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What is WaterWatch?
WaterWatch is an advisory committee comprised of concerned stakeholders who want to be proactive in monitoring and protecting Lake Wateree. The members come primarily from the Lake Wateree Association (LWA) of Kershaw County and the Wateree Homeowners Association (WHOA) of Fairfield County, SC.
During the 1990s, a series of industrial water pollution incidents occurred upstream of Lake Wateree on the Catawba River around Charlotte, NC. Resulting environmental penalties funded the 'original' WaterWatch, which for several years operated as a successful water quality monitoring group. However, in 2003, the monitoring activities ceased due to a lack of funds and waning interest.
In 2008, concerned homeowners banded together to increase interest in getting the project restarted. With funding from LWA and WHOA, and technical assistance from the University of South Carolina (USC), WaterWatch became again a regular presence on the lake. This monitoring effort continues through 2014 with the generous support of lake resident associations and individual stakeholder volunteers who contribute both time and money to keep this program vital and involved.
What does WaterWatch do?
WaterWatch has three overarching goals:
Every other month, a team of WaterWatch volunteers travels to 20 sites all over the lake to record water quality measurements. This sampling run is the heart of WaterWatch activities, with each sampling run involving 2 boats, 2 water quality sondes, 3-5 volunteers, and personnel from USC. Parameters measured include dissolved oxygen levels, pH, temperature, and turbidity. **For more information on what WaterWatch measures and why, please visit the 'Water Quality Basics' page**
Following the sampling run, a report is generated and sent to LWA and WHOA members and the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC). Quarterly reports are sent to those entities, as well as local newspapers, the Catawba RiverKeeper Foundation, local water authorities, and other public interest entities. Reports are also sent to sponsors as requested within their grant award documents.
1. To protect the suitability of Lake Wateree for public recreational purposes and as a source of drinking water for the community
2. To provide a means of effective data presentation of water quality parameters for residents, businesses, and health agencies concerned with the Lake Wateree environment
3. To promote a community relationship with public health agencies, residents, businesses, and other groups associated with the Wateree - Catawba River Basin
Why is this important?
WaterWatch is an incredibly important source of information concerning the health of Lake Wateree. The rich database that continues to grow with each month's sampling run contributes to the data available from SC DHEC, and helps to give a much more focused picture of water quality throughout the lake over time.
WaterWatch facilitates better decision-making with regards to how to best protect Lake Wateree's natural resources by educating stakeholders and communicating the results of each month's sampling run to the greater community. Perhaps most importantly, WaterWatch is an advocate for Lake Wateree, the Catawba River, and surrounding watersheds - by engaging with the community, WaterWatch works hard to emphasize the importance of community involvement in protecting natural resources.
How can I get involved?
WaterWatch is always looking for more volunteers! If you would like to volunteer use of your boat for one of the monthly sampling runs, or just ride along to learn more about what is involved, we would love to have you join us!
WaterWatch also always welcomes monetary donations to keep the monitoring efforts going. Donations help to pay for boat and equipment maintenance, insurance, registration, fuel for the WaterWatch boat and fuel for volunteers' boats.
During 2009, WaterWatch was funded by grants from three sponsors - LWA, WHOA, and the Duke Energy Foundation. LWA and WHOA are the two main groups of stakeholders on Lake Wateree - both are dedicated to protection of the precious resource that is Lake Wateree. For more information on LWA and WHOA, please visit their webpages, which can be found on the Useful Links and Info page of this site. The Duke Energy Foundation supports community development through leadership and volunteer efforts of Duke Energy employees as well as financial support through grants to charitable orgainzations. Unfortunately, WaterWatch was unsuccessful in garnering support from Duke Energy Foundation for 2010. Subsequent funding through the year 2015 has been provided solely by the lake associations, LWA (Kershaw County) and WHOA of Fairfield County.
Funding requests are made annually to any and all environmental and civic groups with a stake in ensuring the continued health and vitality of Lake Wateree. Reception of funding from large groups as well as like-minded stakeholders is crucial to the continued existence and operation of WaterWatch and its partnership with USC. If you are aware of any funding support group which may be in a position to fund the on-going efforts of WaterWatch in 2016 and beyond, please contact us through the address on the 'Contact Us' page.
***If you would like to make a donation of either time or money, please visit the 'Contact Us' page and let us know!***
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