Pre-Conference Workshops
WS1: Reuse 101
Sunday, September 12
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Fee: $75
Limited to 50 people
WRA's recently released Manual of Practice on How to Develop a Water Reuse Program is designed to help communities address the need for a sustainable, drought-proof water supply, while protecting public health and the environment. The Reuse 101 Workshop will present highlights from this manual providing a step-by-step approach for planning a successful project. Tom Holliman of Lee & Ro, Lois Humphreys of TRG & Associates, and veteran water reuse experts Jim Crook and Rich Atwater will make presentations on the essential steps in starting a project from design and contsruction to developing a financing plan and conducting public education and outreach. With the benefit of this publication, communities can develop better planned projects - which draw from the lessons learned from established programs - and achieve greater public acceptance and successful implementation. Each registered attendee will receive a complimentary copy of the Manual of Practice.
WS2: Understanding How to Communicate for Public Understanding: the Key to Public Acceptance
Sunday, September 12
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Fee: $75
Limited to 50 people
The WateReuse Association and the International Water Association have identified public acceptance of reuse and desalination projects as the biggest hurdle to implementation of such projects. Through the skilled application of advanced technologies, the water and wastewater industries can produce water suitable for any use. Unfortunately, the industry's ability to communicate with the public, and in fact with each other, is not as advanced as its technology. Recent and ongoing research by the WateReuse Research Foundation is shedding some light on just what the public understands, how that understanding affects public acceptance, and how the industry can adapt its terminology and means of communicating to increase public understanding and acceptance.
In May 2008, the WateReuse Association identified a need for "internal water community communications training that will include research on the water profession and how the profession explains different treatment for different uses." This workshop will begin to fulfill that training need. The presenters will include Linda Macpherson of CH2M HILL, Emily Callaway of CH2M HILL, Eleanor Torres of Orange County Water District, and Tom Pankratz of Water Consultants International.
Prior to attending the workshop, attendees will be asked to participate in an online survey identical to the survey used in WRF-07-03.
Key findings of the WRF-07-03 research will be shared, including a discussion of the inconsistencies in terminology currently used by the industry, and a review of the state of industry public acceptance guidance documents. Lessons learned about the importance of information to foster understanding and the relationship of understanding to acceptance will be emphasized. Strategies for effective communication based on the findings of WRF-07-03 will also be presented for use by workshop attendees.
