Water Quality Team Gears Up

Hello, Friends of the Waters!

The Alliance for the Mystic River (Alliance) Watershed Water Quality Team is excited to start the 2026 water quality monitoring season, which runs from May to October. This marks our second year of water testing. Our team is composed of Alliance members working in collaboration with our headwaters ally, the Lantern Hill Valley Alliance (LHVA).

Why are we doing this? What does water quality testing really mean?

Are you interested in learning more and maybe being a volunteer water quality tester?

Water quality testing involves collecting water samples and measuring components such as bacteria, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, pH, salinity, algae, and temperature. These tests provide a snapshot of the waterway's health, indicating whether it is safe for activities such as swimming, fishing, or shellfish harvesting. Critically, these tests also help identify pollution sources such as poor sewer and septic systems, fertilizers, and animal waste.

The Alliance’s programs consist of three parts: two bacterial testing programs and testing for various water chemistry parameters. Together, these tests offer a comprehensive view of each site's water habitat health. It is vital to monitor our waters so we are aware of the cumulative impact of upstream waters flowing south into Long

Island Sound, and that they don’t negatively affect the well-being of the marine plants and animals in Long Island Sound and all along the way.

One of our programs (thanks, Pathogen Monitoring Network and Harbor Watch!) is fully funded, which is fantastic! However, we're still seeking support for the second and third programs. The funding for the BacLab and Water Chemistry testing comes from generous donations, sponsors, and grants. We are grateful to have already received a

$500 commitment from a sponsor, and working toward our goal of raising another $5,500 to fully fund the testing season. Every contribution brings us closer to our goal, and your support makes a real difference!

Show Your Support Here

We have three ongoing programs. The first, funded by the Pathogen Monitoring Network (PMN) at Harbor Watch, collects freshwater samples from various locations in the Mystic River Watershed, from the headwaters of Long and Bush Ponds to Old Mystic, where Whitford Brook enters the Mystic River. Samples are collected by volunteers (that's us!), and tested for pathogens at the URI Watershed Watch Lab.

The second program, the Stonington "BacLab," was initiated with support from Save the Sound, which provided laboratory equipment and testing materials in our first year. It was designed to establish a laboratory enabling the Alliance and local nonprofits to monitor bacterial pathogens in freshwater and saltwater within the Watershed, thereby addressing community concerns. While the BacLab is not officially certified, it provides rapid access to water sampling, incubation, and analysis services, especially during heavy rainfall events. Last year's testing matched the URI Lab results perfectly.

Integral to assessing water quality is the third component of our testing program, water chemistry monitoring, performed at each sampling event. We use an instrument with probes to measure various chemical components.

You can join us, too!! email betsy@alliancemrw.org.

Enjoy the photos from last season!!