Honouring the Citizen Scientists of the Toronto Monitoring Hub

Lake Ontario Waterkeeper is all about connecting people with water. Over the course of our 18 year history, we have had many successes getting waterfronts cleaned up and reopened to the public. Perhaps the best example is the opening of the Gord Edgar Downie Pier in Kingston, ON. This pier is Canada’s first urban natural swimming pier. The very first step towards swimmable, drinkable, fishable water has always been testing the water.  

We have routinely tested the water in the Toronto Harbour since 2016, monitoring recreational water quality by measuring E. coli bacteria levels. We reached out to the community for help. Since that call to action in 2016, citizens have been the heart of Toronto Monitoring Hub. 

The 2019 water monitoring season was the fourth for the Toronto Monitoring Hub and the most successful yet. This year we were able to expand water quality testing to even more locations. This is all because of the passionate, knowledgeable, and dedicated citizen scientists of Toronto, coming down in the early mornings to sample their local waters. 

These last four years of water monitoring could not have been possible without the help of volunteer citizen scientists.

The early days of sampling in Edmonton, on the North Saskatchewan River, AB.

The Citizen Scientists of Toronto

During the 2019 sampling season, over 540 citizen scientists learned to gather recreational water samples, document pollution, and take detailed environmental observations of the 8 sites monitored along Lake Ontario. Over 900 hours of fieldwork was donated by citizen scientists, and a core group of 57 regular volunteers was responsible for over 550 hours alone.

The citizen scientists taking part in the Toronto Hub travelled from as far as Milton, Ontario to start sampling as early as 7:30 am, no matter the weather conditions. They came down to the water using public transit, by bike, and even in a canoe. Because of these citizen scientists’ tremendous work, the Toronto Hub processed 1252 water samples and updated recreational water quality information on Swim Guide 198 times. The public has accessed these results over 78,000 times during the 2019 summer on the Swim Guide, allowing them to make informed decisions about getting in the water.

Sealing a Whirl Pak with a water sample from Bathurst Quay, Toronto ON.

These citizen scientists are motivated to come back each morning because of the intimate relationships they develop with their local waters. By learning to observe details about the water people are much more able to notice changes over time. This is important because it can lead to communities asking critical questions like why is litter washing up on the beach?; is that a migratory bird?; is this where my drinking water comes from?; or, is this water meeting recreational water quality standards? Water quality monitoring helps address concerns people have for the waters to which they are connected.

External Monitoring Teams of Toronto

A vital component to the Toronto Monitoring Hub is the two external monitoring teams on Ward’s Island and in the Humber Bay West neighbourhood. These external teams epitomize engaged citizens finding solutions to local water quality concerns. Both these teams are responsible for water monitoring a local area to better understand their local waterbody. These external monitoring teams help inform and engage tens of thousands of people throughout Toronto on recreational water quality. 

Since 2017, the Humber Bay team has tested the water at a beautiful pebble beach in the west end of Toronto called Humber Bay Park West. Long before the water was monitored, this beach was a popular place for scuba diving, swimming, and all types of paddling and boating activities. 

To help the recreational water users at this beach make informed decisions about when and where to go in the water, the Humber Bay team tests the water on a weekly basis in the summer. This team is providing vital water quality information that is helping protect public health. This is because Humber Bay Park West doesn’t always have great water quality, having passed recreational water quality standards only 69% of the time in 2019

The first summer of sampling at Humber Bay Park West, in Toronto ON.

The Ward’s Island team on the Toronto Islands became interested in testing local water in 2018 after attending training sessions with the Toronto Monitoring Hub. Many of the lagoons and beaches on Ward’s Island are popular for swimming, kayaking, canoeing and rowing, but also aren’t monitored for recreational water quality. 

Training day in 2019 on Ward’s Island, in Toronto ON.

Since 2018, the Ward’s team has tested 3 sites once a week on Ward’s Island: Algonquin Bridge, Snake Island, and Ward’s Island Dock Beach. Over the last 2 years, the Ward’s Sampling Team has proved to be a vital part of the community, helping provide recreational water quality information to the residents, and millions of visitors to the Toronto Islands. Luckily, water quality on Ward’s Island tends to be very good. Snake Island passed 100% of the time during the 2019 monitoring season!

Why Should you Become a Citizen Scientist?

By becoming a citizen scientist at the Toronto Monitoring Hub you are helping protect public health and helping to fill gaps in recreational water quality data. Water monitoring helps people develop their knowledge and skills regarding local water issues. It also provides hands on experience in the field. While working in the field, you become deeply connected with the water that you’re testing. Water monitoring means learning more and more about that water body every time you take a sample and note down your observations. 

The information observed and documented during each monitoring event includes; water odours and colour, the number of people in the water, pipes discharging, birds or fish present, and the number of floatables present. These important details are unique to every spot along the shoreline and are part of getting to know the local water conditions. 

One of the things the Toronto Hub observes and documents at Bathurst Quay, Toronto ON.

By observing and collecting this data the community makes a direct contribution to environmental research that can help lead to solutions to water quality issues. 

In short, the Toronto Monitoring Hub empowers people by providing a skillset to collect meaningful data to identify problems so that specific solutions can be found and implemented. 

How to Become a Citizen Scientist for the Toronto Hub

Are you someone who is concerned about environmental issues such as pollution and climate change? Do you want to help make a difference in protecting local water bodies, but you don't know where to start? Then you should become a citizen scientist with the Toronto Monitoring Hub. Help us continue to test the water along Toronto’s shoreline in 2020. 

To become a citizen scientist at the Toronto Monitoring Hub you can sign up through the Lake Ontario Waterkeeper Volunteer Portal.

There is a lot that needs to be done in Toronto to protect the water bodies we love to swim in and rely on for drinking water. No one person, organization, or city can fix water quality issues, but together we can make sure the waters in Toronto are swimmable, drinkable, and fishable for future generations.

Thank you to the 2019 Citizen Scientists of the Toronto Monitoring Hub: 

Afra N.

Alexander C.

Anjali B.

Aurelie B.

Becca G.

Ben S.

Carol B.

Cat S.

Chris J.

Daisy T.

Ele V.

Enoch C.

Felicia E. 

Georgia Y. 

Graeme D.

Gretel G.

Harjot D.

Jack S.

Jake E.

Jane A.

Jenna W.

Jeon Y.

Johanna H.

Julia T. 

Julian G. 

Julio G.

Justin C.

Karly M.

Kieran P.

Korice M.

Kris K.

Kyla S.

Laina S.

Laura V.

Leida E.

Liz T.

Mai C.

Maria B.

Maria H.

Mark O.

Munira H.

Paola C.

Rohan O.

Sandy T.

Sarah K.

Shawn V.

Tais S.

Viswateja M.