Job Posting: Forest Watch Coordinator – Sierra Club Pennsylvania

Note: The Keystone Clean Water Team is  a political.  We are a fact based organization and to maintain this balance, we are posting this job announcement. Please review.

Chapter:   Pennsylvania

Reports To: Chapter Director

Context: Pennsylvania’s public spaces are in peril from drilling. In order to prevent this catastrophe, we need to organize and implement the Pennsylvania Forest Watch Campaign to  increase the number of people involved, leaders trained, and engagement of people with influence to achieve our conservation goals. Plans, organizes and coordinates the activities of staff and volunteers in carrying out the Forest Watch Plan, a campaign that leads members on outings in state parks and forests threatened by oil and gas drilling.  Develops organizing strategies and priorities for moving campaign forward with our allies.

Scope: Under direction of the Chapter Director or the assigned volunteer leader, implements the Chapter’s PA Forest Watch Initiative in the Delaware River watershed. Responsible for recruiting, engaging, and motivating large numbers of new people to take repeated action which will further Sierra Club’s Forest Watch campaign.  Working closely with Chapter and National staff, the Program Coordinator will identify and develop volunteers to take on the role of team outings leaders and build grassroots power and networks. Identifies and builds alliances with other organizations that will provide assistance with the Forest Watch Program.

The Program Coordinator is responsible for the coordination and effective implementation of the Forest Watch Campaign.  Oversees creating the conservation campaign and developing the strategy and helps to carry out organizational and issue visibility in regional, national media and in the local community.  Provides leadership in working with volunteer leaders, national, state and local conservation staff on conservation. Evaluates and measures success of activities within the campaign to ensure progress towards the campaign or program’s mission and goals. Helps determine changes to strategies needed to reach goals.

Job Activities:

1. Develops and implements campaign strategies for the Forest Watch Initiative in the Delaware River watershed in accordance with the chapter policy.
2. Recruits, coordinates and facilitates grassroots involvement and cultivates relationships with public officials and our allies, like ALLARM and Stroud Water Research to implement the Forest Watch Campaign in the Delaware River watershed.
3. Works with staff volunteer leaders and other interest groups to identify, recruit and organize volunteers for conservation campaigns.
4. Plans, develops and implements campaign strategies  to obtain media coverage in regional and national media outlets.  Participates in the development of media campaigns; may represent the Sierra Club in the media; promotes volunteer media exposure.
5. Monitors, analyzes, and evaluates laws, initiatives and new developments affecting a specific conservation issue at the community, state and national levels.
6. Makes presentations to community, political, and governmental bodies regarding chapter conservation efforts.  Writes press releases newsletters, flyers, etc. to keep the Club membership and the general public informed.
7. Advocates the Sierra Club position on proposed legislation involving conservation programs; informs and communicates with elected officials, business leaders, governmental agencies, and other nonprofit organizations.
8. Conducts surveys, investigations, and research needed to achieve objectives of conservation program.
9. Works on task forces, committees, etc. representing the Club’s objective or mission.
10. Works closely with media representatives to ensure that the message of the Club is accurately represented by the media.
11. Performs miscellaneous duties as assigned.

Knowledge & Skills:

—   BA/BS degree or equivalent experience in Environmental Studies, Outdoor Education or a closely related field.

— 1-2 years experience in the environmental field that includes outdoor education, organizing campaigns, and public speaking.

— Excellent written and oral communication skills.

— Proficient computer skills

— Demonstrated ability and effectiveness working with volunteers.

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This Year- Asked About Reverse Osmosis Treatment System

For some reason, this year we received a lot of questions from individuals looking to purchase or install a reverse osmosis treatment system.  The first question they all ask was about the features, models, and other details, but none answer the question why?  What was the problem or purpose?  They assumed they needed this system.

So my questions went as follows:

Question 1: Why?  What is the Problem – their answer in all cases was they thought it would be better.

Answer 1: They all thought they needed to install a reverse osmosis unit on their drinking water to protect their family.   They did not identify a problem such as salty water, metallic taste, etc.  When this happens, my first assumption is something went wrong somewhere or there is a new water treatment ad on TV pushing citizens to drink “Pure Water”, i.e., H20 or dihydrogen monoxide, only.  First – Drinking absolutely pure water for the long-term is not wise.

Question 2:  Where does your water originate?  Well water, City or Public water, or shared spring.

Answer 2:  80% said city or public water, 10 % said private well, and 10% said a local spring.

For the city and public water users, I said it was unlikely you needed a reverse osmosis unit because your source is regulated and must meet the state and federal drinking water standards, but after Flint and other cases this may not be true 100 % of the time.  I ask them if they look at the Consumer Confidence Report for their system and they had no idea what I was describing.  I pointed them in the direction of the EPA Consumer Confidence Report  (NOTE: If there is no report online, you will need to call your water supplier) and in every instance the water source was meeting drinking water standards, but they had some occasional problems with trihalomethanes, i.e., chlorine by-products, bacteria, and a few with copper, arsenic,  fluoride, and lead or corrosion issues.   For these individuals, I recommended the following:

a. Get a Comprehensive City Water Information Analysis

b. Based on the initial information and assuming the primary issue was trihalomethanes and chlorine by-products, the primary need most individuals was an under the counter “Point-of-Use” Carbon Filtration System for the Sink, Refrigerator, and/or Shower and in some cases for older homes I suggested a first flush test for lead and copper and then have a plumbing contractor inspect the service lines and plumbing in the home.  In one case, the homeowner found a slimy bacterial growth in the toilet tank reservoir, so we suggested they flush the system and suggested the installation of a water filter canister so they could flush and shock disinfect the water lines in the home.  For a small office, I might suggest a water cooler model.   I do not recommend a Whole House Reverse Osmosis unit.

c. Reverse Osmosis Treatment was not needed in ALL cases.

For the well water users (POE Systems- UV disinfection), I asked them when was the last time they tested their water and if the water had any aesthetic problems.  One complained of a salty taste, one was just concerned because of health issues, and the rest reported aesthetic problems ranging from odors to discoloration to staining.   If they did not have a recent water test, we recommended the appropriate water testing based on their description of the problem and surrounding land-use activities.

Homeowners that reported – Salty Water Taste and not near a gasoline station or farming area we recommended a basic water quality test with bacteria.

Homeowners that reported discoloration that was red, black, green, and/or a metallic taste we recommended a basic water quality test.

Homeowners that reported a chemical odor or metallic sheen and located in an area surrounded by agricultural activities or petrochemicals we recommended a test that included bacteria, metals, Volatile Organics, herbicides, and pesticides.  If they reported slimy coatings or films, we added a nuisance bacteria test.

We also directed a few of these users to our Phone App and Diagnose It for a self Diagnose.

At this point, NOT one of these individuals has installed a reverse osmosis unit, but it looks like the guy with the salty water may need a system.  We did find out that about 90% of the well owners needed to shock disinfect their well, 50% needed to install a UV disinfection System, 30% had a corrosion related problem, and 20% had to treat the water for an iron, manganese, or sulfur problem.

For the “Spring User” – we recommend the water be tested for total coliform and E. coli. and general water quality.  If the samples come back positive and there was a concern iron and manganese content we recommended a water test that included bacteria (including standard plate count and nuisance bacteria, iron, manganese, and total dissolved solids).  Some of the users complained about getting diarrhea, so we recommend the equivalent of a Pathogenic Screen Test for Your Drinking Water.

Guess What ! – the diarrhea case was positive for 1 pathogenic organism.   Our recommendation was to not use that spring and if possible have the spring properly abandon.   If you want to use a local spring source, plan on boiling the water at a minimum and use a water pitcher filter (test regularly at least quarterly).

For the guy that needed a reverse osmosis system, he also needed a pretreatment system to deal with the bacteria, hardness, and prepare the water for the R/O unit.    For individuals on city water that want a point of use R/O, we have found that is is typically necessary to prefilter the water to remove particles, add a carbon unit to remove chlorine, and is some cases reduce the hardness of the water.    Please keep in mind both applications are for Point-of-Use and not – Wholehouse RO treatment.

Looking for a Reverse Osmosis Unit – Questions?

1. How much water do I need per day?
2. Does my water require pretreatment?  If you do not have recent water testing data, we recommend this comprehensive assessment (Complete RO screen).  Testing for silica is critical.
3. How much water will be “wasted” per day and where will this water go?   Some R/O units process 2 to 4 units of water to make 1 unit.  Therefore, you may waste 1 to 3 gallons of water to make 1 gallon.
4. Do I need to install a booster pump- Do I have the proper pressure in my system?
5. Do you need to re-mineralize the water for taste or to increase the pH?

Interesting R/O Unit with Booster Pump

Finally -You may want to be looking for an NSF/ANSI 58 approved systems – You can try this product search. “NSF/ANSI 58 establishes the minimum requirements for the certification of point-of-use (POU) reverse osmosis systems designed to reduce contaminants that may be present in public or private drinking water.  The scope of NSF/ANSI 58 includes material safety, structural integrity, total dissolved solids (TDS) reduction and other optional contaminant reduction claims. The most common optional claims addressed by NSF/ANSI 58 include cyst reduction, hexavalent and trivalent chromium reduction, arsenic reduction, nitrate/nitrite reduction, and cadmium and lead reduction.”  and you most likely want to hire a local trained professional to assist with product selection and install. If your looking for a treatment system to remove Pfas/Pfos (meets NSF P473)

Training
If you are looking for Training on the Subject – Visit :  Basic Water Treatment Course (Search Water Supply
(Topics: Desalination, Disinfection, Membrane Filtration)

More -Training – Visit Training Professionals 

Please share the site – We try to be as fact based as possible and try to provide solid information.

Manufacturers

Crystal Quest
US Water Systems

Volunteers Needed – Tunkhannock Pennsylvania – Planning 300 Trees

North Branch Land Trust (NBLT) in cooperation with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is looking to plant 300 trees this October 27!

Focused on buffering our waterways to improve water quality, NBLT needs volunteers to help plant the trees.

Trees, stakes, and tree tubes are being provided by the CBF. 

These 300 trees are to be planted at NBLT’s Howland Preserve at 546 Vosburg Road, Tunkhannock, PA  18657

on Saturday, October 27, at 10:00 a.m.

For more information contact Rylan Coker at 

570-310-1781 or email coker@nblt.org

Other Conservation Practices (DIY)
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Please support the Keystone Clean Water Team and please share !

Executive Director Needed – Pennsylvania Organization Wayne County Pennsylvania – SEEDS

Seeking Part-Time Executive Director for Environmental Non-Profit in Wayne County, PA

SEEDS (Sustainable Energy Education & Development Support) of Northeastern PA is seeking a part-time Executive Director to continue its mission of promoting energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable living in our region. The Executive Director is responsible for overseeing the administration of the organization and its fundraising, and reports to the SEEDS volunteer Board of Directors. The ED may be involved in programing and the strategic direction of the organization.

Qualifications

• Transparent and high integrity leadership;
• Understanding and passion for sustainability, especially sustainable energy and energy efficiency;
• Experience managing and successfully completing projects;

• Experience budgeting, grant-writing, fundraising, and fiscal planning;
• Excellent written and verbal skills; strong public speaking skills; and experience with print, radio, online, and social media;
• Strong leadership and team-building skills; and also able to work independently;
• Experience collaborating with other organizations and inspiring and mobilizing volunteers;
• Degree in social sciences, environmental sciences, journalism, humanities or other related fields is strongly preferred, as this position is the very public face of a reputable community benefit organization.

Position offers part time salary, based on experience, flexible work hours and some telecommuting hours. The SEEDS office is located in Honesdale, PA. To apply, please send cover letter, resume and writing sample by 11/9/18 to kathy@seedsgroup.net. SEEDS is an equal opportunity employer.

Jocelyn Cramer

Executive Director of SEEDS

Sustainable Energy Education and Development Support

www.SeedsGroup.net

(570) 245 – 1256

Links

1. Training for Professionals – http://online-training-courses.info/index.php/categories/professional

 

Clean Streams, the Poconos, and You: A Panel Discussion about Exceptional Value Streams in the Poconos

Please join Our Pocono Waters Campaign for a panel discussion about clean streams in the Poconos and the economic, environmental, and recreational benefits they provide for the region.

When:     Tuesday, Oct. 30
Time:       6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where:    East Stroudsburg University
Innovation and Entrepreneur Center
562 Independence Road
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301

Our first panel will explain and demystify streams regulations in Pennsylvania, including:

• Robert Weber – Unassessed Waters Coordinator for PA Fish and Boat Commission
• Paul B. Wilson, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor of Biology at East Stroudsburg University

The second panel will focus on everyday resident and recreational uses of streams, including:

• Gary Bloss – Local Business, Josie Porter Farms
• Fred Gender – Poconos Angler
• Chuck Gould – Chestnut Hill Township Supervisor
• Gary Leander – Poconos Canoeist

This is an opportunity to learn about the meaning of “exceptional value” streams and how they benefit our region. There will also be time for you to ask questions about how clean streams regulations benefit you.

Our Pocono Waters Campaign is unifying the community while educating citizens, business leaders, and local leaders about the importance of protecting “Exceptional Value” (EV) streams, highlighting the many ways in which clean streams and economic development coexist in a region known for its natural beauty and booming tourism industry. Clean streams are at the heart of the Poconos where 80 percent of the state’s “EV” streams are located, primarily in Monroe, Pike, and Wayne counties. For more information visit www.ourpoconowaters.org 

How to Protect Your Groundwater Resources and Drinking Water

1. Get your water tested.
2. Download our free phone app – KnowYourH20?
3. Get a Community Hazard Report
4. Purchase Our Booklet on PA Groundwater Quality
5. One Link – The Keystone Clean Water Team Store – Visit Us.

Other Online Training Opportunities

Basic Groundwater Movement
Environmental Issues related to Fracking
Stream Ecology- Stream Restoration