Communicating water-related health risks: Lessons learned and emerging issues

Communicating water-related risks can be complex. Successfully getting the word out depends on knowing diverse factors such as the literacy level of the group, specific concerns of the audience members, the best method of delivery, and audience perception about "experts." Although several articles have addressed drinking water-related health risk communication concerns, no comprehensive peer-reviewed publication has critically examined the lessons learned about communicating these risks. In a two-day workshop, researchers and practitioners from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom gathered to discuss lessons learned and emerging issues to develop recommendations for improving water-related health risk communication. Workshop participants stressed that water utilities need to educate their staff on the importance of risk communication and that risk communication should be a board-level responsibility receiving adequate resources. Utility managers could also look to the experience of other industries to learn from and build on the lessons they have learned. - CL.