Discover the health of your local pond and help scientists with valuable research
Take part in the OPAL water survey and discover what animals living in the water can tell us about its quality. It’s fun, you’ll learn new skills and your results will help scientists learn more about the health of lakes and ponds across the country.
Good water quality is essential for the many animals and plants that live in and around our lakes, ponds and rivers. Unfortunately, water is easily affected by pollution from agriculture and industry, waste we throw away, and even pollutants in the air. By taking part in the OPAL water survey, you’ll help scientists learn more about how polluted our lakes and ponds actually are – something we know surprisingly little about.
Animals living in the water can tell us a great deal about how polluted the water may be. Some species struggle to survive in polluted waters, while others are more tolerant. By telling us what life you see in your local pond you’ll discover more about the water’s health and contribute to valuable scientific research.
What you need to get started
All the instructions and guides you will need can be found and downloaded from the OPAL website