Tallulah Falls School Students Join Effort to Protect Local Waterways

Protecting North Georgia's waterways now begins inside a science lab at Tallulah Falls School.

Through a partnership with Savannah Riverkeeper and the Lake Burton Civic Association, TFS is now home to an IDEXX laboratory, one of the most advanced systems available for detecting E. coli in water. The new laboratory will support long-term water quality monitoring throughout the Lake Burton watershed while providing Tallulah Falls School students with meaningful, hands-on research opportunities.

Leading the initiative is Tonya Bonitatibus, executive director and riverkeeper for Savannah Riverkeeper, who has spent years protecting the health of the Savannah River Basin throughout Georgia and South Carolina.

"I never get tired of making the drive from the heat of Augusta to the cooler air of Tallulah Falls," Bonitatibus said. "This community treasures its lakes and streams, and clean water is essential to protecting both the people who live here and the natural resources that make this area so special."

After securing funding to purchase the IDEXX laboratory equipment, Bonitatibus faced one challenge: finding a permanent home for the technology. Tallulah Falls School stepped forward by providing space within its upper school science department.

"The establishment of this lab makes Tallulah Falls School home to the most advanced E. coli testing equipment in the surrounding counties," Bonitatibus said. "We know bacteria contamination exists in our waterways. The first step toward solving the problem is identifying where it exists so communities can address the source. At the same time, TFS students have the opportunity to participate in meaningful scientific research while helping improve water quality throughout the region."

The IDEXX system detects E. coli, a key indicator of sewage and animal waste contamination. While E. coli itself is not always harmful, its presence often signals that disease-causing pathogens may also be present. The data collected helps identify potential issues such as failing septic systems, allowing communities to address problems before they become larger public health concerns.

The laboratory was made possible through funding from the Georgia Federation of Women's Clubs, with additional support from the Lake Burton Civic Association.

As part of the partnership, TFS rising sophomore Henry Dumas was hired as a summer intern to collect water samples from streams flowing into Lake Burton and analyze them using the new equipment. His responsibilities include sampling waterways, incubating samples, recording results, and learning to map the data using Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

"I've really enjoyed learning how all of the data comes together," Dumas said. "Sampling is much simpler than I expected, but the information we're collecting is important. Taking samples, mapping the res

ults with GIS, and seeing how everything connects has been a great experience. It feels good to know the work I'm doing can benefit our community."

The internship has also introduced Dumas to the region's extensive network of waterways.

"There are so many rivers and streams around us that most people don't even realize exist," he said. "We're surrounded by water. It's fascinating to see how everything connects."

Beyond monitoring E. coli, Bonitatibus hopes the partnership will continue to grow by incorporating biological monitoring using aquatic insects, whose presence can reveal the overall health of streams and creeks.

"Water quality doesn't belong only in a biology lab," she said. "It belongs in the stream. We want students outside collecting data, understanding ecosystems, and becoming stewards of the natural resources around them."

The monitoring effort also supports ongoing applications for state and federal funding that could help improve impaired waterways throughout the region. Volunteers with the Lake Burton Civic Association have already spent three years collecting samples across the watershed, and the addition of the IDEXX laboratory significantly expands the accuracy and efficiency of those efforts.

For Tallulah Falls School, the partnership reflects its commitment to experiential learning by connecting students with authentic scientific research that benefits the surrounding community. While learning advanced laboratory techniques and geospatial mapping, students are also helping protect one of North Georgia's most valuable natural resources for generations to come.