WWQA World Water Quality Alliance

What do cheese-graters and funeral homes have to do with Earth Observation as a potential technology for water quality monitoring…??  Believe it or not, that’s part of the discussions from the recent “Unlocking the Global Benefits of Water Quality Monitoring through Earth Observation” workshop held 28-30 August 2024 in Scotland, hosted by the University of Stirling, in collaboration with the WWQA World Water Quality Alliance and GEO Aquawatch. The hackathon-style workshop convened over 40 participants from across the globe, spanning academia, the private sector, and practitioners to explore how Earth Observation (EO) can enhance water quality monitoring. Through a series of tools presented by the Hydronation Chair, participants were encouraged to escape their daily “mental valleys” to arrive at innovative and actionable concepts that can unlock the benefits of this promising technology for more people, communities, and places. Creative thinking exercises included ‘thinking-on-the-box,’ the 6 hats technique, and random picture ideation, -- which is where funeral homes, wine, and cheese graters, among other items, came into the picture (on a conceptual level only – no funeral homes were needed during this workshop!) The workshop's sprint approach and participatory nature included a series of fascinating user stories, highlighting current uses of Earth Observation for assessing water quality worldwide - in transboundary lakes and conflict-affected zones and countries worldwide, including Belgium, Vietnam, Ireland, and Argentina. Discussions also focused on ensuring Earth Observation could serve disciplines beyond the traditional environmental monitoring domain as a source of knowledge for Indigenous peoples, local communities, and even criminologists—given that water quality affects everyone. WWQA World Water Quality AllianceUN Environment ProgrammeGEO Aquawatch

Do you have a creative idea to help solve issues affecting #freshwater #ecosystems? The Donors’ Initiative for Mediterranean Freshwater Ecosystems (DIMFE) has opened its yearly call for proposals dedicated to protecting and restoring the region’s #wetlands. Available grants range between €100,000 and €500,000. Deadline: 15 October 2024. More information 👉 https://bit.ly/3XqXjeV #RestoreWetlands #RestoreNature Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco

We are excited to share more snapshots from our successful September 3, 2024 workshop! Organized by the Citizen Science Workstream under the World Water Quality Alliance, this event focused on SDG Indicator 6.3.2 and the power of collective data sharing for better water quality monitoring. The workshop fostered insightful discussions around: ▪ Collaboration and Trust in data sharing ▪ Bridging Data Gaps through citizen science and national programs ▪ Community Empowerment in improving water quality and environmental health Thank you to all participants, organizers, and contributors for making this event impactful. Stay tuned for more updates! #WaterQuality #SDG6 #CitizenScience #EnvironmentalHealth #DataIntegration

Workshop Completion: Collective Data Sharing for Good Ambient Water Quality On September 3, 2024, we successfully concluded a significant workshop, Collective Data Sharing for Good Ambient Water Quality, organized by the WWQA World Water Quality Alliance Citizen Science Workstream for SDG 6.3.2 . This event brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss the integration of water quality data from citizen science projects and national monitoring programs. The discussions emphasized the vital role of collaboration, data quality, and trust in leveraging citizen science data to bridge existing gaps in water quality monitoring. We explored opportunities to empower communities and improve environmental health through collective data sharing to support global efforts in achieving SDG 6.3.2 and beyond. Key takeaways included: ▪ Collaboration and Trust: Emphasizing the importance of collaboration and building trust among stakeholders to ensure high-quality data. ▪ Addressing Data Gaps: Identifying opportunities to address existing data gaps and leverage the growing interest from policymakers. ▪ Community Empowerment: Focusing on empowering communities to contribute to improving environmental health.  ▪ Requirements for Data Integration: Work towards creating a code of conduct for citizen science data integration Thank you to everyone who attended, organized, and contributed to this important conversation! 🎉 For those who couldn’t join, stay tuned for the recorded version, coming soon! #WaterQuality #CitizenScience #SDG632 #EnvironmentalHealth #DataIntegration WWQA World Water Quality AllianceEarthwatch EuropeDrinkable RiversUN Environment ProgrammeGroundTruth

Our colleagues from the Department of Water and Climate - VUB just had a very dynamic workshop "Unlocking the Global Benefits of Water Quality Monitoring through Earth observation” hosted by the University of Stirling in Scotland. ✅ We discussed the challenges of using #EarthObservation for reporting #waterquality ✅ We listened to user stories from all over the world, including the presentation of current initiatives led by the WWQA World Water Quality Alliance from which our department is part of. ✅ We brainstormed ideas and discussed next steps to address these challenges Thanks a million to our colleagues from University of Stirling who went trhough so much work and organised a fun, dynamic and productive workshop! Analy Baltodano Martínez Sofia La Fuente Ann van Griensven

📢 📢 Exciting Opportunity with the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI)! 📢 📢 Are you passionate about water quality monitoring and conservation? The Nile Basin Initiative Secretariat seeks a competent individual consultant to develop online courses focused on water quality monitoring and water resources conservation in the Nile Basin countries. This consultancy aims to create educational resources that will empower decision-makers and policymakers in the region to recognize the critical importance of investing in water quality monitoring. 🗺️ Location: Nile Basin Initiative Secretariat, Entebbe, Uganda 📅 Application Deadline: September 10, 2024 🗂️ Consultancy Category: Individual Consultancy Join us in making a difference in water resource management across the Nile Basin! 🔗 Apply Now: https://bit.ly/3Z3dccI #WaterQuality #NileBasin #Consultancy #WaterResources #EnvironmentalSustainability #WaterConservation #WWQA WWQA World Water Quality AllianceNile Basin Initiative Secretariat Jean N Namugize, Ph.DNina RaasakkaStuart WarnerKilian Christ, PhDAnham SalyaniMelchior Z. ElslerVivianne Kiriinya

🌍✨ August Edition of YEMAYA is Out! ✨🌍 This month, YEMAYA celebrates the richness and wisdom of the world's Indigenous Peoples on the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, observed on August 9th. We are bringing you a special edition packed with inspiring stories, key updates, and exciting opportunities: ✨ What’s Inside? ◼ Webinar Recap: Explore the groundbreaking insights from our session on "Contributions of Indigenous People's Earth Observation to Water Quality Monitoring." ◼ Exclusive Interview: Meet Professor Bradley Moggridge from the University of Technology, Sydney, as he shares his expertise in Indigenous Water Science. ◼ Running for Rivers: Join the conversation with Mina Guli on her Seine River Run, a journey to raise awareness ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games. ◼ WWQA Bulletin Board: Stay informed with updates on our upcoming Stockholm World Water Week sessions, including Transboundary Water Quality Cooperation and SDG indicator 6.3.2. ◼ Inter-laboratory Comparison: Learn about our 2024 comparison on Antimony and Nitrate Nitrogen in Water. ◼ Call for Nominations: Don’t miss your chance to nominate for the 2024 Ramsar Wetland Conservation Awards and Evian Special Prize by Danone. ◼ Opportunities: Explore the latest job openings and join our global movement by completing the WWQA Membership Application Form! Join the conversation, share your thoughts, and be part of this vibrant community dedicated to safeguarding our world's water quality. Click here to read more and subscribe! 👉 https://lnkd.in/dtuP7_8J #YEMAYA #WWQA #IndigenousPeoplesDay #WaterQuality #Olympics2024 WWQA World Water Quality AllianceUN Environment ProgrammeThirst FoundationNina RaasakkaAnham SalyaniYolanda López-MaldonadoBradley Moggridge (PhD)Myrle Ballard, PhDVivianne KiriinyaVivek ShahKilian Christ, PhDLis Mullin BernhardtMelchior Z. ElslerMina GuliIHE Delft Institute for Water EducationIUCNDeutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbHGlobal Water PartnershipSIWI - Stockholm International Water Institute

📢 Join Us for an insightful session on Transboundary Water Quality Cooperation! We're excited to announce that Nina Raasakka, our Programme Coordinator, will be among the panelists in an insightful session titled "Water Quality Cooperation for Building Peace from Source-to-Sea." This session will delve into the growing need for transboundary water quality cooperation, addressing gaps in monitoring and the critical role this plays in fostering peace and security across borders. 📅 Date & Time: August 25, 2024 | 11:00-12:30 📍 Location: Room C3, Level 2 & Online Session Highlights: 🔹 The current state of water quality worldwide is focused on transboundary basins. 🔹 How the World Water Quality Alliance (WWQA) is closing data gaps through innovative methodologies and cooperation. 🔹 Real-world examples of cooperative efforts include Mara River citizen science and Lake Tanganyika EO seed funding. Don’t miss out on this important conversation! #WaterQuality #TransboundaryCooperation #WWQA #PeaceBuilding

🌍What's the crucial key to tackling transboundary water quality degradation, a challenge that threatens both countries and communities? 🌍 The answer lies in cooperation, which is instrumental to not only addressing degradation but also for promoting peaceful dynamics within and across borders - a key thematic area of World Water Week this year (Sunday 25th August-Thursday 29th August). Don't forget to check out our session, "Water quality cooperation for building peace from source-to-sea" (Sunday 25th August 11-12:30pm (CEST)) to further understand how transboundary water quality cooperation across the source-to-sea continuum can be developed and maintained, even in the face of pressing challenges, most notably the triple planetary crises of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution. 🔗 Discover more about the session here: https://t.ly/PzX7Q. Unable to attend World Water Week in person? No worries — join us online for free. Register now: https://t.ly/8eZXq. #WaterAction #ForNature #WorldWaterWeek #WaterQualityManagement #WWQA #WaterQuality Nina Raasakka Anham Salyani Vivianne Kiriinya Kilian Christ, PhD Melchior Z. Elsler Dianna Kopansky Lis Mullin Bernhardt Simon Tanios Noel Langat Ana Prieto López Vivek Shah @HayleePiao Stephanie Gerretsen Stuart Crane Charles Bartlett Bryce B. Alex Pires Riccardo Zennaro Avantika Singh Josphine Wairimu Nduguti @UNEP Alyssa Offutt, P.E. Susanne Schmeier IHE Delft Institute for Water Education @Florence GraceOdongo Nile Basin Initiative Secretariat Astrid Hillers Global Environment Facility Birgit Vogel @International Commission Protection Danube River Laura Piñeiros IUCN Julien Favier UNECE EGRM Women in Resource Management Henry Pitts @WorldWaterWeek Iryna Makarenko Black Sea Commission @Dmitris Faloutsos Global Water Partnership Malte Grossmann Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH @Action Platform For Source To Sea Management SIWI - Stockholm International Water Institute @Swedish Agency For Marine And Water Management

🌍🌱 Celebrating the #InternationalDayoftheWorld’sIndigenousPeople 2024! Did you know that Indigenous knowledge is crucial in sustainable water management? As we honour this special day, let's explore the significance of integrating Indigenous wisdom into water quality management. This year's theme, "Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact," highlights the need to respect and safeguard Indigenous communities. It's time to recognize the valuable insights and practices they offer for modern science and policy-making. Indigenous knowledge is an exceptional discovery of wisdom in understanding and preserving water ecosystems. Their traditional methods hold the keys to sustainable solutions for clean water accessibility, making integrating their knowledge into water quality monitoring imperative. Let's advocate for recognizing and amplifying the contributions of Indigenous peoples in water quality management. Let's celebrate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People by sharing awareness and taking action for a sustainable and nurturing environment.  #IndigenousKnowledge #WaterQualityManagement #WWQA #WaterQuality