How can utilities prepare for a whipsawing climate?
In a world marked by climate uncertainties, our water systems and utilities are faced with increasingly unpredictable shifts, including finding a solution to the heightened fluctuation between droughts and floods — also known as the whipsawing climate. But, since droughts and floods are not novel occurrences, what’s driving the urgency? To unravel the solution to […]
Story is king — harnessing the power of storytelling through content
This article was taken from the whitepaper “Communications & Water management: How utilities can communicate better.” You’ll find the it here. The importance of storytelling in the water sector Communicating the real value of water It’s never been more important for the water sector to communicate the real value of water. Water’s one of the most […]
How to leverage “community nodes” to improve public perception
This article was taken from the whitepaper “Communications & Water management: How utilities can communicate better.” You’ll find the it here. When a biomass company failed spectacularly to garner public support for a new biomass plant in the small town of Grangemouth, Scotland, any prospective energy project coming in behind them had to avoid the same […]
How water utilities can build internal and external trust using social media
This article was taken from the whitepaper “Communications & Water management: How utilities can communicate better.” You’ll find the it here. Today, many stumble upon Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD)’s Twitter account and are surprised and delighted by the creative, humorous, sentimental, and entertaining content coming from a sewer utility. It may seem effortless now, […]
Why utilities need to shift from transactional comms to relationship building
This article was taken from the whitepaper “Communications & Water management: How utilities can communicate better.” You’ll find the it here. Trust is a long-game: Why utilities need to shift from transactional communications to relationship building, and how to do it Why transactional communications no longer work for water utilities Historically a silent industry Historically, water […]
QTalks: Communications & Water management
[QTalks Ep.15] When it comes to building long-term trust among communities and customers, how can the water industry foster positive communication? Are communication campaigns and public outreach initiatives needed to bridge the gap between water providers and the communities they serve? Off the back of releasing a whitepaper on “Communications & Water management — how utilities can […]
Communications & Water management: How utilities can communicate better
Whitepaper: executive summary This paper is a valuable resource for water utilities who want to upgrade their communications practices, so they can nurture better, lasting relationships with their customers. You’ll hear from communications experts in the water industry and beyond who have challenged the status quo of largely impersonal, transactional relationships between utilities and customers, […]
Digital transformation of the water sector as a game changer
This article was originally published on Smart Water Magazine here. The United Nations held its first Water Conference in 50 years, this March in New York City. The conference highlighted the growing concern and the need to tackle the global water crisis and ensure a future with adequate access to water and sanitation for all. More […]
Is AI the right fit for your utility? How to approach AI effectively
This article was taken from the paper “AI & Water management — What utilities need to know now.” You’ll find the full paper here. Problem identification AI often gets imbued with the sense that it’s going to solve everything and work everywhere. And while optimism about AI’s potential in the water sector is important, it’s best […]
Utility staffing challenges: preparing for the “silver tsunami”
[QTalks Ep.13] It’s estimated that some water utilities will lose up to 50% of their operational staff in the coming 15 years. So how can they plug the gap with skilled staff and overcome the “silver tsunami”? What does water’s future workforce look like? See what experts think in this month’s QTalks on staffing and […]
PFAS & water quality: the great challenge
[QTalks Ep.12] If you look for PFAS —Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or “forever chemicals”— in most environments, no doubt you will find them. Even areas as remote as Antarctica have found traces of PFAS. But what do we need to know about PFAS or forever chemicals? Joining environmental journalist and QTalks host Tom Freyberg to answer that […]