Blue Water Task Force Resources
For assistance, please contact Jaime LeDuc
General Blue Water Task Force Information
- Program FAQs
- Planning a Water Testing Program
- One-Stop-Shop for Beach Water Quality Monitoring across the U.S.
- BWTF Coordinator Handbook
Standard Operating Procedures: Sampling and Lab Instructions
- Data Sheet
- Water Sampling Instructions & Sample Collection Video Demonstration
- Written BWTF Lab Instructions for IDEXX Quantitray/ Enterolert method & Surfrider Lab Tutorial video
- Enterolert & Colilert IDEXX how-to videos
- MPN Table for the Quanti-Tray 2000
- Training Checklist
- Participatory Waiver
- Source Tracking Protocol
- **BWTF Sampling During COVID-19**
Quality Assurance / Quality Control
BWTF Website Tools:
- BWTF Data Entry Tutorial Video (6.5 mins)
- Written Walk-Through of BWTF Website
- Local Information Template
Communicating Blue Water Task Force Program and Results
- How to Communicate Blue Water Task Force Data
- Your Go-To Guide for Explaining BWTF Test Results
- BWTF Sticker Request Google Form
- BWTF Signage Request Google Form
- Blue Water Task Force Presentation Template
- Blue Water Task Force Annual Report Template
- Solutions: Clean Water Tips
Publications
- Surfrider's 2023 Clean Water Annual Report
- Surfrider’s Past Clean Water Annual Reports 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015
- Surfrider’s Blue Water Task Force Annual Report 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011
- Coastal Blog Topics: Blue Water Task Force, Clean Water, Partnerships, Solutions, Source Identification, Public Notification
Volunteer Recruitment
Resources for Working with Schools
- Working with Schools for your BWTF Lab
- Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Template for Schools
- Participatory Waiver
- South Bay BWTF Teach and Test 2022-2023 Report
- This program engages students and teachers from local schools in water quality testing and environmental education.
IDEXX Quantitray Sealer Manuals & Maintenance
Autoclave Information
- Reducing Plastic Waste: Using an Autoclave & Glassware in the Lab Blog Post
- How To Set Up Your New Autoclave Video
- How to Load & Use Your Autoclave Video
- Autoclave Cleaning and Maintenance Manual by Tuttnauer
Sampling in Cold or Rough Conditions
Educational Resources
- Videos:
- Treat Hawai'i's Water Better! Video
- Treat Florida's Water Better! Video
- Stop Sewage Pollution Video: 1) Full Length Feature, 2) Hawaii Cut, 3) Florida Cut
- Blue Water Task Force Tik-Tok Video - Short Program Overview
- BWTF Film (2020) - National overview featuring Newport, OR & Eastern Long Island, NY
- The Beach and COVID-19 - Understanding the Risks
- Community Empowerment in Rincon, Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria
- Florida's Toxic Algae Crisis
- San Diego's Clean Border Water Now Campaign (Spanish Version)
- Huntington Beach's BWTF Program at the Pegasus School
- Santa Monica High School's BWTF Program Capturing Urban Runoff
- Presentations:
- BWTF Program Presentation by Mara Dias: PDF & Webinar Recording
- Examples of Beach Signs and Public Notices of Beach Closures & Swimming Advisories
Other Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Programs
- Safe Waters, Healthy Waters: A Guide for Citizen Groups on Bacteria Monitoring in Local Waterways, Center for Watershed Protection
- Volunteer Bacteria Monitoring Program Guide, Neighborhood Water Watch, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper
- National Water Quality Monitoring Council, Webinar about “Volunteer Monitoring: Evolving Bacteria Monitoring Programs” by Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and Surfrider Foundation
Other Outreach and Information Resources
- Use this web-based Ocean Illness Form to collect reports of people getting sick from swimming or surfing at your local beaches. Chapters can set up “alerts” on the site that will send them emails whenever a report is submitted within their designated area.
- Learn more about BWTF and the importance of water testing on the Beachapedia website, including articles like Health Threats from Polluted Coastal Waters, Bacteria, and Bacterial Pollution: Tracking the Sources.