Water Quality Monitoring

“No water no life. No blue, no green.”
— Sylvia Earle

LSPA’s water quality lab is housed at Colby-Sawyer College and managed in partnership with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES). This facility serves as the only NHDES satellite water quality lab in the state. The lab analyzes water samples from over 24 lakes in New Hampshire and regularly conducts water quality tests at 80 sites in the Lake Sunapee Watershed. This annual sampling process contributes to a long-term data set that helps us understand water quality trends over time and across the state. Dozens of dedicated Volunteer Lake Assessment Program (VLAP) volunteers collect the water samples and bring them to the lab throughout the summer and into the fall each year.

Monitoring was initiated on Lake Sunapee in the 1950's when LSPA conducted water sampling and testing for the presence of E. coli. Those early monitoring results indicated that Lake Sunapee had “Class A” water quality. Lake Sunapee’s Water remains “Class A” water to this day. “Class A” waters are high quality surface waters that are suitable for recreation and for use as drinking water sources when adequately treated.

Click here to see the NHDES Lake Information Mapper, an interactive surface water quality map that provides links to historical and current lake trophic survey reports, current volunteer lake assessment program reports, exotic aquatic species distribution information and mercury in fish tissue data

LSPA's Laboratory Internships

LSPA hires interns to assist with water quality monitoring during the summer. In these internships students:

  • Gain knowledge about the parameters used to measure water quality including pH, conductivity, turbidity, E.coli, chlorophyll-a, and total phosphorus

  • Master all areas of water quality testing, including sample collection, handling, and data management.

  • Perform appropriate Quality Control/Quality Assurance procedures with appropriate documentation

  • Understand how human activities affect water quality and watersheds.

  • Learn about the operation of a non-profit organization. 

Applications for summer interns are due February 27, 2025. Applications are available here.