| Planning a water conservation public relations program | | | | households directly and in person. The same is true |
| to encourage voluntary reduction in water consumption | | | | with small business owners. There are so many things |
| is not easy. For too long humans in our civilization have | | | | that water users can do to cut their water use if they |
| taken water for granted, it's time to wake-up and | | | | really make a concerted effort. |
| conserve. | | | | Most voluntary only water conservation programs only |
| When presenting a plan to a municipality you need a | | | | yield 10-15% at first, even with a robust public relations |
| good mission statement, but also important are the | | | | campaign, which includes education conservation tips in |
| introductory comments that clearly define the | | | | the water bills, cable TV reminders, and newspaper |
| problems and challenges to water usage. Below is a | | | | ads. One cannot knock a 10-15% reduction in water, |
| sample of the introductory comments of a plan we | | | | which is an excellent return on such awareness |
| devised for the City of Coachella, CA: | | | | programs. Yet, at the City of Coachella, we have |
| Introductory Comments | | | | higher goals and realize that it will take our best efforts, |
| Voluntary water conservation is extremely important | | | | and a carefully chosen strategy. |
| as it can often stave off Level II Drought restrictions | | | | Thus, we have devised a plan to solve this challenge |
| by slowing the water usage however no voluntary | | | | and achieve our ambitious goals of a 33% reduction in |
| water conservation program can be truly viable unless | | | | households, government and non-agricultural |
| there is "buy-in" by the water users themselves. This is | | | | businesses. |
| why it is imperative to talk with water users and | | | | |