Drinking Water Risk Communication Toolkit
Well-Known Issue Communications

• Inform and help community understand how to prevent or address a well-known risk
• Communication strategies that can be implemented quickly when needed
• Examples: Communicating about contaminants regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, flushing your system, or a non-emergency Safe Drinking Water Act violation

Strategies

Develop a communication plan

• Each issue can have a separate communication plan
• Planning is best done before your system has an emergency or issue

Notify customers when there is a non-emergency contaminant issue or disruption to routine operations or service 

• Consult with Drinking Water Protection staff at MDH on your planned communications
• Examples include a flushing event or non-emergency Safe Drinking Water Act violation
• Example: City of Blaine Water Distribution System Flushing
• Public notification may be required under the Safe Drinking Water Act

Provide information to customers when there is a high profile contamination issue in another system

• Consult with Drinking Water Protection staff at MDH on your planned communications
• Examples include Lead in Flint, MI, or another community in Minnesota affected by a contaminant
• Example: Star Tribune article - What you need to know about St. Paul’s water system

Tools

Have a Plan Make Your Message Tell Your Story