The heart of the River Watch is trained volunteers regularly conducting water quality tests at their selected sites and consistently reporting results to program staff. Texas Watch program. Monitors are trained at full-day workshops, then certified at their sites. Using field kits specifically designed for the program, monitors test their sites for the water quality indicators of temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, and nitrates. Monitors are also asked to record physical observations and to report on rainfall received in the area.
Some monitors also test for bacteria or conduct biological sampling as well.
A chemical manual is provided to certified monitors for reference in the field, and monitoring protocol is observed and reviewed together during staff visits to volunteer sites. CRWN monitors and staff are part of an early warning system for potential pollution problems such as sewage leaks contaminating local creeks. Monitors conduct tests for nitrate-nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, pH, total dissolved solids, temperature, and in some cases, fecal coliform bacteria. Last updated May 21, 2001.