Getting to the Root: Using “Five Whys” to Understand and Communicate Wastewater Issues in Oxford, Alabama

by Shannon Pepper | Sep 7, 2023 | Communications and Outreach

Wastewater collection and treatment systems seem like basic infrastructure to most people, but are fraught with complexity due to aging pipes, deferred maintenance and a never-ending supply of unpredictable materials being sent down the drain by users. Though most...

10,000 + 1 Marketing and Outreach Messages

by Shannon Pepper | Jul 17, 2023 | Communications and Outreach

Marketing research has found that we are exposed to as many as 10,000 marketing/outreach messages daily. This podcast by Wichita State University Program Manager Brian Bohnsack focuses on practical ways wastewater and water utilities can increase the efficacy of their...

The Way We Talk About Water Matters: Insights from the 2022 National Waterways Literacy Survey

by Shannon Pepper | Mar 24, 2023 | Communications and Outreach

With constant access to a 24-hour news cycle and 86% of Americans now receiving news on their digital devices, it is impossible to avoid hearing about water stories in our communities and around the world.  According to Water Words That Work – a public relations...

Preventing Emerging Contaminants from Entering Your Wastewater System

by Shannon Pepper | Mar 3, 2023 | Communications and Outreach, Managerial & Financial Leadership, Stormwater

Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) are chemicals found in surface water that may cause ecological or human health impacts. In wastewater, one of the most common types of CECs are pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). The EPA is not currently...

Overcoming the ‘Yuck’ Factor: Shaping Public Perception of Potable Reuse

by Shannon Pepper | Dec 13, 2022 | Communications and Outreach, Conservation, Risk and Resiliency to Climate Hazards, Wastewater

If someone asked you to drink reclaimed wastewater, what would you say? What if they asked you to drink purified water? Clearly the latter sounds more appealing, but both these terms are often used to talk about the same thing: wastewater from homes and businesses...

How Small Water Systems Can Understand their Target Audience for Better Outreach

by Shannon Pepper | Nov 4, 2022 | Communications and Outreach

Every water system communicates with stakeholders. Would you like to see your community value water more? Perhaps you are raising your rates? Or are you seeking support from local leaders such as elected officials or agency leaders for overdue infrastructure projects?...