Drinking Water Risk Communication Toolkit
Emerging Issue Communications
- Inform and help the community understand how to prevent or address a risk that is new or not well-known
- Communication strategies that can be implemented over time or immediately
- Examples: Communicating about unregulated contaminant monitoring, detection of an unregulated contaminant, or an unregulated contaminant in the news
Strategies and Tools
Develop a communication plan
A plan can contain resources ready to use when issues arise
- Purpose and objectives of communications efforts
- Description of specific strategies/activities, who you are communicating to, and who is doing the communications
- Everyday communications, classic and emerging issues communication and emergency communications
- Customers, community leaders, partners (county, state)
- Roles/responsibilities for communications
- Evaluation – how will you know if you are successful?
- Timeline
- Resources
- Past communications that worked well
- Trusted partner contacts
- Communication types available for your system
See Have a Plan for tips on making a communications plan to fit your needs.
Develop communications materials for customers and share your messages
- See Make Your Message for information about addressing risks
- See Tell Your Story for information about sharing your messages
General education and awareness about contaminants of emerging concern
Example: Personal care products
- MDH information sheet with contaminant information
- Bill stuffer, newsletter, or other mailing
- Website
- Social media: Facebook, Twitter
Communicating information about a detection of a contaminant that affects a small segment of the population
- Consult with Drinking Water Protection staff at MDH
- Provide actions that people can take to prevent or lower exposure if possible
Examples include:
- Manganese contaminant information for bottle-fed infants and infants that drink water
- PFAS contaminant information for pregnant women (fetuses) and bottle-fed infants
- TCE contaminant information for pregnant women (fetuses) and young children
- MDH information sheet with contaminant information
- Bill stuffer, newsletter, or other mailing
- Website
- News releases
- Participate in or present at meetings and events (e.g. city council meetings, community events, home shows, business expos)
Communicating information about one-time monitoring efforts
Consult with Drinking Water Protection staff at MDH
Example: Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule
- Local newspaper
- Consumer Confidence Report
- Bill stuffer, newsletter, or other mailing
- Link to MDH, US EPA websites
- Add FAQ to your website
- Post on social media: Facebook (most used), Twitter
- Good for quick things, time-sensitive notices, engagement (questions/comments)
- News releases
Communicating information about a detection of an unregulated contaminant
Consult with Drinking Water Protection staff at MDH to understand what actions - if any - need to be taken.
Minnesota’s public water systems are not required to meet health-based guidance values. Public water systems can use health-based guidance as benchmarks or indicators of potential concern. Some public water suppliers may strive to meet health-based guidance for contaminants for which it is possible and cost effective.
- Local newspaper
- Consumer Confidence Report
- Bill stuffer, newsletter, or other mailing
- Link to MDH, US EPA websites
- Add FAQ to your website
- Post on social media: Facebook (most used), Twitter
- Good for quick things, time-sensitive notices, engagement (questions/comments)
- News releases
- New Brighton Drinking Water Updates: Provides information about the discovery and management of an emerging contaminant.
- Contaminant of Emerging Concern found in New Brighton's Water (PDF), Press Release issued April 17, 2015
- Important Announcement regarding New Brighton's Water (PDF), Letter Sent to New Brighton Residents and Businesses – April 16, 2015
- FAQ: 1,4-dioxane (PDF), August 2016
- New Brighton Community Letter (PDF) – Update sent on March 13, 2017
- MDH issues new guidance on chemicals in some private wells, city water in East Metro, Bemidji: MDH Press Release – May 23, 2017
- Bemidji City Staff quotes from the Lakeland Public TV Article on May 23, 2017: Health Advisory issued For Elevated Chemical Levels in Bemidji
Communications about EPA Health Advisory issued for PFOA and PFOS
Drinking Water Cyanotoxin Risk Communication Toolkit
The drinking water cyanotoxin risk communication toolbox is a ready-to-use, “one-stop-shop” to support public water systems, states and local governments in developing, as they deem appropriate, their own risk communication materials. It includes editable worksheets, social media posts and other quick references. The materials focus on communicating risk and providing background information to the public prior to and during a drinking water cyanotoxin contamination event as well as general information on harmful algal blooms and cyanotoxins.
Spotlight
Nuggets from Minnesota Public Water System Professionals (PDF)
Questions?
Contact the Drinking Water Protection Program: health.drinkingwater
@state.mn.us
or 651-201-4700
