Joseph Ayotte
Joe Ayotte is a Supervisory Hydrologist in the New England Water Science Center
As the Chief of the Environmental Hydrology Section, Joe oversees multidisciplinary studies involving groundwater quality at the USGS New England Water Science Center. Most recently, he has worked on national and regional studies of trace elements (primarily arsenic) in groundwater and has worked closely with the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on arsenic in drinking water supplies. He joined the USGS in 1987 and has been involved in many studies of groundwater and surface water resources in New England and the U.S.
Professional Experience
Supervisory Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, New England Water Science Center, 2011 to Present
Education and Certifications
B.S. Hydrology, University of New Hampshire
Affiliations and Memberships*
Licensed Professional Geologist, State of New Hampshire, Lic. 0071
Science and Products
Mapping and Characterizing the Arsenic Hazard in Private Well Water Across the Nation
Elevated Bladder Cancer in Northern New England—Drinking Water and Arsenic
Public Perception Impedes Prevention of Arsenic Exposure
Assessing models of arsenic occurrence in drinking water from bedrock aquifers in New Hampshire
Using groundwater age distributions to understand changes in methyl tert-butyl ether (MtBE) concentrations in ambient groundwater, northeastern United States
Trends in methyl tert-butyl ether concentrations in private wells in southeast New Hampshire: 2005 to 2015
Arsenic hazard and associated health risks: New England, USA aquifers
Predicting arsenic in drinking water wells of the Central Valley, California
Elevated bladder cancer in northern New England: The role of drinking water and arsenic
Geospatial association between adverse birth outcomes and arsenic in groundwater in New Hampshire, USA
At the crossroads: Hazard assessment and reduction of health risks from arsenic in private well waters of the northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada
Methyl tert-butyl ether occurrence and related factors in public and private wells in southeast New Hampshire
Science and Products
- Science
Filter Total Items: 15
Mapping and Characterizing the Arsenic Hazard in Private Well Water Across the Nation
Study estimates about 2.1 million people using wells high in arsenic: USGS research directly supports federal agencies concerned with public health—specifically, understanding natural hazards in private domestic drinking water and the risk they pose to human health.Elevated Bladder Cancer in Northern New England—Drinking Water and Arsenic
Study finds bladder cancer risk was associated with water intake among participants with a history of private domestic well use. The trend was significant for participants who used shallow dug wells exclusively—a well type that typically has low arsenic concentrations but may have had higher concentrations historically.Public Perception Impedes Prevention of Arsenic Exposure
One of the biggest challenges in preventing arsenic exposure from drinking water may be public perception, according to a recent special section of Science of the Total Environment. In this special section of 13 papers report on new understanding of arsenic hydrogeochemistry, performance of household well water treatment systems, and testing and treatment behaviors of well users in several states... - Data
- Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 21
Assessing models of arsenic occurrence in drinking water from bedrock aquifers in New Hampshire
Three existing multivariate logistic regression models were assessed using new data to evaluate the capacity of the models to correctly predict the probability of groundwater arsenic concentrations exceeding the threshold values of 1, 5, and 10 micrograms per liter (µg/L) in New Hampshire, USA. A recently released testing dataset includes arsenic concentrations from groundwater samples collected iAuthorsCaroline Andy, Maria Florencia Fahnestock, Melissa Lombard, Laura Hayes, Julie Bryce, Joseph D. AyotteUsing groundwater age distributions to understand changes in methyl tert-butyl ether (MtBE) concentrations in ambient groundwater, northeastern United States
Temporal changes in methyl tert-butyl ether (MtBE) concentrations in groundwater were evaluated in the northeastern United States, an area of the nation with widespread low-level detections of MtBE based on a national survey of wells selected to represent ambient conditions. MtBE use in the U.S. peaked in 1999 and was largely discontinued by 2007. Six well networks, each representing specific areaAuthorsBruce D. Lindsey, Joseph D. Ayotte, Bryant C. Jurgens, Leslie A. DeSimoneTrends in methyl tert-butyl ether concentrations in private wells in southeast New Hampshire: 2005 to 2015
In southeast New Hampshire, where reformulated gasoline was used from the 1990s to 2007, methyl tert-butyl ether (MtBE) concentrations ≥0.2 μg/L were found in water from 26.7% of 195 domestic wells sampled in 2005. Ten years later in 2015, and eight years after MtBE was banned, 10.3% continue to have MtBE. Most wells (140 of 195) had no MtBE detections (concentrations <0.2 μg/L) in 2005 and 2015.AuthorsSarah Flanagan, Joseph P. Levitt, Joseph D. AyotteArsenic hazard and associated health risks: New England, USA aquifers
No abstract available.AuthorsJoseph D. AyottePredicting arsenic in drinking water wells of the Central Valley, California
Probabilities of arsenic in groundwater at depths used for domestic and public supply in the Central Valley of California are predicted using weak-learner ensemble models (boosted regression trees, BRT) and more traditional linear models (logistic regression, LR). Both methods captured major processes that affect arsenic concentrations, such as the chemical evolution of groundwater, redox differenAuthorsJoseph D. Ayotte, Bernard T. Nolan, JoAnn M. GronbergElevated bladder cancer in northern New England: The role of drinking water and arsenic
Background: Bladder cancer mortality rates have been elevated in northern New England for at least five decades. Incidence rates in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont are about 20% higher than the United States overall. We explored reasons for this excess, focusing on arsenic in drinking water from private wells, which are particularly prevalent in the region.Methods: In a population-based case-conAuthorsDalsu Baris, Richard Wadell, Laura Freeman, Molly Schwenn, Joanne Colt, Joseph D. Ayotte, Mary Ward, John Nuckols, Alan Schned, Brian Jackson, Castine Clerkin, Nathanial Rothman, Lee Moore, Anne Taylor, Gilpin Robinson, Monawar G. Hosain, Carla Armenti, Richard McCoy, Claudine Samanic, Robert Hoover, Joseph Fraumeni, Alison Johnson, Margaret Karagas, Debra SilvermanGeospatial association between adverse birth outcomes and arsenic in groundwater in New Hampshire, USA
There is increasing evidence of the role of arsenic in the etiology of adverse human reproductive outcomes. Because drinking water can be a major source of arsenic to pregnant women, the effect of arsenic exposure through drinking water on human birth may be revealed by a geospatial association between arsenic concentration in groundwater and birth problems, particularly in a region where privateAuthorsXun Shi, Joseph D. Ayotte, Akikazu Onda, Stephanie Miller, Judy Rees, Diane Gilbert-Diamond, Tracy L Onega, Jiang Gui, Margaret R. Karagas, John B MoeschlerAt the crossroads: Hazard assessment and reduction of health risks from arsenic in private well waters of the northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada
This special issue contains 12 papers that report on new understanding of arsenic (As) hydrogeochemistry, performance of household well water treatment systems, and testing and treatment behaviors of well users in several states of the northeastern region of the United States and Nova Scotia, Canada. The responsibility to ensure water safety of private wells falls on well owners. In the U.S., 43 mAuthorsYan Zheng, Joseph D. AyotteMethyl tert-butyl ether occurrence and related factors in public and private wells in southeast New Hampshire
The occurrence of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in water from public wells in New Hampshire has increased steadily over the past several years. Using a laboratory reporting level of 0.2 μg/L, 40% of samples from public wells and 21% from private wells in southeast New Hampshire have measurable concentrations of MTBE. The rate of occurrence of MTBE varied significantly for public wells by establisAuthorsJoseph D. Ayotte, Denise M. Argue, Frederick J. McGarry - News
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government