ADEQ Water Watch app now available
Application allows users to answer questions about bodies of water around Arizona
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has released a “citizen scientist” smartphone app that invites residents and visitors to report potential water quality issues they see in lakes, rivers and other bodies of water.
The Arizona Water Watch Mobile App is available for Androids and iPhones, and allows users to answer a series of “yes” or “no” questions about the body of water they are observing and provide additional information if needed.
The observer can attach up to two photos, and leave other comments using up to 100 characters. Dry streams can be documented through the application as well.
The app seeks information such as whether it has rained in the last 48 hours, any presence or evidence of fish and other wildlife, observation about trash or other pollution, algal blooms and other conditions. In case there is no cellphone service available, reports can be saved as drafts and sent later.
The data goes straight to ADEQ scientists who analyze the data and identify water bodies for current or future study, providing volunteer opportunities for people of all ages to practice environmental science, program manager and water quality scientist Meghan Smart said.
“Arizona is full of dedicated outdoor enthusiasts and we’re excited that ADEQ now enables them to contribute observations that aid in the protection of our streams and lakes,” said Meghan Smart. With volunteers and state employees working together, we can increase the data collected, cover more of Arizona and expand volunteer opportunities within the new Arizona Water Watch program,” she said.
Citizen photos and comments will be plotted quarterly on a statewide map, using GIS coordinates to give the public a broader view of what has been documented with citizens’ help.
The app also gives access to higher-level volunteer opportunities for those who want to help the agency take water samples for testing, design studies specific to the body of water they will be studying, identify sources of pollution and other tasks which could require training.
The water watch app is accessible through Google Play or iTunes App Store by searching for Survey123 by ArcGIS, downloading the app and signing in with username “adeqwwa” and password “adeqwwa2.” Click “Get Surveys” and select “AZ Water Watch.”
For more information visit http://azdeq.gov/arizona-waterwatch-mobile-app, which includes a short video about using the app, or call (602) 771-4506. additional