OUR MISSION - Delta Laboratories, Inc is a not for profit environmental organization that provides education, guidance and resources for communities and individuals in order to preserve and protect our natural resources and the environment.

For 30 years, Delta Labs has tested the water quality of Upstate New York's rivers and streams. We have preserved bodies of water and fought hard to clean them up. We have taught children to value this precious resource.

We invite you to join us in protecting the environment where you live.

Teaching

Teaching conveys our concern for water quality and the environment to the next generation.

Delta Labs has developed a water quality curriculum that combines age-appropriate scientific information with field activities. Adopt-A-Stream: The Water detectives is for elementary students; Adopt-A-Stream: Technology and Environmental Impacts if for middle school students; and Adopt-A-Stream: Environmental Integrity is for high school students.

Adopt-A-Stream gives students life-long tools for understanding, caring about, and acting to preserve their waterways. Help us bring our successful curriculum to your local schools. By forming teacher/student groups to test the water, our classroom-tested curriculum creates grass roots efforts to test, advocate form and protect water resources.

Testing

Testing is the vital first step in improving water quality.

Why are there no fish in this stream? Is this lake safe for swimming? Observation can provide important clues -- is the water murky? Is there an overabundance or lack of aquatic vegetation? Has this body of water changed?

The only way to know for sure what potential changes are harmful to the water and the life that depends on clean water is through repeated scientific testing. Observations can give clues about ecological imbalance. Testing will identify the hazard.

Is anyone testing the waters in your community? Are they acting on the information to initiate cleanups where necessary?

Take action, and you can have a lasting impact on the waterways you love.

Preserving

Preserving means taking personal responsibility for the quality of local waterways.

Work with your schools, outdoor users, environmental groups, and local businesses to adopt a stream, river, or lake in your area. Just think of the recreational, health, and public relations benefits!

Five simple steps to start preserving your environment:

• Check out program information for Adopt-A-Stream.
• Notice and report environmental trouble spots.
• Volunteer to test water in your area. Contact us to learn how to test and what to do with the information
• Encourage your school system or scouting group to consider the Adopt-A-Stream curriculum.
• Contribute to Delta Labs to strengthen our environmental efforts. Take a step today to help preserve a local waterway.