Audience: Households RSS Feed

People who have responsibility for care and maintenance of personal home spaces for individuals and families

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Mahler, R., Simmons, R., & Sorensen, F. (2005) Finding 1

To craft a water outreach program, determine public interests in advance by gathering information about the following, and how those opinions might be influenced by age, sex, length of residence in the state, community size:

  • opinion of local groundwater quality;
  • personal efforts to enhance groundwater quality or quantity (by reducing chemical usage in yards, recycling used motor oil, correctly disposing of household chemicals, use of water-saving applicances, reduced household water use, reduced water use in yards, reduced water use in car washing);
  • who should be responsible for protecting water quality in communitites (federal government, state government, county/city/town, individual citizen);
  • how rural residents prefer to be informed about water;
  • where residents have gotten information; and
  • what sources of information might have changed their behavior.

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Gearey, M., & Jeffrey, P. (2005) Finding 1

Use audience assessment strategies to identify which, if any, water and watershed governance strategies interest households and landowners. Build participatory opportunities around specific topics of interest. Consider household and landowner response to strategies such as: pollution control, lowering prices, protecting flood plains, improving storage facilities, improving repairs and maintenance and introducing enforced metering. Continue reading →

Hoppe, K. (2005) Finding 3

In stormwater communication efforts, focus the media buy on specific regions where action is most needed, rather than statewide, and provide local programs events and activities that encourage public behavior change. Continue reading →

Hoppe, K. (2005) Finding 1

In social marketing projects, focus communication messages on sources of water pollution and actions that must be taken, when the public is already aware that they should care about water quality. Continue reading →

Dufort, N. (2005) Finding 2

An effective stormwater public education program applies a multi-faceted creative advertising campaign that incorporates messaging through newspapers, bus shelters and municipal litter receptacles, radio commercials, and television advertisements. Provide door-to-door newsletters distributed to all residents. Provide funding to community groups for the implementation of projects that further the goals and objectives of the Plan while complementing city-led capital works projects. Continue reading →

Dufort, N. (2005) Finding 1

An effective stormwater public education program focuses on building an understanding of wet weather flow issues and garnering support for all facets of the implementation, particularly on-site source controls using targeted communication tactics that promote action and commitment to the implementation of various controls. On-site controls messages can address reduction of pesticide and fertilizer use, promoting source controls such as downspout disconnection, reducing impervious surfaces, importance of stoop and scoop of pet waste, vehicle maintenance, and the connection between roadside catch basins and lake water quality. Continue reading →

Howarth, D., & Butler, S. (2004) Finding 1

To increase resident interest in water conservation, three urban case studies (Phoenix, Copenhagen, Singapore) highlight the following successful strategies:

  • Active involvement from citizens sought as opposed to passive response from consumers
  • Citizens asked what sort of conservation measures they would be willing to adopt and brought into the process early
  • Multi-faceted approach supported by pricing, technical assistance and inter-agency co-operation
  • Well publicised target set for per capita consumption giving customers and the water department a collective goal
  • Involvement of Copenhagen Energy in ongoing dialogue and city wide environmental initiatives
  • “Turn it off” campaign brought home the reality of water not being conserved – it ceased to be an abstract concept
  • Very high profile and comprehensive communication campaign that, although varying in content and intensity, has been in existence for several years
  • Campaign led by multi-agency committee (i.e. not just the water utility or the government)

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