DATE:     10/14/02
CONTACT:  Barbara J. Speziale, (864) 656-1550; bjspz@clemson.edu
WRITER:   Susan Bedingfield, (864) 656-3876;sbeding@clemson.edu

Clemson Extension offers S.C.
teachers water quality test kits 

  	CLEMSON -- Thanks to Clemson Extension and the South Carolina 
LIFE   program, 55 water quality tests were sent to teachers and 
Extension   agents throughout South Carolina to use on National Water 
Quality Monitoring Day, Oct. 18.
       "While we encourage as many people as possible to do their 
testing   on Oct. 18, we recognize that weather conditions or other 
factors may   not make testing that day practical; therefore, data from
testing conducted between Oct. 12 and 27 may be entered into the data 
system,"   said Barbara Speziale, associate dean for Youth Development
and Families and professor in the Department of Biological Sciences.
     The standardized kits were supplied, free of charge, to teachers
participating in the SC LIFE program and to Extension agents. Each kit 
will do 30 to 50 tests for various water quality parameters. Speziale 
said program organizers hope by getting thousands of volunteers across 
the country to monitor local lakes and streams awareness of water 
quality issues will be increased. 
	Participants will enter data online at the national database, 
which can be found at www.yearofcleanwater.org.  The last date for 
entering data is Nov. 15.
	The test kit allows testing for a core set of water quality 
parameters such as temperature, pH, water clarity and dissolved oxygen.
	The kit comes with a step-by-step diagrammed instruction manual 
that is easy to follow. TesTabs are stripped in foil and easy to 
dispense one at a time. 
	Water monitoring can be enjoyed by adults and children ages 8 
and up.Younger children need to be supervised by an adult, according to
Speziale.
	"The data will be used to prepare a snapshot report  
 summarizing the role and accomplishments of the participants," said 
Speziale. "The data will also be available for everyone to view on the
website."
	Participating schools include: D.R. Hill Middle School, Duncan;
Rock Hill High School, Rock Hill; Cherokee Trail Elementary, Donalds; 
Gettys Middle School, Easley; Pickens High School, Pickens; L.E. Gable
Middle School, Spartanburg.  
	Participating Extension offices include: Florence County, 
Pickens County, Georgetown County, Beaufort County, Jasper County, 
Fairfield County, York County, Kershaw County, Dorchester County, 
Calhoun County, Hampton County, Lee County, Richland County, Sumter 
County and Williamsburg County.
	You can read about the National Water Quality Monitoring Day, 
and the test kits, on the web site: http://www.yearofcleanwater.org.
	For more information or for assistance regarding water 
sampling, contact the Clemson Extension office in your county.
                              END