By: Vanessa Countryman
The Institute for Water and Health (IWH) has provided Water Data Training to Citizens of Brunswick Georgia and is still continuing their road to safe water for everyone.
Glynn County, located on Georgia's central coast, is known for its beaches such as Jekyll Island, Saint Simons Island, and Sea Island, with Brunswick as the county's administrative center; However, the area is also recognized for its environmental concerns, housing four Superfund sites.
District Commissioner Allen Booker raised an issue regarding increased subsistence fishing in Terry Creek during the pandemic—a water body with significant pollution levels. Despite advisories and monitoring by the EPA and Hercules, the community continues to fish there.
The reasons behind this are multifaceted, encompassing tradition, geography, culture, and economic necessity. These factors can override scientific warnings, particularly when communication strategies do not effectively engage the target communities.
The Institute has received just under $150,000 in funding from the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation. They are establishing a Black-led team dedicated to water quality assessment in popular fishing areas.
“This grant is really important because it drives towards something that’s been an issue in Brunswick for many many years,” said Roberson. “And that is really the environmental justice implications of the communications gap between a lot of folks that have done monitoring on the Superfund sites and water quality monitoring in the city and the county are often not connected with a lot of people who are most impacted by the pollution in the county.”
Historically, environmental research and messaging have often excluded vulnerable populations, such as those with lower incomes and people of color, even though they face the highest health risks from pollution.
“We have trained, so far, the group to be Adopt-A-Stream certified,” said Luke Roberson. “So they are certified now as water quality collectors.
This group, known as the Safe Water Ambassador Group (SWAG), is aiming to gather and distribute water quality data to those most impacted by pollution.
“What the training does, it not only familiarizes themselves with the program, why water quality is important, what metrics are measured, but it also clears them to once they collect data… they can put it up into the statewide database.”
A community-centric approach to data collection and education can lead to improved environmental literacy, healthier choices, and the empowerment of underserved communities to influence future environmental justice policies.