WHAT WE DO
Chemistry
Monitoring the water quality of the River Foss and building a clearer picture of its health.
Understanding What’s in the Water
The health of the River Foss depends on the quality of the water flowing through it. River Foss Society volunteers have been involved in regular water-quality monitoring for many years, collecting information that helps us understand how conditions vary along the river and over time.
Our monitoring looks at a range of chemical and physical measures, including nutrients such as nitrate and phosphate, dissolved oxygen, temperature, conductivity and pH. Together, these results help identify patterns, highlight potential problems and contribute to a growing body of evidence about the health of the Foss.
Monitoring the Health of the Foss
Regular monitoring allows us to build up a long-term picture rather than relying on a single snapshot of the river.
The results can show differences between locations and changes over time, helping us understand some of the pressures affecting the Foss. The information gathered by our citizen scientists can also be shared with environmental organisations and used alongside biological monitoring to provide a broader assessment of river health.
At a Glance
- Regular water-quality monitoring
- Sites along the River Foss
- Chemical and physical measurements
- Results recorded over time
- Volunteer citizen scientists
How We Monitor Water Quality
Water Testing
Taking regular measurements
Volunteers collect samples and take measurements at locations along the Foss, helping us monitor changes in water quality throughout the catchment.
Understanding the Results
Building a long-term picture
Monitoring nutrients, dissolved oxygen and other measures helps reveal patterns and provides evidence of changes in the river's condition.
Working Together
Turning information into evidence
Our findings contribute to the wider understanding of the Foss and can support discussions with organisations working to protect and improve the river.
Help Us Monitor the River Foss
You don’t need to be a scientist to take an interest in the health of your local river. Find out more about the Society's monitoring work and how you can get involved.