Library water testkit lending program
Empower your community to explore, test, and protect local water.
Through a partnership between Ocean Week Canada and Water Rangers, libraries across Canada can now offer patrons access to a Compact Water Testkit, turning curiosity into real-world environmental action.
About Water Rangers
Water Rangers is a Canadian non-profit organization that equips communities with simple tools to monitor water quality and share open data. Our mission is to make water data accessible, community-powered, and useful — so that anyone can understand and care for their local waterways.
For over 10 years, we’ve supported thousands of volunteers and hundreds of groups across Canada and the UK in collecting meaningful, decision-ready data.
Why it matters
Libraries are trusted community spaces for learning and discovery. By offering a water testing kit, your library gives patrons a hands-on way to engage with science and environmental stewardship.
Healthy oceans begin upstream. Monitoring freshwater helps communities better understand their local waterways, detect changes over time, and build awareness about water protection. This program connects local action to national ocean literacy efforts.
Your role as a lending library
To keep the program running smoothly, we ask libraries to:
- Check kit contents between loans using the included reset checklist
- Ensure materials are clean, complete, and ready for the next borrower
- Set up a shared library account on the Water Rangers platform (simple instructions included)
Full setup and reset instructions are included with your kit, along with staff training opportunities ahead of Ocean Week Canada.
The program is designed to be low-maintenance and easy to integrate into existing lending systems.
What’s included
The Ocean Week Canada Compact Kit is designed for lending programs and first-time users. It includes easy-to-use water testing tools, a step-by-step Field Guide, access to short training videos, and clear instructions for uploading results to the Water Rangers open data platform. A reset checklist is also included to make circulation simple for library staff.
No scientific background is required — the kit guides users through the entire process.
How to order
All of the kits available through our partnership with Ocean Week Canada have been given out.
However, you can still purchase a kit. To place your order, simply add the Ocean Week Canada Library Freshwater Testkit to your cart and proceed to checkout. The kit will be shipped directly to your library.
Have questions about setting up a lending program with our tools? Contact us!
