Resources for lending libraries
Empower your community to explore, test, and protect local water.
We’re so glad your library is hosting a Water Rangers kit! This page has everything you and your patrons need to get the most out of your Water Rangers Compact Kit, from downloadable resources and how-to videos to tips for building water science into your community programming.
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.
Kit resources
These are digital versions of the printed materials included in the kit. They’re handy to have on hand if a page goes missing, and patrons may appreciate being able to review the instructions before heading out to the water.
Video resources
Sometimes it’s just easier to watch! We put together a seven-minute walkthrough video that takes you through the entire kit from start to finish. It’s a great resource to share with patrons before they head out, and helpful for staff who want to feel comfortable answering questions.
Uploading data to the Water Rangers platform
One of the most exciting parts of water testing is knowing that your results contribute to a growing national open dataset. Every reading your patrons collect adds to a bigger picture of freshwater health across Canada.
Setting up your library’s shared account
We suggest that each library provide a single login for users to record data. As many will only test once, this smooths out their experience and gives libraries visibility into what lenders have done.
- Go to data.waterrangers.com
- Create an account for your library using a generic email. All people borrowing the kit will use this login to share data.
- Join the organization “Library lending program”.
- Find the dataset with your library name. Ask to join it. If you can’t find your dataset, contact us.
- Write the Username and Password on the postcard in the kit for patrons and record it below for your own records.
How to support testkit lending
Encourage patrons to:
- Choose a safe testing location (see tips below)
- Follow the Field Guide carefully
- Take their time to observe and upload data accurately
Checking the kit back in
- Make sure all items are present and in good condition
- Check that everything is clean and dry
Packing for the next patron
- Repack all items neatly in the kit according to the photo, ensuring everything is dry, and restock with 5 test strips, a sticker, and 2-3 note sheets on the clipboard.
- Ensure the Field Guide and instruction postcard are in the kit.
Tips
Add in a sticker! We’ve sent you 20 stickers. You can include one in the kit when it’s being lent out or give one to people when they return the kit!
- Create safe testing locations nearby so patrons know where to go to test. Testing the same place multiple times gives us a better understanding of the water’s health there. To make it easy for patrons to keep testing at the same locations, include a small map with directions to your local testing spot!
- Only include 5 test strips in the kit. Your kit includes 50 strips. Place the small blue container with 5 strips for regular use inside. A larger refill bottle is also included so you can restock the small container as needed. This helps protect the remaining strips in case the small container is accidentally dropped or comes into contact with water.
- Calibrate the conductivity meter every 6 months or whenever you notice errors.
Community engagement tips
Your kit is so much more than a lending item! It’s a conversation starter, a community builder, and a hands-on way for people of all ages to connect with the water around them. Here are a few ideas for bringing it to life at your library.
- Host a water testing event during Ocean Week Canada (June 1 to 8): Invite patrons to bring a sample from a local lake, river, or stream and test it together right in your space. No outdoor trip required, and no experience needed either! The kit connects beautifully to Ocean Week Canada themes. Consider pairing a kit loan with a book display, a film screening, or a local speaker event focused on water, the environment, or community science.
- Create a water quality display: Use results submitted through your library’s account to put together a small display showing local water data. Seeing real numbers from familiar waterways sparks curiosity and gets people asking questions.
- Connect with local schools: Teachers are often on the lookout for hands-on science activities, and the kit is a natural fit. A quick note to nearby schools, letting them know it’s available to borrow, could go a long way.
- Share it on social media: Let your community know that your library is part of a national freshwater monitoring program! Tag us at @the_waterrangers on Instagram and @waterrangers on Facebook, and we’ll share it with our community too.
Need more supplies?
Head over to our store to restock your kit. You can buy teststrips, stickers, and calibration solution for your conductivity meter.
Questions?
If you have any comments about the kit or questions for us, we’d love to hear from you! Don't hesitate to reach out!
