The Blue Water Task Force is Surfrider’s volunteer water quality monitoring program that provides critical water quality information to protect public health at the beach. Surfrider chapters use this program to raise awareness of local pollution problems and to bring together communities to implement solutions.
Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) labs measure fecal indicator bacteria levels in recreational waters and compare them to water quality standards set to protect public health. Chapter-run BWTF programs fill in the gaps and extend the coverage of agency-run beach monitoring programs by sampling ocean and bay beaches, estuaries and potential freshwater sources of pollution such as stormwater outlets, rivers and creeks that discharge onto the beach.
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Water quality testing provided by Surfrider's {{info.name}} Chapter
Surfrider Foundation Northwest Straits partners with Western Washington University to perform water quality testing of popular beach access points along Bellingham Bay. Sampling occurs bi-weekly throughout the year.
Our BWTF data augments the seasonal beach monitoring program conducted by the Washington State Department of Ecology beach monitoring program, and provides information for the public about local water quality conditions.
If you are interested in becoming a BWTF volunteer, please contact Grace at bwtf@nws.surfrider.org
Everyone deserves access to clean water to surf, swim and play in.
