AWWA JAW57532

Educating consumers is key to maintaining adequate and cleaner water supplies now and into the future. Thus, all utilities can, and should, be involved in educating their customers about water treatment and watershed protection. The options in this article, which describes the educational programs of Des Moines (Iowa) Water Works, can be easily adapted by any utility to meet this vital goal. The author addresses the problem of people making poor environmental choices that can lead directly to pollution in watersheds and shows ways utilities can teach the people in their watersheds about becoming better environmental stewards. Keeping pollution out of source water can lead to a reduction in the cost of treating water, enhanced water recreational opportunities, and better public health. Includes 2 references.