Become an Emerging Contaminants Monitor

Help protect our three rivers

Why do you monitor emerging contaminants?

An emerging contaminant is any compound in our waterway that is not typically monitored for by water treatment facilities. These contaminants have the potential to adversely impact the health of our water and the life, both human and aquatic, that depends on it. Samples collected for this project are analyzed for over 60 compounds including prescription drugs, antibiotics, herbicides, recreational drugs and personal care products.

What do volunteer Emerging Contaminant Monitors do?

Volunteers go to a designated sampling station in the Milwaukee River Basin to collect a water sample, after collection volunteers drop their sample off at the Urban Ecology Center. Samples are passed on to our partners at UWM’s School of Public health to be tested for a laundry list of contaminants.

Milwaukee Riverkeeper works in partnership with Carroll University, Urban Ecology Center, and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Sciences and School of Public Health to study emerging contaminants in the Milwaukee River Basin.

When do you monitor emerging contaminants?

Milwaukee Riverkeeper hosts an emerging contaminant sampling event every Spring, Summer and Fall. Our Fall event is the day after Thanksgiving and is dubbed Blue Friday in conjunction with REI’s #OptOutside campaign to celebrate the outdoors!

Where do you monitor emerging contaminants?

Milwaukee Riverkeeper has identified 18 unique sites to sample from. Sampling sites are focused on the southern part of the basin in areas with more urban land use. Sites vary from restored stream ways and parks to heavily industrial areas.

Land use in the northern part of the basin is more agricultural. Agricultural practices are associated with emerging contaminants including veterinarian antibiotics and herbicide. In the future Riverkeeper hopes to expand monitoring to this part of the basin.

How do I become an Emerging Contaminants Monitor?

Select a site from the map below. Follow the link in the popup and fill out the form that opens in your web browser. Volunteers will need to pick equipment prior to the event date from the Milwaukee Riverkeeper office. Samples can be dropped off at Urban Ecology Center the day of the event, Blue Friday samples will be dropped off at Milwaukee Riverkeeper’s office the following week. Volunteers will receive more information after registration. If you have any additional questions, please email our Water Quality Assistant, Sonya Ponzi or call (414)287-0207 ext: 1009.

If you are interested in becoming an emerging contaminants monitor and there is currently no event available, complete the form below to be added to our interest list! Members on our interest list will be the first to hear about upcoming monitoring opportunities.

Thank you for your interest in Emerging Contaminants Monitoring. To be the first to hear about upcoming monitoring opportunities, join our interest list!