Volunteer Water Monitoring Program
Campus Monitoring
Contact Us
- Monica Gray, Ph.D.
Program Director
Engineering Science
Coastal Carolina University
843-349-6054
mgray2@coastal.edu - CAMPUS MONITORING TEAM
- Cara Schildtknecht
Field Leader & Waccamaw Riverkeeper
843-349-400
riverkeeper@winyahrivers.org - Ivy Spratling
Course Graduate Assistant
ilspratli@coastal.edu - VIEW DATA »
Coastal Carolina University’s Campus Water Quality Monitoring Program is conducted by Coastal Carolina University's Engineering Science students as part of their ENGR 199/299 Capstone course. The Waccamaw RIVERKEEPER® is the field leader for this project and ensures that the data are relayed to CCU’s Building and Grounds staff for follow up on potential illicit discharges. The Environmental Quality Lab under the Waccamaw Watershed Academy provides technical support including provision of equipment, maintenance, supplies and training.
The goal of CCU’s Campus Monitoring Program is to provide an assessment of water quality conditions in the stormwater ditches and retention ponds on campus, all of which eventually send waters off campus towards the Waccamaw River. Sampling is conducted throughout the academic semesters. The data are being used to evaluate whether water quality is improving or degrading over time at some or all of the sites using a watershed approach.
All of the data are posted at this website. Follow the stepped instructions to view data by date, site, and parameter in a number of user selectable formats including boxplots and time trends. Dissolved oxygen, temperature, specific conductivity, and pH are measured in-situ with meters. Nitrite, nitrate and ammonia are measured in the field with test strips. Samples are collected and analyzed by the students in CCU’s Environmental Quality Lab for turbidity, E. coli and total coliforms. View standard operating procedures »
Current Students
Students interested in learning how to perform professional lab and field work can enroll in MSCI 399Q: Water Quality Monitoring on CCU Campus (1 credit) or volunteer in a non-credit role. Email Professor Libes at susan@coastal.edu for more information.