notebook - Southwest Florida Water Management District

Item 43
Outreach and Planning Committee
October 30, 2012
Routine Report
Significant Activities
Water Conservation Activities
The District promotes water conservation and protection year-round using a variety of methods
including public service advertising, news media outreach, the District’s website, special events,
utility bill inserts, outreach to existing partners and social media efforts such as the online
WaterMatters.org Newsletter, Facebook and Twitter. New Activities Since Last Meeting —
Staff distributed a news release recapping the rainy season, but reminding readers to conserve
water since September rainfall was below normal.
Research
The Communications Bureau uses research to enhance education program design, plan
communications strategies and evaluate programs. For example, focus groups have been used
in the development of campaigns, and public opinion surveys have been used to evaluate these
campaigns. A database of the District’s social research is available at
WaterMatters.org/SocialResearch/. New Activities Since Last Meeting — (1) WaterReuse
Research Foundation Advisory Committee: Staff is serving as a project advisor for the
WateReuse Research Foundation on its Public Acceptance Clearinghouse of Information for
Website development project. In this capacity, the staff member will serve as an advisor and
reviewer during an RFP development, proposal review and implementation process that will
result in an online clearinghouse of research and data on public acceptance of alternative water
supplies (e.g., reclaimed water, desalination). Staff has completed reviewing all proposals and is
currently assisting in picking a vendor for this project. The advisory team will meet with the
vendor by phone to discuss project details. (2) Alternative Water Supply Survey: The alternative
water supply survey was completed in July. The draft report, received from the evaluation
vendor in mid-September, is under review.
Water Conservation Hotel and Motel Program (Water CHAMP SM ) and Water Program for
Restaurant Outreach (Water PRO SM )
Water CHAMP SM promotes water conservation in hotels and motels by encouraging guests to
use their towels and linens more than once during their stay. Participating hotels and motels
receive program materials free of charge. In 2008, the Districtwide five-year water audit
confirmed Water CHAMP participants saved an average of 17 gallons of water per occupied
room per day. Based on these audit findings, the cost benefit for the program, using the total
cost amortized over five years, is $0.47 per thousand gallons of water saved. Water PRO SM
educates both restaurateurs and guests through free materials such as table tents, children’s
coloring sheets, coasters and self-audit checklists. “We serve water only upon request” buttons
are also available for wait staff. The program is being promoted through one-on-one visits with
restaurant managers, partnerships with utility companies, networking at industry meetings and
direct mail. New Activities Since Last Meeting — Water CHAMP has 347 participants. Water
PRO has 255 participants. According to a survey of participants, 28 restaurants are no longer in
business and have been removed from Water PRO roles.
Florida Water Star SM (FWS) Certification Program
FWS is a voluntary certification program for builders, which encourages water efficiency in
appliances, plumbing fixtures, irrigation systems and landscapes, as well as water quality
benefits from best management practices (BMPs) in landscapes. The program includes
certifications for new homes, existing homes, commercial properties and communities. This is
the program’s fourth year in the District; the first house was certified March 25, 2009. New