FAQs

1) You can find the Data Form on the KWW website’s Sampling Data page under Forms. 

2) Or, you can print it from the link at the top of the Stream Sample data entry page. 

Sampling Kits (with field chemistry measurement equipment)
For most samplers, you will need to check out the field chemistry kits from your nearest Support Hub. You can find Hub locations and related information using this map.  It is recommended that you contact the Hub to make pick-up arrangements in advance.  Click on the Hub’s mapped location to find contact availability, phone number, and email address.

Some samplers have been loaned individual kits and can continue using those until they decide to stop sampling.  At that point, they should reach out to contact@kywater.org about returning their sampling supplies.

E. coli Supplies (R-cards, pipettes, gloves, incubators)

E. coli supplies are provided to Hubs in advance of the three main sampling events in May, July, and September. The number of supplies provided to each Hub is based on indicated participation levels for that Hub. To ensure adequate supplies, it is important that volunteers update the Annual Sampling Plan on the Data Portal’s Profile page, which can be found using the square icon with your initials at the bottom of the menu bar.

Replacement Parts for Sampling Kits (e.g., batteries, broken or missing kit components)

If you need replacement parts for your sampling kit, please contact JoAnn Palmer at joann.palmer@kywater.org. The needed supplies will either be mailed directly to you or sent to your nearest Support Hub for pickup.

If help is needed with entering data, you have a few options:

1. The sampler needing assistance logs into the portal alongside someone who can assist.  

2. The sampler needing assistance logs into the portal. The person helping is selected as the Primary Sampler and the person in need of help select him/herself as the Additional Sampler. Either person can now edit and submit the results.

1) Log into the data portal and scroll down to Site Sampling History on the dashboard homepage.

2) Click on View Samples next to the site needing edits.

3) Scroll down to Your Samples and select Edit under details to revise your form entries. 

You can either access the Data Portal through a browser on your phone (e.g., Safari, Google, etc) and upload them directly using the links at the end of form OR you can upload the photos to your computer and use the Form’s links to add them.

When Using Both Your Phone and Computer to Submit Data:

1. Open your photo app on your phone and send the desired photos to your email address.

2. Open your email on your computer and download the photos to a selected folder where you can find them later.

3. Open an internet browser (such as Google, Microsoft Edge, or Safari) and enter the portal’s URL address - - https://kyww.uky.edu.

4. Click on the Stream Sample icon on the left- side menu.

5. Enter the recorded findings from your Data Form. When you are ready to upload photos under Photos and Sample Form, click on the blue Upload link and select the desired photo from the folder on your computer.

6. Click on Submit Sample when you have finished entering data and uploading photos.

When Using Your Phone Only to Submit Data:

1. Open an internet browser on your phone (such as Google, Microsoft Edge or Safari) and enter the portal’s URL address - https://kyww.uky.edu.

2. Log into the portal using your email address and password. 

3. Click on the menu icon in the upper right corner (three horizontal lines).

4. Select Stream Sample from the menu.

5. Enter recorded findings from your Data Form. When you are ready to upload photos under Photos and Sample Form, click on the blue Upload link and select either “Photo Library” (to use photos saved to your phone) or Take Photo (to upload immediately, most likely for the data form).

6. Click on Submit Sample when you have finished entering data and uploading photos.

Select an existing Sampling Location?

1. Click on the Stream Sample icon, then click on the Open Map button beneath Select/Create a Site.

2. Zoom to your location of interest. You can do this manually, or by selecting a Search Type (Site ID, Address, or coordinates) and entering your search location details.

3. Once you find a site of interest on the map, click on the orange circle at the location. A popup information box will appear that displays the site’s ID number, river basin, and a location description.

4. You can make note of these details for future reference when you enter sampling data.

When you return to submit data, simply enter the Site ID# and the site details will pre-populate the form.

Create a new Sampling Location?

1. Click on the Stream Sample icon, then click on the Open Map button beneath Select/Create a Site.
   
   

2.  Zoom to your location of interest. You can do this manually, or by selecting a Search Type (address, or coordinates) and entering your search location details.
   
   

3. If you have the site’s latitude and longitude coordinates (example: Latitude 37.646077, Longitude -84.738678), you can enter these details and zoom directly to the location.
   
   

4. If you use an address, you will need to use the mouse to scroll around until you can click on the exact location of the stream where you plan to sample.
   
   

5. Once you find the correct location, click on the map and a Create New Site popup box will appear.
   
   

6. Click on Create Site, then enter the Stream Name and a Sampling Location Description that will help others recognize it. The River Basin will automatically populate.
   
   

7. Click on Create Site again and a Site ID# will be assigned to the newly created site. 

The Profile page of the data portal provides an option to "Accept Connection Requests." This will give other samplers the ability to reach out about collaborating on sampling stream locations.

1) Open the Data Portal and click on Profile link at bottom of icon menu (square icon with your initials).

2) Scroll down to Connection Status and select Allow Connections. Once you authorize this, you will see this on your Profile screen.

3) Open Hubs and Sites map from the icon on left-side menu.

4) Click on a Sampled Site in your area.

5) Click on View Site Samples and it will show details about that site.

Where it lists Other Samples at this Site, you will see a Connect button if the sampler has given this permission.

After clicking on the Connect button, you will receive a popup message that allows you to reach out to the sampler about collaborations via email.