Water Quality Testing in with the Chesapeake Water Watch

The Environmental Justice Journalism Initiative is partnering with Chesapeake Water Watch to bring water quality testing to South Baltimore and other communities.

About the Project

The Chesapeake Water Watch is hosted by the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) and the City College of New York (CCNY). The project aims to improve water quality data, or information, across the Chesapeake Bay. Water samples taken on the ground help calibrate NASA satellite data. This gives scientists information to more accurately track the Bay.


Individuals like you can collect water samples for science! See section "Getting Involved" for more information.


Visit SERC's website to learn more about the Chesapeake Water Watch (click here).

A woman on the left in a blue shirt is holding up a brown bottle that says Chesapeake Water Watch on it. She is smiling. The man to her right is smiling and giving a thumbs up. The background is of plants and the water.

Getting Involved

Are you interested in taking water samples in your neighborhood? You can sign up as a volunteer OR bring / take a water sample to one of our Reel Rewards drop-off sites.


Sign up as a volunteer:


Bring or take a water sample to our Reel Rewards drop-off sites:

  • Reel Rewards is another science program we host for the community. We will be accepting water sample drop-offs during these times.
  • View this calendar (click here) for dates, times, and locations to drop off water samples.
  • We provide bottles for water samples at the drop-off sites.
  • You may bring your own bottle with water samples.
  • See "Steps for Taking Water Samples" below for more information

Steps for Taking Water Samples

 All water samples dropped off must:

  • Be collected at least 50 feet from the shoreline.
  • Piers would be best for collection
  • Be kept out of the sun AND on ice after collecting
  • Have the time, date, temperature, and GPS location of where you took the sample.
  • Use your phone to screenshot the information
  • You can use Google Maps to get your GPS location
  • You can use your weather app or a website to get the temperature


Our Reel Rewards drop-off sites are usually located near piers. This makes water sampling more convenient easier for you.

If you want to bring a sample from another location, try to use the darkest bottle you have. Too much sunlight can affect the water sample results.

Two women look down at a table with data sheets and water samples. They are standing under a tent in a nature area.

Have questions?

Feel free to reach out to the Environmental Science Programs Manager, Veronica Lucchese veronica@ejji.org