Building Consensus
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How aware are community members about lead in drinking water and lead service lines (LSLs)? How aware are public officials about the public’s concerns, and what are the priorities for mutual education?Community engagement must start at the community’s level of understanding. Utilities that serve multiple communities need to be sensitive to economic, demographic and social differences in the communities they serve to successfully establish two-way communications. Community meetings sponsored by local community leaders, surveys, focus groups, or other means may be used to assess the current levels of awareness and understanding of lead and LSL replacement within the various community groups.
A large portion of residents may not have much exposure to the risks posed by lead or may not view it as a priority concern. In other situations, many residents may be aware and concerned about the issue, but public officials and water utilities may be unaware of the public’s concerns. Examining current awareness, understanding, and attitudes will inform the priorities for education and conversation among all groups.
Is there a consensus in the community about why LSL replacement is important?A consensus may facilitate more rapid progress in planning and implementation of the initiative, whereas communities in which there are still significant questions or concerns may need to build in more time for education, communication, and/or clarification efforts to meet stakeholders’ information needs before proceeding.
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What works (or not) in making the case that an accelerated LSL replacement initiative is necessary?
Budget constraints are a reality. Full LSL replacement is expensive, and local public officials are tasked with setting priorities and making difficult decisions about how to distribute limited funds. For investor-owned utilities, regulators also play a role in deciding how LSL replacement fits in the best use of money derived through customer rates to serve a range of needs of public water systems.
Although many more people are aware of the risks of exposure from lead in contact with drinking water, you may need to make the case that both an accelerated LSL replacement initiative and lead paint abatement are important in your community. Even if your community has a water system with effective corrosion control and low drinking water lead levels, LSLs can contribute unpredictable and variable sources of exposure. Further, in taking a comprehensive approach, it will be important to encourage property owners to address the risks from internal plumbing and fixtures that may contribute to lead in water even if the service line is replaced.
Targeted communications plans, informed by the values and concerns of the community, will be instrumental in gaining support for the LSL replacement initiative. Outreach to learn community views about funding strategies should take into account whether the options under consideration include spreading the costs over the water rate base or whether property owners may be expected to pay for part or all of the costs.
Although many more people are aware of the risks of exposure from lead in contact with drinking water, you may need to make the case that both an accelerated LSL replacement initiative and lead paint abatement are important in your community. Even if your community has a water system with effective corrosion control and low drinking water lead levels, LSLs can contribute unpredictable and variable sources of exposure. Further, in taking a comprehensive approach, it will be important to encourage property owners to address the risks from internal plumbing and fixtures that may contribute to lead in water even if the service line is replaced.
Targeted communications plans, informed by the values and concerns of the community, will be instrumental in gaining support for the LSL replacement initiative. Outreach to learn community views about funding strategies should take into account whether the options under consideration include spreading the costs over the water rate base or whether property owners may be expected to pay for part or all of the costs.
Are there ancillary benefits from establishing an LSL replacement program that can help build consensus for the program?
An LSL replacement program is a large scale, resource intensive endeavor that will require the mobilization of a significant workforce to fully implement. Thus, significant opportunities may exist to engage in worker training and to create much-needed quality, local jobs that can bolster a community’s economy. Such job creation can be particularly helpful in disadvantaged communities where quality job opportunities are at a premium. A variety of local entities such as trade associations, labor unions and individual companies can be engaged in the consensus building process, providing important additional support for an LSL replacement program within the context of the employment opportunities that will be created.
Has your community engaged in a similar planning effort?
As you begin to develop community partnerships for LSL replacement, you may want to review any similar planning efforts that your community has previously, or is currently, engaged in. These might include mandatory sewer hookups, combined sewer overflow abatement, street or sidewalk improvement programs. What could be learned from that experience about what works in your community and what could have been improved?
What are effective strategies for community engagement?Establishing successful community-wide commitments requires sustained efforts to keep stakeholders engaged throughout the process. Different groups may require different approaches, whether that is through repeated one-on-one communication, or via community meetings, social media outreach, or a combination of approaches. Regular check-ins with stakeholders regarding their satisfaction with the initiative’s progress and their level of participation are helpful ways to keep them engaged.
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