Winners of EPA's First Water Quality Video Contest Announced

Contest winners announced Thursday are Lucas Ridley of Trenton, Georgia, whose video "Protect Our Water - Check Car for Oil Leaks" won in the 30 or 60 second category. It shows that proper maintenance of motor vehicles is an easy step people can take to protect their watersheds.

The Water Pollution Monster from Nora Kelley Parren's winning animated video. (Image courtesy U.S. EPA)

In the one to three minute category, the winning video is "Dastardly Deeds and the Water Pollution Monster" submitted by Nora Kelley Parren of Hinesburg, Vermont.

Parren made her animated video entirely out of discarded paper. It illustrates how polluted runoff carrying pet waste, excess fertilizer and waste oil threatens watershed ecosystems.

The goal of the contest was to produce a video to educate the public about water pollution and give simple steps that people and communities can take to improve water quality.

Each of the two category winners will receive a $2,500 cash prize.

In March 2009 EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds launched the contest to inspire environmental stewardship and educate the public on ways that people can improve water quality in their communities.

EPA received more than 250 video submissions covering a wide variety of topics, including low impact development, wetlands, marine debris, watershed management, water quality monitoring, and polluted runoff.

Twenty-two videos were recognized as honorable mentions including one from two Honolulu residents about the dangers of marine debris such as plastic grocery bags, and one from the Chicago District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about litter, chemicals and fertilizers that pollute the Great Lakes.

All winning and honorable mention videos are posted on the EPA website at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/videocontest.html

"We are very proud that a New England citizen's creative talent and dedication to a cleaner environment once again is achieving national recognition,” said Ira Leighton, acting regional administrator of EPA's New England office. "New Englanders have always been at the forefront of environmental awareness, and I am delighted that this video will help visitors to EPA's website learn about an important issue in a fun way.”

The 1972 Clean Water Act has led to improvements to the waters of the United States over the past 37 years; however, there is more to be done, says the Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds. "Educating citizens about actions that they can take to promote the health of their water systems remains a vital component of improving the nation's water quality."

Copyright Environment News Service, ENS, 2009. All rights reserved.