11/22/2002

Alabama Water Quality Monitoring Program Impresses EPA

The Alabama Water Watch (AWW) program was recently recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its accomplishments in promoting water quality.

“The U.S. EPA was very impressed with the level of detail, commitment and personal association and enthusiasm of all the volunteers of the Alabama Watch program,” said Hank Zygmunt, assistant associate director of watersheds for the EPA’s national agriculture office.

AWW is a community-based water quality monitoring program that trains citizens to measure water quality conditions, educates people about water issues and aids in improving environmental policy.

“This type of a volunteer program represents an excellent example of what communities can do when they want to understand their watersheds and want to provide invaluable baseline environmental data to all organizations and agencies that can make a difference in promoting a healthy watershed,” Zygmunt said at a recent gathering about water quality programs.

AWW was established in October 1992, and more than 4,000 citizens have become certified water monitors since the program’s inception. There are currently 79 active groups, and since 1993, citizens have sampled about 1,500 sites on 500 water bodies around the state. One third of the citizen monitors are teachers and students and the remaining two-thirds are adult groups such as home-owner groups or smaller groups of individual volunteers.

“These people aren’t making any money by sampling, they’re involved because they love it and are interested in protecting and restoring their natural resources,” said program manger, Bill Deutsch of AU’s Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures.

The AWW program office provides training and workshops in a total of 10 levels of certification in three different areas - chemical, bacteriological and biological. “Our quality assurance protocols have been approved by the EPA,” Deutsch said. “From the beginning we set up the program so that our data would be trustworthy.”

Funding for AWW is provided in part by grants from EPA, the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station , Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). Legacy, Inc., Partners in Environmental Education provided funding for purchasing chemical refills for test kits.

“It takes time, energy and a strong commitment on the part of the leaders of the program, which obviously has been demonstrated by Auburn University and state officials,” Zygmunt said. “Alabama should really feel quite proud of all the accomplishments brought forth by institutionalizing the Alabama Water Watch program.”

AWW is affiliated with AU's Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures and the International Center for Aquaculture and Aquatic Environments of Auburn University. It is a part of the Fisheries and Aquacultures Peaks of Excellence program.

The Auburn University Peaks of Excellence program encompass seven multi-disciplinary research areas selected for their strength and ability to address state, regional and national research and development needs. Other Peaks programs include Cellular and Molecular Biosciences, Detection and Food Safety, Forest Sustainability, Poultry Products Safety and Quality and Transportation

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News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
Contact William Deutsch, 334-844-9119 or wdeutsch@acesag.auburn.edu
Contact Wendi Hartup, 888-844-4785

11/22/02

By Aimee Malone