George Zoto, Ph.D.
Project Manager, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
- Bureau of Resource Protection
- 973 Iyannough Road
- Hyannis
- United States
Topics
12 Comments
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Re: Capacity Building for Watershed Stewardship Groups
2009-12-02 10:11:29 UTC
Alina,
Regarding your request of a successful campaign that engages citizens who take ownership of their water resources and fosters a climate of stewardship on a small watershed scale Need to look no further than the First Herring Brook Watershed Initiative in the town of Scituate, Massachusetts: an excellent model for you and other FSB readers of what can be achieved locally by ordinary but committed members of the community to address the sustainability of a small watershed as a source of drinking water but equally important as a source for sustaining dependent ecosystems. Their website: http://www.fhbwi.org/
George Zoto, Ph.D.
Project Manager
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
United States -
Re: High School Sustainability Projects
2009-09-14 12:46:49 UTC
Emily, You may want to consider the Canon Envirothon for your high school with representatives with active programs already engaged in its various activities within Ontario. To learn more about this environmental education program for high school students throughout North America go to http://www.envirothon.org/about-us.html. The website for Ontario Envirothon can be found at http://www.ontarioenvirothon.on.ca/
Check it out! I'm sure you will be hooked, as I was years ago.
Best wishes!
George Zoto, Ph.D.
Project Manager
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
United States -
Re: Installation of Low Flow Shower heads and Aerators in Apartment Buildings
2009-06-11 11:24:11 UTC
Elisa, One study, commissioned by the Southwest Florida Water Management District, may be of use in your assessment of "lessons learned". The report describes the outcome of a pilot they funded and other US programs. I hope this helps....
http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/download/social_research/Showerhead_Replacement_Final_Report.pdf
George Zoto, Ph.D.
Project Manager
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
United States -
Re: Fireworks and Water Pollution
2009-02-23 08:00:55 UTC
Elena, The chemical linkage to fireworks is Perchlorate. MassDEP agency was the first state regulatory agency in the US to set a drinking water standard 2 ppb (2 g/L)for this chemical. The background information leading to this standard may be the information you are looking at this MassDEP website: http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/drinking/percinfo.htm#info under these headings:
Background Information
Final Standards
Sites, Sources & Monitoring Data
Concerning the local response to this standard, the town of Harwich on Cape Cod decided not to continue its annual fireworks dispay in response to rising concerns about contamination of the aquifer used for the town's water supply.
Good luck!
George Zoto, Ph.D.
Project Manager
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
United States -
Re: Looking for Resources that can be used as Webinars to Educate Employees during Earth Week
2009-02-12 10:15:05 UTC
Hi Kevin, In my opinion, one of the best site for videos for use as an earth week activity on the pressing enviornmental issues of the day are those produced by the National Geographic at http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/environment/global-warming-environment/global-warming-101.html?fs=science-panther.nationalgeographic.com
The European Enviornmental Agency also has some wonderfully produced videos that also address many of the same issues from their perspective: http://www.eea.europa.eu/multimedia/all-videos
George Zoto, Ph.D.
Project Manager
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
United States -
Re: Seeking Information on Water Conservation & Groundwater Protection
2009-01-23 12:45:44 UTC
Laura, You may find this report helpful, if you're unaware of it...
"Stretching Urban Water Supplies in Colorado: Strategies for Landscape Water Conservation" by Rachel Barta of the Colorado Water Resources Commission helpful.
Downloaded at: http://www.cwi.colostate.edu/publications/sr/13.pdf
Included are case studies from other states and outdoor water use restriction strategies that are applicable anywhere.
Good luck!
george zoto -
Re: Drivers and barriers affecting support for investment in small drinking water systems
2008-09-08 13:02:31 UTC
Nancy,
In response to the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Amendments, Small Systems Capacity Development was a major issue that State Drinking Water Programs were required to address during the late 1990s in the US. The information found on this EPA website address many of the issues that concern you.
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/smallsystems/
Specifically, the final report by the National Drinking Water Advisory Council Small Systems Implementation Working Group http://www.epa.gov/safewater/smallsystems/pdfs/final_wg_report.pdf
go to page 12 of this report for the details as briefly presented below:
2.0 PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION
Finding Public awareness and education are essential tools of water-system capacity development. A well-informed public can support a water system and its goals. Water systems can benefit by engaging the public through various outreach and educational efforts. Public awareness and education programs can be supported and enhanced through resource development and technical assistance.
Conclusions
2A An aware and informed public plays an important role in water-system capacity development. Water systems should actively inform the public and other stakeholders about drinking water issues and involve them in decision making processes.
2B Building public awareness can be accomplished through collaboration among water systems, State and Federal regulatory agencies, industry associations, and technical-assistance providers. Water systems and governmental agencies should send a clear and consistent message to the public. Coordination can help avoid duplication or contradiction, and reinforce the message.
2C Strategies to improve water-system capacity to inform and engage customers are needed. Water systems should recognize that members of the public are principal water system stakeholders. Various strategies can be developed to help water systems communicate with customers and involve them in capacity development efforts.
Recommendations to EPA
2.1 EPA should continue public awareness activities.
Good luck!
George A. Zoto, Ph.D.
Bureau of Resource Protection
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
973 Iyannough Road (Route 132)
Hyannis, MA 02601
508-771-6055
Fax: 508-771-6155 -
Re: Protecting waterways
2008-07-21 08:55:12 UTC
Vicki,
One or both of these guides may be helpful. Good luck! "Getting in Step: A Guide for Conducting Watershed Outreach Campaigns" (EPA 2003) is designed to walk watershed groups, municipalities, etc., through a comprehensive six-step outreach process of developing and implementing a watershed outreach campaign. http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/outreach/documents/getnstep.pdf "Getting Your Feet Wet with Social Marketing: Steps for Promoting Behavior Change in Water Programs" (Utah Department of Agriculture 2006) http://ag.utah.gov/conservation/GettingYourFeetWet1.pdf
George A. Zoto, Ph.D.
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Resource Protection
Cape Cod Office
973 Iyannough Road
Hyannis, MA 02601
508-771-6055
Fax: 508-771-615 -
Re: School Curriculum for middle school students
2008-01-22 10:32:41 UTC
Cindy,
Try the Globe Teacher's Guide website: http://archive.globe.gov/tctg/conceptsearch.jsp
Regards,
George
George A. Zoto, Ph.D.
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Resource Protection
One Winter Street Boston, MA 02108
T 617.292.5599
F 617.292.5696
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Re: Best practice in water education
2008-01-18 12:18:47 UTC
Sarah,
Here's a collection of websites that I have found useful in promoting water education from the basics of hydrology to smart growth planning for sustaining water resources. http://www.carleton.edu/departments/geol/DaveSTELLA/Water/hydrosphere_mo dels.htm http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/pdf/waterresources_with_sg.pdf http://www.vims.edu/bridge/
Good luck,
George
George A. Zoto, Ph.D.
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Resource Protection
One Winter Street Boston, MA 02108
T 617.292-5599
F 617.292.5696
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