"In 2023, thousands of citizens took part in a research project aimed at mapping water quality across France. This initiative provided researchers with valuable insights and raised awareness among volunteers. On 29th September 2023, all across France, thousands of people took on the role of researchers for a weekend. Equipped with their smartphones, a coloured test strip, and an instruction sheet, they set out on an unprecedented collective experiment: measuring the quality of France's water in rivers, fountains, lakes, wells, and puddles."
"In just a few days, nearly 800 samples were collected and more than 20,000 data points were recorded. Behind these impressive numbers lies a human and scientific adventure: the Grande Synchr'Eau, a large-scale citizen science initiative that was awarded one of the CNRS Mediation Medals in 2025 for its originality and societal impact. This unprecedented participatory experiment made it possible to reveal the chemical diversity of French waters."
"The principle is simple: dip a test strip into the water, watch the tablets change colour, and then compare them to a reference scale. This gesture, both simple and fun, actually hides valuable measurements: pH (or acidity), nitrate concentrations from fertilisers, chlorine levels, as well as heavy metals such as copper or lead. For many, the experiment produces a "wow" effect."
In September 2023, thousands of volunteers simultaneously sampled waters across France using colorimetric test strips and smartphones. Nearly 800 samples and over 20,000 data points were recorded, mapping pH, nitrate, chlorine and heavy metals like copper and lead across rivers, lakes, fountains, wells and puddles. The Grande Synchr'Eau revealed pronounced local chemical diversity, from acidic waters in volcanic zones to elevated copper in urban fountains. The hands-on protocol generated public engagement while producing scientifically useful data. The initiative received a CNRS Mediation Medal in 2025 for originality and societal impact.
Read at The Local France
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