AWWA promotes customer dialogue about home water treatment

Consumers use point-of-use devices for a variety of reasons, and water suppliers can help provide accurate information to help customers make informed decisions.

AWWA is distributing materials to water utility managers and public affairs managers about home water treatment devices.

Despite the high quality of tap water throughout North America, national opinion research suggests that more than one in three customers use a supplemental water treatment device at home. While some families use devices that are already built into their refrigerators, others believe pitchers or faucet-mounted devices improve the taste of their water. Still others may choose a filter for a perceived health benefit. Whatever a consumer’s reason for purchasing a home treatment device, AWWA believes consumers should be making informed decisions.

This public education program―Facts and Filters: Making Smart Choices about Home Water Treatment Devices―includes fact sheets, press releases, Web materials, and other outreach materials to help utilities communicate with their customers about supplemental water treatment devices. A booklet within the kit provides guidance on how to use the materials, which were developed as a benefit for AWWA member utilities.

“Water professionals possess an unsurpassed level of expertise in the area of water quality. We hope the 'Facts and Filters' materials will complement their existing communications in this area and serve to strengthen the relationship between utilities and their customers,” said Kylah Hedding, AWWA public affairs manager.

Readers can e-mail Hedding with questions about these materials or other AWWA outreach programs or contact her by telephone at (303) 347-6140.

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