Why is surface water quality so important? Just like groundwater (the water we drink and use everyday), surface water serves us in many ways. When the quality of surface water becomes polluted or degraded, recreational activities, agriculture, public and private water supplies, fisheries, and other aquatic life are affected.

The Kalamazoo County Surface Water Quality Monitoring Program assesses surface water and bathing beach resources. Bathing beaches and lake access sites, county drains, creeks, and streams are monitored for Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria, an organism that indicates the presence of human and animal waste. During each sampling event measurements of water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, and turbidity are also recorded.