Volunteers needed for water quality testing

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)- Lexington residents who have an interest in local waterways may be interested in an upcoming opportunity to participate in sampling the water quality of creeks.

LFUCG will be holding a workshop to train interested citizens on how to collect water samples. The workshop will take place on Tuesday, August 21 from 9 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the Town Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant, 301 Lisle Industrial Ave., Lexington, KY 40511. Volunteers should email jcarey@lexingtonky.gov if they are planning to attend the workshop.

Volunteers must be willing to conduct field visits to streams and stormwater outfalls in the West Hickman watershed to test water quality and to collect samples for follow-up laboratory analysis. After volunteers complete their training, they can participate in two sampling events this fall and up to ten sampling events planned for next summer, as their schedules allow.

LFUCG provides the sampling equipment for the volunteers’ use. LFUCG staff conducts the laboratory analysis of the volunteer-collected samples, as well as offer professional support to volunteers during sampling events.

Draft water quality data is shared with volunteer monitors, so they will receive results and feedback on stream conditions as they’re monitoring a specific watershed. This is a great opportunity for Lexington residents who want to explore our community’s creeks up close.

LFUCG will hold additional training sessions each spring and fall through 2023 as the sampling program rotates through each of the watersheds of Fayette County. LFUCG coordinates with Kentucky River Watershed Watch to identify potential volunteers and to track volunteer training.