Presentation given by Chris Swain, Water Quality Advocate at the Opening Session on Monday, January 25, 2010 during the 2010 NEWEA Annual Conference in Boston, Massachusetts

1. SWIM FOR A HEALTHY WORLD
1,300+ MILES DOWN THE EAST COAST TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

2. Swim Stats:
As of 1/24/2010:
• Covered 100+ miles over 40 days in the
water
• Seen my body fat percentage rise as ocean
water temperature falls (and vice versa)
• Conducted water sampling at 200+ locations
• Recycled over 50,000 pounds of used
electronics
l t i
• Made presentations to 11,000+ students
• Shared Swim Stories with over 55 000 people
55,000
through social media like twitter, facebook,
and Changents.com
g
• Received millions of media impressions
through stories on the BBC, NPR, and
A i t dP

4. We Are Facing Two HUGE
Environmental Problems:

5. 1.
1 Global Climate Change

6. 2. Threats to the Web of Life

7. Global Climate Change
• R t of the Problem:
Root f th P bl
– We are burning Fossil Fuels Like Coal, Oil, and Gasoline.
• Unhelpful Effects:
p
– When we burn these fuels, they release gases that surround
the planet like a blanket, and heat it up.
– When the ocean absorbs CO2 it becomes more acidic and
the marine web of life is threatened.

8. Solution: Switch to Clean,
Renewable Sources of Energy

9. Threats to the Web of Life
Roots of the Problem:
• We are trashing the
land, water, and air
• We are causingg
species to go extinct

10. SOLUTION:
• Stop trashing the planet
• Start taking better care of the life around us
us.

61. Measuring Climate Change
Effects in the Ocean
• Snapshot (“moment in time”) sampling of
ocean pH reveals ocean turning acidic
• Measured sea surface temperatures are
higher than historical average
• Sampling at same sites over time would allow
us to map the progress of climate change

75. East Coast Waterway Obse at o System
ast ate ay Observation Syste
Would:
• Allow for collection of data at known locations (moored buoys, fixed
( y
sondes, manual sampling at specific locations of intense recreational
activity).
• Measure parameters that have day-to-day appeal to researchers,
educators, students and citizens:
– Levels of fecal contamination,
– Water temperature, pH, salinity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen,
turbidity nitrates, and chlorophyll
– Wave height and period
• Over time these efforts would permit us to:
– Map the progress of climate change,
– Meas re the effects of stormwater events and wastewater
Measure storm ater e ents aste ater
discharges,
– Calculate the mean bacterial loads encountered by swimmers,
surfers, fishers, and boaters,
– Design and develop more effective regulatory and environmental
solutions, and,
– Increase use and enjoyment of our coastal waters.

78. Do You Know Someone Who
Could Help?
Christopher Swain
SwimForAHealthyWorld.Org
617-233-4120