Communication In Water Contamination Events

  Were these materials able to be read? How difficult are they to read?

Findings: Materials: Readability

The documents, as whole, are difficult to read. The handout from the September 25, 2001 meeting falls at a 14th grade reading level, evaluated using an adapted Fry formula.

The guidelines at the end, perhaps the most important section of the whole document as they give instructions for safe water use, could be improved by rephrasing. Instead of sentences, as from the HEALTH handout, directions, as in the PUD advisory printed in the Woonsocket Call, such as DO and DO NOT can lead to better compliance. Additionally, the guidelines here have the same content, but are expressed in a different way than the guidelines residents were exposed to in the newspapers and in mailings from the PUD. Presenting the advisory guidelines in the same format each time would make it easier for residents to understand and follow them.

Different forms of the water use advisories:

Handout Advisory

"HEALTH’s advisories, listed below, help you in two ways: they limit your exposure to MTBE and they help prevent drawing more MTBE contamination into the wells by promoting water conservation.
* Use bottled water for drinking, cooking, infant formula, ice, preparing food or beverages, toothbrushing and bathing children who may swallow the water.
* Reduce exposure to MTBE fumes: use good ventilation or fans when bathing, showering, washing dishes or other similar activities. Keep bathing times brief or take sponge baths.
* Reduce overall water use: use laundromats, stop all outdoor water use, use water conservation devices, take brief showers or sponge baths, use paper plates and cups
* Preventing Problems in the Future
Protect your water supply from contamination. Learn about potential sources of contamination and help your community keep the drinking water safe and clean.

PUD/Call Advisory

WATER DO'S AND DON'TS
What's Not Okay

Drinking the water

Using water for cooking

Brushing your teeth

Using water in areas without ventilation

Drying clothes without proper ventilation

What's Okay:

Bathing, as long as the room is well-ventilated, not steamy

Washing dishes, also only if the room is well-ventilated

Washing clothes (Be sure to dry them outside or in a properly vented dryer)

 

The handout gives a lot of information with closely printed text; it overwhelms the reader and discourages from careful reading. The design of this document on the web provides for more ease of reading than the does the document in its handout form. Though the material is the same, the larger print and greater spacing allow for easier reading and comprehension.

 

 

What information was most important for people to know?

  • what water uses should be avoided
  • what water uses were okay
  • why these restrictions were in place
  • how long these water use restrictions would be in effect
  • where residents could go with questions or concerns
  • how they would be updated on the status of the water use restrictions

What other information was beneficial but not central to the other messages?

  • how the contamination happened
  • how officials were responding to the contamination
  • what residents could do to prevent future contaminations

Was this information comprehensible?

What would make this information better accomplish its communication goals?

Jessica Galante

 Center for Environmental Studies, Brown University Last Updated 5/10/03