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CMU Riverwatch and ADPC Equip Communities with Tools and Skills to Monitor Kok River Water and Soil Quality

30 September 2026
Corporate Communication and Alumni Relations Center (CCARC)
      CMU Riverwatch, Chiang Mai University, in collaboration with the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), continues to strengthen community-based environmental monitoring through the distribution of citizen water quality monitoring equipment under the Mekong SharedWater Project, implemented by SERVIR Southeast Asia with support from the United States.

     The equipment handover and training activity was held on 26 September 2026 at the Thaton Subdistrict Administrative Organization, Mae Ai District, Chiang Mai, with the aim of strengthening the capacity of local authorities and riverside communities to continuously monitor and record environmental conditions in their areas through a combination of scientific knowledge, field equipment, and community participation.

     From Tools to Practical Community Monitoring

     Under the Mekong SharedWater Project and in collaboration with ADPC, Chiang Mai University received field water quality testing equipment and cameras for monitoring river conditions. Riverside communities in Thaton and Mae Na Wang Subdistricts also received field testing kits to support community-based data collection.

     The initiative goes beyond equipment distribution. It brings together tools, knowledge, and community action to support monitoring of the Kok River based on data that can be documented and verified.

     CMU Riverwatch Provides Citizen Science Training in Water and Soil Monitoring

      Asst. Prof. Dr. Wan Wiriya from the Environmental Science Research Center (ESRC), Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, and the CMU Riverwatch team provided training in Citizen Science-based water quality monitoring for community representatives and partner organizations.

     The training emphasized hands-on learning. Participants were introduced to the QUICK Rapid Arsenic Test Kit for preliminary screening of arsenic in water samples, as well as soil and sediment extracts.

     Training covered the preparation of equipment and samples, use of the test kits, interpretation of color-strip results, and systematic data recording. Participants also learned about safety precautions and measures to prevent contamination during fieldwork.

     From Field Sampling to Laboratory Confirmation

     The CMU Riverwatch team also provided guidance on collecting water, soil, and sediment samples for laboratory analysis. Participants learned how to select sampling locations, prepare containers, assign sample identification codes, and properly preserve samples during transportation.

     Accurate recording of the date, time, location, and coordinates of each sampling point is essential for traceability. This information allows samples to be linked to their specific locations and supports accurate monitoring of environmental conditions over time.

     Field test results should be considered preliminary screening data only. When abnormal results or concerns are identified, samples should be submitted for laboratory confirmation before drawing conclusions or communicating information about safety. This is particularly important when assessing the safety of crops, fish, and food, which cannot be determined solely from screening results for water or soil.

    Location-Based Data for Environmental Risk Monitoring

    CMU Riverwatch also introduced the WaterRoom system for recording and reporting monitoring results, linking test data with the geographic coordinates of sampling locations. This supports the development of risk maps and the monitoring of environmental changes at the local level.

    Data that clearly identify the location and sampling period can help communities and relevant agencies plan targeted follow-up monitoring and communicate findings responsibly, without generalizing results from individual sampling points to an entire community.

    Building Community-Based Environmental Monitoring

    The collaboration between academia, government agencies, and local communities represents a shared effort to establish a community-based monitoring system for the Kok River that combines tools, skills, and verifiable data.

    Through this initiative, communities are empowered to play an active and continuous role in monitoring environmental conditions in their own areas, while strengthening collaboration and evidence-based environmental risk management.

     Photo & Information: CMU Riverwatch
     More information: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EWB5nNC3p/ 
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