting communities with their local freshwater bodies through training them in water quality monitoring. Using a simple water testing kit and accessing our online database, our citizen scientists can assess and document levels of nutrient pollution (phosphates and nitrates) over time.
WHAT FRESHWATER WATCH GROUPS HAVE ACHIEVED SO FAR
FreshWater Watch community groups across the globe
people taking action for fresh water
waterbodies monitored
freshwater quality datasets collected
By 2030, we want to see 100,000 people safeguard 10,000 waterbodies across Europe and Africa. We need your help to reach this milestone!
Join the fight for fresh water
Community groups
Experience the power of freshwater citizen science! We offer training in the use of our global data platform and water testing kits. Join an existing community group or set up your own.
WaterBlitz events
We organise local, national and international WaterBlitz events, encouraging members of the public to take water samples over one weekend. Keep an eye out for upcoming events.
Support FreshWater Watch
Help stand against water pollution by supporting Earthwatch Europe with a one-off or monthly donation
Businesses
Partner with us and help us equip more communities with the tools and knowledge to take action for their local freshwater resources. We are seeking visionary sponsors to help us drive the freshwater revolution forward. Talk to us about sponsorship opportunities today.
Stories
East Anglia Youth Rowing: Water testing on the River Cam
FreshWater Watch is our global movement of volunteers who test the… Read more
The Ealing Beaver Project: Water testing after the beaver reintroduction in London
FreshWater Watch is our global movement of volunteers who test the… Read more
Elly Platt: Revealing river pollution – stitch by stitch
The Great UK WaterBlitz is a biannual campaign calling on… Read more
Reg Godwin: Inspiring schools to dive into freshwater citizen science
FreshWater Watch is our citizen science programme that gives communities fresh water… Read more
Ramune Kuzminiene: Making a community care for their river
FreshWater Watch is our citizen science programme that gives communities… Read more
James Levelle: Living on the water
FreshWater Watch is our citizen science programme that gives communities fresh water… Read more
Rebecca Lewis: Discovering the wider river ecosystem
FreshWater Watch is our citizen science programme that gives communities fresh water… Read more
Tate & Lyle expands its sustainable stevia programme with Earthwatch Europe
Tate & Lyle PLC (Tate & Lyle) has entered into… Read more
Dave Wallace: Swimming in sewage
FreshWater Watch is our citizen science programme that gives communities fresh… Read more
FreshWater Watch: empowering Zambia’s next generation of citizen scientists
Enock Mwangilwa, National Office Projects’ Officer with the Wildlife and Environmental… Read moreFreshWater Watch News
Great UK WaterBlitz finds ‘cocktail of chemicals’ in UK rivers
Thousands of volunteer citizen scientists across the UK braved the wettest weekend of the year, 20-23 September, to test their… Read more
Earthwatch’s Great UK WaterBlitz finds 75% of rivers in poor ecological health
Earthwatch Europe publishes its report from the Great UK WaterBlitz, the UK’s largest citizen science water quality testing event, and… Read more
Earthwatch publishes results of the Big WaterBlitz 2022 revealing nutrient pollution as a global issue
From 30 September – 3 October 2022, Earthwatch Europe encouraged their existing FreshWater Watch community groups to take part in a global water… Read moreGet in touch
Want to join the fight for healthy freshwater habitats? Get in touch with our FreshWater Watch team today.
Donate
FreshWater Watch is only made possible through public support. Every donation helps us fight for healthy freshwater habitats.
Our Global FreshWater Watch Community
Through our FreshWater Watch programmes, we are proud to have created collaborations with organisations and communities across the globe.
From Argentina to Zambia, all our participating citizen scientists are using the same standardised water testing method, and contribute to our global FreshWater Watch database. The data map, which has been built up over many years, creates a lasting legacy and open access, meaning anyone can use it to track and mobilise change. This consistency means that we can make accurate global water quality comparisons that have never been possible before!
By monitoring their local water bodies, our citizen scientists around the world join a unified global effort to improve the health of fresh water for everyone, as reflected by the UN Sustainability Goal No. 6.
FreshWater Watch UK
