News
The Institute for Water and Health Goes Beyond
A new project links rural towns in Georgia and Alabama to address water quality in aging infrastructure and develop next-generation water professionals for underserved communities.
Marion, Alabama –
Researchers at the Institute for Water and Health (IWH) at Georgia Southern University initiated a new project in Marion, Alabama, to address the city’s aging water infrastructure and its impact on human health with a focus on community-based research, workforce development, and environmental justice.
Project lead Dr. Aslan (Director, IWH) said, “Nationwide, community water systems are managed by specialized professionals to ensure safe water every time we turn on the tap. However, about 50 percent of water operators working at these utilities will retire in the next decade, and only 10 percent are expected to be replaced. Training the next generation of water operators and developing leaders for rural water systems is a matter of national security. The Institute for Water and Health is committed to launching a regional program to equip future water managers with the necessary skills to ensure safe water for all. This pilot project will lay the foundation for this goal and aims to expand the program throughout the Southeastern United States”.
“With this program being able to recruit young people from within our community to manage our water system that we are revitalizing, upgrading, and improving, this will be able to bring about stability and longevity for our community.”
Dexter Hinton, Mayor of Marion, Alabama
The pilot project in Marion, Alabama, is a collaborative effort with Georgia Southern University and the University of Alabama. Dr. Lacey Huffling (College of Education at Georgia Southern University) and Dr. Lanna Nations (Alabama Water Institute) are co-PIs in this project. The project includes an internship program for next-generation water operators and a peer mentorship program for current water managers in partnership with the City of Eastman, Georgia. By involving the community in decision-making, the project seeks to improve communication and foster trust between local authorities and residents, contributing to long-term environmental health and equitable access to safe drinking water. The project is funded by Alabama Power Co and Partnership for Inclusive Innovation.
IWH Hosting NOAA Coastal Adaptation Training this Summer
The Institute for Water and Health at Georgia Southern University is teaming up with NOAA’s Office of Coastal Management for a professional development training event in Savannah on July 16-17th, 2024. Targeted towards managers, policy makers, practitioners, and community leaders, it will take place at the Student Union Ballroom at the Armstrong Campus. Please reserve your space soon, as space is limited. Cost for the event is $125. A summary of the course can be found at https://www.enrole.com/georgiasouthern/jsp/session.jsp?sessionId=24SU-APAPCC-01PA&courseId=APCC&categoryId=ROOT
Algae to the Rescue for Nature-Based Water Treatment
By Vanessa Countryman
The IWH partnered with our affiliated faculty for the development of a nature-based technology known as algal turf scrubbers (ATS). This system utilizes the natural properties of algae to cleanse wastewater of various contaminants.
“The ATS is simply a downward sloping flow-way onto which a substrate is attached,” said Anthony Siccardi, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology. “Water pulses over the system stimulating the colonization of the substrate by algae.”
Water quality is improved by reducing nutrient pollution, but it also demonstrates a remarkable capacity to decrease antibiotic-resistant bacteria by approximately 20%.
IWH researchers are expanding their research to assess this nature-based technology’s capability to begin a new era of sustainable wastewater treatment.
WellAware Program Targets Rural Drinking Water
This summer, the IWH will be working with rural residents in Evans and Tattnall County to test private drinking water wells for hazardous contaminants. Supported by a grant from the CARES Foundation, this study will focus on cancer-causing pollution found in drinking water. Participants can get a free drinking water test for filling out a short survey. Survey answers will help us to understand how the health and experiences of drinking from private wells may impact cancer screening initiatives. A town hall event in each county will bring together communities to discuss concerns and possible solutions for the future. Currently, this project will support doctoral-level research, but we look forward to the expansion of this project in the years to come.
Safe Water Together Glynn County Program Installs New Community Lab
By Luke Roberson
Glynn County is known as a gateway to beaches on Jekyll and Saint Simons Island, with Brunswick as the county’s administrative center. However, the area is also recognized for four Superfund sites – areas listed by the US Environmental Protection Agency as needing significant environmental cleanup and remediation.
County Commissioner Allen Booker raised an issue regarding increased subsistence fishing in Terry Creek during the pandemic—a water body directly impacted by decades of contamination by the Hercules Landfill. Despite advisories and monitoring by the EPA and Hercules, the local community continues to fish there.
The reasons behind this are multifaceted, encompassing tradition, geography, culture, and economic necessity. Historically, environmental research and messaging have often excluded those with lower incomes and people of color, even though they face the highest health risks from pollution.
In February, the IWH began a series of training sessions for our participants, with certifications to collect and log data into the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream database, the largest volunteer water quality monitoring organization in Georgia. In March, we installed a mini-lab with water monitoring gear, safety equipment, and an aquatic bacteria analysis system owned by the Safe Water Together team.
As we head into the summer sampling season, the team will grow in numbers, capacity, and capability. Two summer interns will join the group and collect information on water quality and the community’s perceptions and attitudes on how they can make policy changes with the data they collect.