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 volunteers have been out in their communities testing water quality at the beach since the inception of the Blue Water Task Force over 25 years ago. Now a large national network with nearly 55 chapter-run labs, the BWTF measures bacteria levels at more than 450 ocean, bay, estuary and freshwater sampling sites across the country. Surfrider chapters use this water testing program to raise awareness of local pollution problems and to bring together communities to implement solutions.
Everyone deserves access to clean water to surf, swim and play in.
Meet the Blue Water Task Force
Why Water Testing Is Important
BWTF provides critical water quality information to protect public health at the beach. Our labs measure bacteria levels in recreational waters and compare those results to local water quality standards.
BWTF labs fill in the gaps and extend the coverage of agency-run beach monitoring programs by sampling ocean beaches, bay beaches, and potential freshwater sources of pollution such as stormwater outlets, rivers and creeks that discharge onto the beach. The Blue Water Task Force operates year-round, even though the off-season when, in many communities, lifeguards leave the beach and health officials stop collecting water samples.
