Public outreach and education are key part to getting your community involved in protecting your local drinking water source. Sharing the importance of wellhead protection and what can be done to protect waters from contamination helps the people who are drinking the water know what they can do to help and when they should say something. An informed public is a first line of defense.
Citizens, employees businesses, land owners, farmers, local officials all understand their role in protecting your community’s drinking water supply. It is your role as a local planning team to reach out to these groups and start the conversation of wellhead protection. Together you can prevent contamination and address environmental concerns that your community may have.
In addition to public outreach and education efforts it is important to pass a local wellhead protection ordinance.
- If you want some more information on public outreach and education see Purdue extensions handout on Effective Wellhead Protection Through Education [PDF].
Groups to Collaborate With
Local Government and Organizations
- Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4)
- Local fire department and emergency responders
- Emergency management agencies
- Local health department
- Local zoning office
- Town council
- Transportation department (local and state)
- Solid waste management district
- Extension offices
- Local watershed groups
- Soil and water conservation districts
Potential Contaminate Sources (PCSs)
- Commercial / industrial businesses (gas stations, dry cleaners, golf courses, factories, landfills, etc.)
- Municipal land users (parks, maintenance facilities, sumps, nurseries, golf courses, etc.)
- Agricultural land users
- Transportation corridors (roads, train tracks, airports, etc.)
Affected Parties
- Local citizens
- Critical water users
- Land owners
Additional resources are available.
Outreach Methods
- Letters to land owners / growers / residents / PCSs
- Bill stuffers/customer mailings
- Community website
- Educational meetings / workshops / fair
- Survey owners to assess current practices
- Local media (TV, radio, newspaper)
- Local fairs and community events
- Participate in local Earth Day Celebration, National Groundwater Awareness Week, World Monitoring Day Activities, or other water and conservation related celebrations
Educational Materials
- Brochures / pamphlets
- Fact sheets
- Newsletter
- Workshops
- Signs (WHPA and interpretive signs in parks / public spaces)
- IDEM has a few water models that can be used for education and outreach
- IDEM Compliance and Technical Assistance Program
Additional resources are available.
Education Topics
- Drinking water protection
- Best Management Practices (BMPs)
- Household hazardous waste
- Pollution prevention/waste reduction in the home (use of alternatives)
- Lawn and garden maintenance
- Storm water and its impacts on water quality
- Proper well construction, maintenance, and abandonment
- Drywells/sumps use, maintenance and abandonment
- Septic systems use, maintenance, and abandonment
- Home heating oil tank maintenance and abandonment