Water quality expert to spearhead efforts to evaluate inland and marine waters.With the Department of Health (DOH), Robin S. Knox, president and principal scientist of Water Quality Consulting Inc. in Kihei, is leading a workgroup of diverse community members to assess the quality of Maui water. They have sent invitations to members of the community and also invite other volunteers to participate in workgroup meetings. The workgroup calls upon citizens and scientists in all fields to give their best ideas for assessing how well our different needs for water are being met.
Knox said she is optimistic about the talented, passionate people on Maui and throughout the state, working together to meet the intent of the Clean Water Act. Everyone is invited to participate, because all are impacted by the decisions, she said.
When Knox first came to Hawai‘i, she met women who talked about becoming sick from their water supply and from swimming in the ocean. This compelled her to work for improved water conditions.
Knox received a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1982 from Louisiana State University, where she studied environmental health. She did graduate work in environmental engineering focusing on the physical, chemical and biological treatment of water and wastewater. She studied biogeochemistry to understand how materials such as nutrients (like nitrogen) and pollutants cycle through the ecosystem’s water, soils, sediments and organisms. She worked for the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality as an environmental consultant and had the opportunity to work on water quality projects in 20 different states and the Caribbean.
Her work with large-scale water quality monitoring, modeling and ecosystem restoration projects has given her an understanding of waste management and pollution prevention practices, as well as how ecosystems process materials that are released into the environment.
“I see the ecosystem as a giant machine, and I study how it is fueled, where the waste goes and how it is processed,” explained Knox. “Just like an engine or any other machine, there may need to be adjustments of many factors to get it running at its best. It is important to know that to manage ocean resources, you have to manage all the land from the summit to the sea to prevent pollution.”
The workgroup will be organized into topic-driven focus groups, such as bio-assessment and data management. Each focus group will be assigned to research specific topics and report findings and recommendations to the workgroup.
The purpose of the Water Quality & Assessment workgroup meetings is to support the ongoing evaluation of the quality of our inland and marine waters. In order to comply with the federal Clean Water Act and fulfill associated Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements, DOH is developing new methods to decide whether the uses covered by the state water quality standards actually comply with these regulations. The range of uses is very large, including the protection of native-breeding stock, food-processing, builders, businesses, water recreation, conservation of coral reefs, fishing and use of wilderness areas.
Diverse expertise and experience in the group will help to upgrade the water quality evaluation toolbox. The group’s objective is to establish accurate and practical methods to determine designated use attainment with limited data. The workgroup’s final product will be a set of draft assessment decision criteria proposed for use in the 2008 Integrated Water Quality Report. These draft criteria will then be offered for public review.
The initial meeting on May 22 at Pacific Whale Foundation was attended by concerned citizens from all over the state. (The PowerPoint presentation for the initial public meeting is available for viewing online at: http://hawaii.gov/ health/environmental/env-planning/ wqm/wqm.html.) Representing the DOH was Linda A. Koch, state bio-assessment coordinator on O‘ahu. Also present was Rosemary Robbins from Upcountry Maui, who has been involved in water quality issues for many years. After experiencing the infamous “Upcountry Rash,” Robbins joined the Water Oversight and Advisory Committee.
This advisory committee was involved with the implementation of the $497,000 grant from the federal government to test and improve Upcountry water quality. Robbins pledged, “I will continue to work actively for healthful water, however long it takes.”
Deeply concerned citizens like Knox, Robbins and countless others dedicated to our future environment and sustainability bring great hope for Maui’s future.
Knox and the DOH hope that the invitation will reach everyone who may be interested in sharing his or her expertise. For more information, contact Knox at 281-6416 or wqcinc@clearwire.net. Contact Koch at (808) 586-4337, linda.koch@doh.hawaii.gov or www.hawaii.gov/health/epo.