Designing and Evaluating Effective and Ongoing Drought Communication, 2023

Organization: American Water Works Association

Co-author/Contributor: Maddaus Water Management

As a member of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Project Advisory Committee (PAC), Lisa Maddaus worked with other committee members and a team of water utility professionals to assist Katz & Associates with developing the Technical Report: Designing and Evaluating Effective and Ongoing Drought Communication. As stated in the report, “Timely and effective communication is a key element of any drought campaign implementation. This guidebook presents a menu of best management practices and key drought and water shortage communication strategies, along with an estimated staff level to implement and maintain programs, metrics specific to each strategy for the evaluation of program performance, references to help estimate costs to implement and maintain programs, and other implementation tips, tricks and pitfalls.” This guidebook offers practical, proven strategies to help utilities handle an especially challenging part of customer outreach.