Since 2016, Swim Drink Fish has been collecting recreational water quality samples through community-based water monitoring programs across Canada. If you’ve decided recreational waters are what you’d like to monitor, here you’ll find the resources we use to operate our programs so you can start your own.
Fieldwork Resources
Lab work and Maintenance Resources
Below, you’ll find The suite of standardized data sheets helps new CBWM groups easily, efficiently, and effectively record the data they’re collecting. The sheets track key data and metadata components that support the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data principles and stringent QA/QC
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Before you head out into the field, you’ll want to ensure you are able to collect the data you need to monitor the water. Download and customize our field datasheet template to fit the needs of your program.
The field datasheet template includes:
a chain of custody
metadata recording for water samples
space to record environmental observations, site aesthetics and site usage (by humans and non-humans). Your field datasheet should align with your data storage sheet.
Space to record other data types (e.g. baseline recreational water quality data)
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To ensure you’re properly following the Swim Drink Fish Standard Operating Procedure for Recreational water quality monitoring, we’ve created a cheat sheet full of tips to help you carry out the work. Parts of this guide are customizable based on the region you’re monitoring. The guide contains sections on:
Steps and tips for collecting water samples
Customizable Gear Checklist
Customizable Instructions for how to label your whirlpaks
Field Safety and Emergency contact information
A visual guide for how to fill out the environmental observations and aesthetics sections of the field datasheet
Space to insert your site maps and sampling locations
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Print out this document and use the cleaning log to ensure your lab is following the standard protocol for daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning. This document includes cleaning instructions for standard Swim Drink Fish recreational water quality monitoring labs, if you have other items that require regular cleaning, you can add them to the log.
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This document outlines the standard maintenance done to ensure all laboratory and sampling equipment is working properly to ensure our results are up to standard. We recommend printing a copy of the included calendars to have on hand at the lab.
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Data Management Resources
Tools for recreational water quality monitoring
The Swim Drink Fish Standard Operating Procedure for Recreational Water Quality Monitoring
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This is the holy grail reference document for all recreational water quality monitoring. It contains all steps, FAQs and standards for the monitoring program. We recommend keeping this document on hand to refer to and ask questions of. This document is annually reviewed and updated as the guidelines change.
We also take suggestions for updates to the SOP. Please reach out to Isabel@swimdrinkfish.ca if you would like to suggest an addition or update to the SOP
Resources for Site Selection and Program Design
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The first critical step in setting up a monitoring program is to select a candidate for a monitoring site. You should answer all questions in this workbook before establishing a monitoring program at the location you have in mind. This resource can be used by anyone looking to monitor their local waters, but is specially focused on recreational water.
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This document can be used to build your monitoring program. It can be a helpful guide to use as you collaborate with others, and consider the long-term potential effect of your monitoring work. It’s suitable for all types of monitoring work.