Potable Reuse Communications
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Potable Reuse Communications Jennifer West Managing Director WateReuse California January 28, 2016 © 2016 by WateReuse A Few Notes Before We Start… Today’s webcast will be 2 hours. There are two Professional Development Hours available. A PDF of today’s presentation can be downloaded when you complete the survey at the conclusion of this webcast. Links to view the recording and to download the presentation will also be emailed later. If you have questions for the presenters please send a message by typing it into the chat box located on the panel on the left side of your screen. If you would like to enlarge your view of the slides, please click the Full Screen button in the upper right corner of the window. To use the chat box, you must exit full screen. 2 Overview of Agenda • Cindy Wallis-Lage, President, Water Business Black & Veatch • Julie Minton, Director of Research Programs WateReuse Research Foundation • Matt Orbach, Public Outreach Specialist Soquel Creek Water District • Gina Ayala, Principal Communications Specialist Orange County Water District • Teresa Alvarado, Deputy Administrative Officer Santa Clara Valley Water District Cindy Wallis-Lage, President, Water Business Black & Veatch WATER REUSE PRESIDENT CINDY WALLIS-LAGE BLACK & VEATCH’S WATER BUSINESS ONE MESSAGE Value of Every Drop Most Significant Climate Issue 63.6% 15.9% 9.1% 4.5% 6.8% Water Protecting Stormwater Sea level rise Other supply/water assets from management scarcity natural disasters Source: Black & Veatch 2015 Strategic Directions Water Utility Survey Results Risk Mitigation Strategies Energy management 71.0% Water conservation/demand management 67.2% Protecting vulnerable facilities 60.9% Diversifying water sources/increased storage 44.1% Increasing asset redundancy 42.4% Community planning/regional collaborations 42.4% Monitoring weather patterns 39.5% Green infrastructure 39.1% Infrastructure mitigation planning 27.7% Source: Black & Veatch 2015 Strategic Directions Water Utility Survey Results Resilience: Strategic, Financial, Operational Strategic • Asset Management • Smart Water/Smart City Financial • Rates • Financial Experimentation • Alternative Delivery Operational • Sustainable, Efficient • Resource Recovery 27 January 2016 Black & Veatch 7 The Future of Water Water is foundational to future growth, fundamental to life yet fixed in quantity. Floods and droughts seem to flourish around our sphere. We have options to offer, but does our language create proof of benefit vs feed concerns of safety? 8 The Future of Water Water is foundational to future growth, fundamental to life yet fixed in quantity. Floods and droughts seem to flourish around our sphere. We have options to offer, but does our language create proof of benefit vs feed concerns of safety? 9 HOW DO WE THINK AND TALK ABOUT WATER REUSE? Reclamation DPR Potable Unplanned Reclaimed Wastewater Water Effluent Reclamation DPR Potable Unplanned Reclaimed Wastewater Water Effluent PRIORITIZING WATER RESILIENCE QUALITY, VALUE, ECONOMIC GROWTH ONE MESSAGE ONE VOICE ONE WATER BE THE CHANGE Value of Water Reuse Julie Minton, Director of Research Programs WateReuse Research Foundation DPR Communication Plan and Tools for Engagement Specialty Workshop on Potable Reuse Communications January 28, 2016 Julie Minton WateReuse Research Director What is needed? • Funding Advocacy Leadership • Policy The Right Water for Development and the Right Use Implementation • Applied Research • Timely • Robust •Message Education and development Outreach •Tool development •Tiered Campaigns 2 Challenges to Potable Reuse Acceptance The belief that additional water supply sources are not needed The perception that water supply deficiencies can be solved solely with conservation The lack of public understanding of potable reuse processes and the associated science The perception that potable reuse is not safe The sometimes distracting or uncomfortable feelings toward the source of the water Lack of understanding of the limiting factors associated with other water supplies (energy demand, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, cost, and limited availability) 3 Preferably illustration to show these aspects, masterslide background, or complete illustration not title and text Transformative change started with SINGAPORE’s NEWater: New Lexicon without the ‘Yuck Factor’ A comprehensive public education program ensures that NEWater technologies are understood. WRRF built on NEWater Education on water cycle, treatment technology and safety can overcome the “yuck factor” and foster Language acceptance WRRF 07-03 Building on WRRF Research Context WRRF 09-01 Understanding the urban water cycle increased acceptance; water quality; and positive terminology all Language have an impact on acceptance. WRRF 07-03 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVm-d-zOxJs Downstream: Research to shift Public Attitudes on Water Reuse (WRRF-09-01) 9 Respondents preferred DPR to Current Practice 10 Building on WRRF Research Delivery WRRF 12-06 WRRF 13-02 Context WRRF 09-01 Model State and Local Communication Plans that identified messages, delivery tools, and key stakeholders from Policy Makers to Regulators to Advocates, to Specific Demographics. Language WRRF 07-03 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwrYFJEJSQ0 12 WRRF 13-02 Model Communication Plans for Increasing Awareness and Fostering Acceptance of Direct Potable Reuse 14 Safety concerns drive reservations about DPR I am going to read you a list of concerns some members of the public have expressed about direct reuse of recycled water for drinking. Please tell me whether you personally agree or disagree with that concern. Strg. Agree Swmt. Agree. Smwt. Disagr. Strg. Disagr. DK/NA Total Total Agree Disagree Recycled water may include 38% 33% 13% 12% contaminants 72% 24% Recycled water may fail to meet water 34% 32% 16% 15% safety standards 66% 30% Recycled water may taste bad 23% 30% 22% 16% 10% 52% 38% The concept of recycled water just 25% 25% 22% 27% makes me uncomfortable 49% 49% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Support for DPR Consistent Support: Voters who consistently indicated they would support direct potable Consistent reuse of recycled water. Oppose 32% Consistent Oppose: Voters who consistently Consistent indicated they would oppose direct potable Support reuse of recycled water. 38% Swing Swing : Voters who do not fall into any of the 31% other categories – remaining consistently undecided or switching positions. Even a basic description of the process involved in direct potable reuse inspires more confidence. How would you feel about using advanced treated recycled water as an addition to the supply of drinking water, that is water treated with ultra-filtration, reverse osmosis, and advanced oxidation? Strongly favor 28% Total Favor Somewhat favor 34% 62% Somewhat oppose 11% Total Oppose Strongly oppose 14% 26% Don't know/NA 12% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 17 Additional Information = more confidence in DPR. I am going to read you a list of facts about direct reuse of recycled water. Please indicate if it makes you much more confident, somewhat more confident, or it makes no difference to your confidence that direct reuse of recycled water is safe. Much More Conf. Smwt. More Conf. No Diff. DK/NA Total More Conf. The purification process produces water that is purer than 30% 32% 33% 5% bottled water 62% Drinking water could be tested constantly, in real-time, with 29% 34% 35% online sensors 63% California’s drinking water standards are among the strictest in the nation, and purified recycled water would comply with 27% 33% 39% those standards 60% The quality of recycled water, once it has been purified, will 24% 41% 35% be strictly monitored by the California Department of Health 64% Methods regularly used to purify recycled water include microfiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet light – similar 23% 37% 38% to the purification process involved in removing salt from 60% ocean water Methods regularly used to purify recycled water include 21% 32% 40% 6% microfiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet light 53% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 18 Key Messages Potable reuse provides a safe, reliable and sustainable drinking water supply. Using advanced purified water is good for the environment. Potable reuse provides a locally controlled, drought-proof water supply. Water reuse – including potable reuse – happens naturally all over the planet. Water reuse happens daily on rivers and other water bodies. Planned Potable Reuse is publicly acknowledged as an intentional project to recycle water for drinking water. The amount of fresh water on the planet does not change, so through nature all water has been used and reused since the beginning of time. Top messengers are generally those with scientific expertise. I am going to read you a list of people and organizations that may provide information about recycled water. Please tell me if you would generally trust that person’s or organization’s opinion on this issue, or if you would be suspicious of it. Total Trust Total Suspicious Difference The Department of Public Health 77% 19% +58% Medical researchers 74% 20% +54% Medical doctors 72% 22% +50% Scientists 71% 23% +48% Nutritionists 67% 20% +47% The Environmental Protection Agency 71% 24% +47% Residents of community that already have 65% 22% potable reuse +43% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 20 Communications Recommendations Do • Use images to reinforce the effectiveness and complexity of the treatment. Do Not • Highlight the successful implementation of DPR in other communities. •Communicate reuse