William E. Marks

water philosopher

William E. Marks, water philosopher, studied at Fairleigh Dickinson University where he researched fish kills and industrial pollution. As a result, a major industry pled guilty after being indicted by a Federal Grand Jury based on Marks' water sample and photographic evidence under the 1899 Refuse Act. He was subsequently honored by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA Region II) with the "Citizen Activist Of The Year" award. Marks was Founder/President (14 years) of Martha's Vineyard's first State-Certified water testing laboratory and environmental consulting firm named Vineyard Environmental Protection, Inc. He also was the Founder/President (15 years) of Vineyard Environmental Research, Inst. (VERI), where he researched acid rain and groundwater mobilization of metals with grants from USEPA; American Water Works Association (AWWA); New England Water Works Association (NEWWA), and performed coastal erosion and sea level research with scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. In the mid-1980s he was responsible for saving three of Martha's Vineyard's lighthouses from being torn down so they may be opened to the public and preserved for maritime history, while also protecting the surrounding ecosystems. After giving testimony before Congress, he was successful in having three of the island's five lighthouses transferred to the organization he founded Vineyard Environmental Research Institute (VERI). Marks is recipient of the "Water Hero Award" from the World Water Rescue Foundation, the "Ambassador For Peace" award from the Universal Peace Federation, the World of Poetry "Gold Medal of Honor" award, and is an international water advisor to the Board of the Women International Coalition Organization (WICO) based in the UK. He founded and published *Martha's Vineyard Magazine* and *Nantucket Magazine* for six years. He is author of the *History of Wind Power on Martha's Vineyard*, and *The Holy Order of Water*, *Healing Earth's Waters and Ourselves*. Marks is Editor/Publisher of *Water Voices from Around The World*, a book with contributions from profound water researchers and photographers from around the globe. He continues to conduct water research, travel, perform Native American flute, and speak around the world. He has researched water in 15 countries. He is currently involved with three documentaries for television, DVD, and theatrical release in 2010.