Year 2025
Water Blitz – an European initiative where thousands of citizens in different countries help researchers take water samples. It benefits the aquatic environment throughout Europe!
- In Denmark, DTU Sustain is behind Water Blitz at Mølle Å, as part of the STARDUST project, which is funded by the EU’s Water4All and Innovation Fund Denmark. Join researchers and students from DTU Sustain on Saturday, 27 September 2025, to investigate pesticides in Mølle Å. This family-friendly event invites all ages to contribute to important research for a sustainable future.
- The DCU Water Institute in Ireland is pleased to announce the upcoming 2025 Water Blitz, which will be held from September 26 to 28 in collaboration with DCU’s STARDUST project. This year, we are focusing on the important task of detecting persistent chemicals and pesticides in Ireland’s freshwater sources. We recognize that these contaminants can pose long-term challenges to both ecosystems and human health. As we proceed with this event, we look forward to sharing updates, findings, and stories in the months to come. We invite you to join us on this journey as we work together to uncover vital insights into the health of Ireland’s waterways.
- For more details…follow the youtube channels from DTU and DCU
https://www.youtube.com/@waterblitzdcu
When we stand together across borders, we get much better data about our aquatic environment.
Conclusions after the event :
Can pesticides in aquatic environments be measured using a small syringe? This question was explored by over 50 dedicated citizens on Saturday. With enthusiastic support from students in DTU Sustain‘s master’s and bachelor’s programs in environmental technology, and aided by beautiful autumn weather and plenty of sunshine, 50 samples were collected along the Mølleåen River. These samples are now on their way to Ireland for analysis, and the results will be presented at #ResearchDay2026.
We would like to thank everyone who contributed to this event, especially the Danish Society for Nature Conservation and Lyngby-Taarbæk Municipality. The Water Blitz 2025 was organized as part of the STARDUST project, which is supported by the Water4All partnership.
Funded by the Water4All – Partnership, the STARDUST Project brings together citizen scientists to monitor pesticide pollution in freshwater.During the last weekend of September 2025, Dublin City University (DCU) hosted a Water Blitz to celebrate the first public deployment of the CSHydro Tool. This innovative kit allows non-specialists to collect water samples for the detection of pesticides.
The CSHydro Tool is simple and portable, enabling citizens to gather samples from rivers, lakes, and streams. These samples are then analyzed in DCU laboratories for pesticide residues. This initiative combines public engagement with scientific accuracy, creating an effective model for community-driven monitoring.
“Citizen science has the power to transform how we understand and respond to water quality issues,” said one of the scientists. “With STARDUST, we’re making science more accessible while generating high-quality data to guide policy and action.”
With analysis now underway, early results are expected to provide new insights into pesticide impacts and inform smarter, more sustainable water policies. The 2025 DCU Water Blitz marks a significant milestone by placing advanced chemical detection tools directly into the hands of the public for the first time, setting a new standard for citizen-led science across Europe.
Thank you to all citizen scientists!! to partners, and funders Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ireland, who made this collaboration possible. This is milestone in citizen science for water protection. Chloe Martin Hans-Jørgen Albrechtsen Karolina Mileńko-Kuszewska Elizaveta Vereshchagina DCU Water Institute Dublin City University DCU Faculty of Science and Health DCU FuJo Susan Hegarty Valerie McCarthy Fiona Murphy Bertrand Vallet Benjamin Lopez Daire Keogh David Robbins Diarmuid Torney Padraig Murphy Pat Brereton Rebecca Smith David O’Connor
A more extended story is found on LinkedIn
