The town and the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust are testing water this summer to build a water quality database for Georgetown’s shoreline.

Funded by the Maine Coastal Program, the volunteer-led effort may be extended to other towns in the Kennebec River estuary in coming years, Land Trust officials said. Volunteers will only be sampling in Georgetown in 2013.

The effort is being undertaken in Georgetown because the town depends on clean water to support the clamming and fishing industries that are the backbone of its heritage. But Land Trust officials said water quality data from Georgetown’s coastal waters is sparse.

“All information collected by volunteer samplers will be a valuable contribution to the town of Georgetown and will increase our understanding of Kennebec Estuary regional waters,” said Ruth Indrick, who is working on the project with the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust.

Sampling will take place at 10 designated sites around Georgetown. Volunteers will test for pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrogen, salinity, temperature and turbidity, which is a measure of water clarity.

Sampling will take place once or twice a month through October, on assigned dates. Each date of sampling will take about an hour. A training for all volunteers will be held in late May or early June.

Volunteers may have to walk on slippery ground while collecting samples. Anyone older than 18 is invited to volunteer, with no prior experience needed. Youths ages 11 to 17 may volunteer if they are with an adult.

For more information, email Indrick at rindrick@kennebecestuary.or g or call 442-8400.