Nitrate Watch and Stream Selfie: Testing Water Quality Across Five Bodies of Water

Project Summary

1 student tested nitrate levels across nearly five bodies of water and documented beautiful local streams through TCI’s citizen science projects, contributing real water quality data to national platforms while deepening his appreciation for protecting local waterways.

Detailed Story

Sohum Singhal, a student at Dwight Englewood School in New Jersey, took his climate action project on the road, testing water quality across nearly five different bodies of water as part of the Nitrate Watch citizen science project. Using nitrate test strips, he collected and reported his results through Clean Water Hub, contributing to a broader national dataset on water quality. He also participated in the Stream Selfie Project, documenting beautiful streams and reporting them through SciStarter. The photos he submitted tell the story vividly: Sohum crouched at the rocky edge of a clear mountain stream, test strip in hand, with sweeping landscapes in the background. His results were a relief. As he put it, “I did not find any nitrate or nitrite in almost 5 bodies of water I tested. I was relieved about it.” Beyond the data, the experience shifted how he sees the natural world: the projects helped him appreciate local water bodies and understand why protecting them matters.

Impact Statement

1 student contributed real nitrate water quality data across nearly five bodies of water to national citizen science platforms, and left the project with a renewed sense of responsibility for protecting the waterways in his community. As Sohum reflected, “The projects helped me appreciate our beautiful water bodies and how protecting them is important.”