‘Izaak Walton League events promote nitrate pollution awareness, monitoring’
The Izaak Walton League of America is marking Nitrate Pollution Awareness Week (July 26–August 1) with a series of free virtual events designed to educate the public about nitrate pollution and encourage people to take action. Throughout the week, participants can join expert-led webinars, request free Nitrate Watch test kits to monitor local waterways and drinking water, and complete advocacy activities to help raise awareness about one of the nation’s most widespread water quality challenges.
The article highlights that nitrate pollution—largely caused by fertilizer runoff, manure, and wastewater—can threaten drinking water supplies, contribute to harmful algal blooms, and pose risks to human health. By engaging volunteers in community science through the League’s Nitrate Watch program, organizers hope to collect valuable water quality data, empower communities to better understand local conditions, and build public support for solutions that protect clean water for future generations.
Your kit will include a bottle containing 25 nitrate test strips which you can use to test your water source(s) throughout the year. You’ll also receive postcards explaining how to use your nitrate test strips and how to share your Nitrate Watch results on the Clean Water Hub.
Your kit will include four test strips so you can test your waterway throughout the season. You’ll also receive a chart to help you interpret your results and a postcard with instructions for completing a Salt Watch test and reporting your findings.