Bellingen Riverwatch Online Water Quality Monitoring Manual
Part 5. For Roving WQM Testers

5.2. Process for Roving WQM Testers

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We do not share kits across sites!!

The biosecurity risk still prevails

We must be very careful with sanitisation to protect our rivers from any potential biosecurity hazards. The Bellinger River Virus responsible for the turtle mortality event in 2015 is still present in the Bellinger River and as such, we never share kits across sites. To help us ensure that following these new sanitisation protocols, we kindly ask that assigned volunteers who know they will be away for a months testing that they bring in their kit to the OzGREEN Office. It is also important for all Roving WQM Testers, to clean and fully dry their gumboots between sessions..

1. The Coordinator will contact you by phone or email

If an Assigned WQM Tester is ill, on holidays or is unable to test their site for any reason, they contact the Bellingen Riverwatch Coordinator with as much notice as possible to let them know. (even if several months in advance). The Coordinator then contacts our Roving WQM Testers with as much notice as possible, and asks if they are able to test the site/s needed that month.

2. Clean your gumboots ready for testing

If you have been in the river with your gumboots (any where other than your testing site) it is essential that they are fully clean and dry before entering the river again.

3. Pick up the kit

The Assigned WQM Tester will deliver their kit to the All-Hours Refills Cupboard, outside the OzGREEN office at 1 Elliot Close, Bellingen. The Coordinator will let you know that it’s in the cupboard and then you can come and pick it up anytime before testing.

  • Follow the instructions in Part 3.2. to access the cupboard. The kit is on the bottom shelves.

  • Collect four items every time :

    • Clear box with the site name you are testing written on top.

    • Black box with the site name you are testing written on top.

    • Pole and bottle (on the outside of the cupboard)

    • Bucket (if needed for the site

  • Collect any extra site-specific items

    1. Important - If you are testing a site that requires witches hats/bollards, collect them from the cupboard also. (Check the Site Guide to find out this information).

    2. Follow the instructions in Part 3.3 to shut and lock the cupboard.

4. Test the site

Test the site for that kit.

5. Return the kit

Return the kit back to the All-Hours Refills Cupboard and let the Coordinator know that it’s in there. (The Assigned WQM Tester will pick it up when they are able).