Water Toolkit
Communication Types
- Everyday Communications
- Well-Known Issue Communications
- Emerging Issue Communications
- Crisis Communications
Communication Tools
Related Sites
Environmental Health Division
Drinking Water Risk Communication Toolkit
Well-Known Issue Communications
- Inform and help community understand how to prevent or address a well-known risk
- Communication strategies that can be implemented quickly when needed
- Examples: Communicating about contaminants regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, flushing your system, or a non-emergency Safe Drinking Water Act violation
Strategies
Develop a communication plan
- Each issue can have a separate communication plan
- Planning is best done before your system has an emergency or issue
Notify customers when there is a non-emergency contaminant issue or disruption to routine operations or service
- Consult with Drinking Water Protection staff at MDH on your planned communications
- Examples include a flushing event or non-emergency Safe Drinking Water Act violation
- Example: City of Blaine Water Distribution System Flushing
- Public notification may be required under the Safe Drinking Water Act
Provide information to customers when there is a high profile contamination issue in another system
- Consult with Drinking Water Protection staff at MDH on your planned communications
- Examples include Lead in Flint, MI, or another community in Minnesota affected by a contaminant
- Example: Star Tribune article - What you need to know about St. Paul’s water system
- Local newspaper article
- Article in city newsletter
- Direct mailings and bill stuffers
- Emails
- Website: Put FAQ online, address hot topics
- Social media and blogs: Good for quick things, time-sensitive notices, engagement (questions/comments)
- Local TV (e.g. record public meetings and play them)
- News releases
- Participate in or present at meetings and events (e.g. city council meetings, community events, home shows, business expos)
- Knock on doors (one system has asked Boy Scouts to do this)
Tools
Last Updated: 08/16/2024