One water. One Health.
The health of people, animals and ecosystems is connected, and urban freshwater is where they meet. Polluted lakes affect the birds and fish that live there, the mosquitoes that breed there, and the families nearby.
What to look for
Cloudy or muddy water usually means suspended soil, sewage or runoff. It blocks sunlight, so fewer underwater plants and less oxygen for fish.
Excess nutrients from sewage and fertiliser, plus heat, make algae grow fast. Blooms can lower oxygen, kill fish, and some release toxins harmful to pets and people.
Plastic breaks into microplastics that fish and birds swallow. Litter also blocks drains, which leads to flooding and stagnant water where mosquitoes breed.
White froth often comes from detergents in untreated sewage; a rainbow sheen can mean oil. Both point to pollution sources upstream.
Often the first visible sign of low oxygen or a toxic discharge. Report it right away, since it is one of the strongest early warnings.
Most freshwater life does best at pH 6.5–8.5. Warm water holds less oxygen, so heatwaves raise the risk of blooms and fish kills.
🎯 Missions
📸 How to make a good report
- Stand at a safe spot. Never enter the water or touch it with bare hands.
- Photograph the water surface in daylight, with the shoreline in view.
- Report from the same spot each time so trends can be compared.
- Describe what you see and smell. Tick the indicator chips.
- If you have a test kit, add pH, turbidity or temperature readings.
AquaPulse signals are environmental observations, not drinking-water safety assessments.