{"id":2201,"date":"2023-09-13T18:44:04","date_gmt":"2023-09-13T18:44:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/?page_id=2201"},"modified":"2025-09-26T15:54:58","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T15:54:58","slug":"toolkit-for-health-departments","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/?page_id=2201","title":{"rendered":"Utility Engagement Toolkit"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"2201\" class=\"elementor elementor-2201\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4db659ac elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4db659ac\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-724ce03e\" data-id=\"724ce03e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-773465d9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"773465d9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #3e3f40;\"><strong>Utility Engagement Toolkit for Health Departments &amp; Labs<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #3e3f40;\"><em style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: normal; white-space-collapse: preserve; background-color: #ffffff;\" data-rich-text-format-boundary=\"true\">Last updated September 25, 2025<\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:spacer --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>This toolkit is designed to guide health departments and labs interested in building productive partnerships with wastewater utilities for wastewater public health monitoring programs. It provides strategies, best practices, and resources for initiating and sustaining those partnerships based on the ideas that came out of a series of workshops hosted by the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/wef.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WEF<\/a><\/span> in collaboration with the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nwss\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CDC<\/a><\/span> and <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">EPA<\/a><\/span> in 2023. <br \/><br \/>To make these resources easier to use, we have also created a condensed <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/2025-09-25-Working-with-Utilities-Best-Practices-for-Health-Departments.pdf\">one-pager<\/a><\/span> that highlights the most important takeaways from the toolkit, along with a short video that brings these practices to life through real-world examples found below.<br \/><br \/>All outputs from the workshops can be found on <a href=\"https:\/\/app.powerbi.com\/view?r=eyJrIjoiZWJmNjg3YWYtNmJmNC00NWIxLWI2NTctYjU2ZWE2NTAwYTMxIiwidCI6ImI3ZTk3ODAyLTJhNjktNDc3ZS1iN2QyLWY0ZDE2MWMyMTBjYiIsImMiOjF9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>this dashboard<\/u><\/a>, but the solutions are summarized by category below. <strong>Click one of the buttons below to learn more.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3562701 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3562701\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dc094b8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"dc094b8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/rTMwISggsVg&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-35760fff elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"35760fff\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cfd107a\" data-id=\"cfd107a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-60f7431d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"60f7431d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-wider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-40435730\" data-id=\"40435730\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55ef13cb elementor-view-stacked elementor-shape-circle elementor-position-block-start elementor-mobile-position-block-start elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"55ef13cb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#Building\" building=\"\" class=\"elementor-icon elementor-animation-grow\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Building Partnerships\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-hammer\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#Building\" building=\"\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBuilding Partnerships\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-icon-box-description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tIdeas for recruiting utilities to participate in your wastewater public health monitoring programs\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-19a0c119\" data-id=\"19a0c119\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f19f9cd elementor-view-stacked elementor-shape-circle elementor-position-block-start elementor-mobile-position-block-start elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"5f19f9cd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#offering\" class=\"elementor-icon elementor-animation-grow\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Offering Support &amp; Resources\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-people-carry\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#offering\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOffering Support &amp; Resources\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-icon-box-description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tStrategies for maximizing retention of utilities in your program\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-144ad752\" data-id=\"144ad752\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3891ac2 elementor-view-stacked elementor-shape-circle elementor-position-block-start elementor-mobile-position-block-start elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"3891ac2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#communicating\" class=\"elementor-icon elementor-animation-grow\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Communicating &amp; Engaging\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"far fa-comments\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#communicating\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCommunicating &amp; Engaging\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-icon-box-description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tConcepts for staying connected with your program partners\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d68b1ec elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d68b1ec\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" id=\"Building\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5e797b7\" data-id=\"5e797b7\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e7a728 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5e7a728\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"Building\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-xl\">Building Partnerships<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f0c165d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f0c165d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-49d6c87\" data-id=\"49d6c87\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c4b6248 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c4b6248\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Included below are some potential strategies to facilitate utility recruitment for wastewater public health monitoring programs.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-104c51b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"104c51b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b039b1d\" data-id=\"b039b1d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9d8b212 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9d8b212\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"reach\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Do a Little Homework<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Become familiar with the role of wastewater professionals in wastewater public health monitoring programs (<a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Infographic-Utility-Role-in-Wastewater-Surveillance-WEF-July-2023.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Figure 1<\/a>) and\u00a0<u><a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/?page_id=2041\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the barriers<\/a><\/u>\u00a0they have faced when participating in these programs.<\/p>\n<p><strong style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">Reach Out in the Right Way<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Contact your prospective utility partners with a friendly introduction by:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Attending an event organized by their relevant member association. <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/?page_id=704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">This list<\/a><\/span> provides information on these associations for each jurisdiction.<\/li>\n<li>Emailing them using <u><a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/2023-08-25-Utility-Recruitment-Email-Template.docx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this template email<\/a>.<\/u>\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Picking up the phone and calling them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>No matter how you reach out, your potential partner will want to understand the goals of your program, the expected sample collection frequency, what you will be able to offer in terms of logistical support, how long you intend to keep the program running, and the potential benefits to them.<\/p>\n<p>You may find it helpful to gather information on your prospective partner to learn how you can better support them.\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/2023-08-31-Example-Survey-Questions-for-Utility-Partners.docx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">This repository of survey questions<\/a><\/span>\u00a0 (courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Health and Oregon State University\/Oregon Health Authority) may be helpful in creating your own utility needs survey. While digital administration of surveys is convenient, it might be more productive to review these questions with your prospective utility partner during an in-person meeting.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-035a1e0\" data-id=\"035a1e0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-38d7f56 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"38d7f56\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><figure class=\"elementor-image-box-img\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Infographic-Utility-Role-in-Wastewater-Surveillance-WEF-July-2023.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1545\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Utility-Role-in-Wastewater-Surveillance.png?fit=1545%2C2000&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-2644\" alt=\"An infographic that describes the role of utilities in wastewater surveillance.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Utility-Role-in-Wastewater-Surveillance.png?w=1545&amp;ssl=1 1545w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Utility-Role-in-Wastewater-Surveillance.png?resize=232%2C300&amp;ssl=1 232w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Utility-Role-in-Wastewater-Surveillance.png?resize=791%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 791w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Utility-Role-in-Wastewater-Surveillance.png?resize=768%2C994&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Utility-Role-in-Wastewater-Surveillance.png?resize=1187%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1187w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Utility-Role-in-Wastewater-Surveillance.png?resize=358%2C463&amp;ssl=1 358w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Utility-Role-in-Wastewater-Surveillance.png?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><p class=\"elementor-image-box-description\">Figure 1. The Utility's Role in Wastewater Surveillance from WEF; click on image to download infographic. Access the <a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/?attachment_id=2644\" style=\"font-family: lato, sans-serif;font-size: 13px;font-weight: 400;letter-spacing: 0.5px;text-align: start\"><span>text alternative for web accessibility infographic here<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-22313b9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"22313b9\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c4c0381\" data-id=\"c4c0381\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0712cd9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0712cd9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Share Success Stories<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">Share real case studies about how wastewater public health monitoring has positively impacted public health in your jurisdiction to demonstrate the value of utility participation in your program. If you don\u2019t have success stories specific to your jurisdiction, you could share <\/span><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a style=\"letter-spacing: 0.7px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=I614-QttIcw&amp;list=PLmdHPUHnMj81DegFf2fpBekXADg0z4IDa&amp;index=8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this PBS News video<\/a><\/span><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">\u00a0on how California uses wastewater to make public health decisions,\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a style=\"letter-spacing: 0.7px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=bOWoMJL0ySE&amp;list=PLmdHPUHnMj81DegFf2fpBekXADg0z4IDa&amp;index=9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this CBC News video<\/a><\/span><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">\u00a0highlighting the role of wastewater professionals, or\u00a0<\/span><a style=\"letter-spacing: 0.7px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hLwDQFiJ6s4&amp;list=PLmdHPUHnMj81DegFf2fpBekXADg0z4IDa&amp;index=25\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">t<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">his ABC News video<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">\u00a0on how El Paso joined NWSS. Feel free to scan WEF\u2019s\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a style=\"letter-spacing: 0.7px;\" href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/?page_id=465\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sewer Stories<\/a><\/span><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">\u00a0and the\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a style=\"letter-spacing: 0.7px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCbsTMeLk9Tl6t6EokHtoFhA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NWBE YouTube Channel<\/a><\/span><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); letter-spacing: 0.7px;\"> for helpful videos and playlists including <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLmdHPUHnMj81DegFf2fpBekXADg0z4IDa&amp;si=EhPNIL8EwkdtEyu4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wastewater surveillance in the news<\/a><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">. Also check out WEF\u2019s\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a style=\"letter-spacing: 0.7px;\" href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/?page_id=465\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sewer Signals<\/a><\/span><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">, a podcast highlighting utility experiences with wastewater public health monitoring. Or get creative and make your own video or podcast episode!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologist (CSTE) \u201c<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/stories.cste.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Stories from the Field<\/a><\/span>\u201d website now features a dedicated section on how CDC\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/stories.cste.org\/?page_id=808\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Program<\/span><\/a> is making a real difference in communities. This section showcases the innovative work supported by the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/epidemiology-laboratory-capacity\/php\/about\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CDC ELC Program<\/a><\/span> across various public health departments and topics including advanced molecular detection, outbreak response, and wastewater public health monitoring.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">Highlight Mutual Benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Wastewater public health monitoring offers mutual benefits for both utilities and health professionals. Participation not only strengthens a utility\u2019s commitment to public health, aligning with the mission statements of most wastewater agencies, but also enhances their role as community service providers dedicated to promoting the well-being of the communities they serve.<\/p>\n<p>To help underscore these mutual benefits, you can share this infographic on \u201c<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nwss\/pdf\/Wastewater-COVID-infographic-h.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How Wastewater Surveillance Works<\/a><\/span>\u201d and this video that highlights\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/csxRY3x6_MY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the value of wastewater public health monitoring<\/a><\/span>, both from the CDC. For those interested in practical uses of wastewater data, the\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nap.nationalacademies.org\/catalog\/26767\/wastewater-based-disease-surveillance-for-public-health-action\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Academies report on Wastewater-based Disease Surveillance for Public Health Action<\/a><\/span>\u00a0may be of interest.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s helpful to emphasize that wastewater surveillance isn\u2019t just about COVID-19. You can share\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Fact-Sheet-Wastewater-Surveillance-Isnt-Just-About-COVID-July-2023-WEF.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this infographic<\/a><\/span>\u00a0describing other pathogen markers that can be monitored in wastewater or direct them to the\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/?page_id=77\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nwbe.org FAQ page<\/a><\/span>\u00a0for more details on <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/?page_id=77#collapse12090\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">future NWSS targets<\/a><\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-48d10ec elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"48d10ec\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4542990\" data-id=\"4542990\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7041b76 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"7041b76\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><figure class=\"elementor-image-box-img\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.powerbi.com\/view?r=eyJrIjoiZGE5YWMxZDQtYTRjYS00NDE1LWJhNjQtNWFlNWZlMWYyNTY4IiwidCI6ImI3ZTk3ODAyLTJhNjktNDc3ZS1iN2QyLWY0ZDE2MWMyMTBjYiIsImMiOjF9\" target=\"_blank\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"318\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Screenshot-2023-09-21-101626.png?fit=640%2C318&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2779\" alt=\"Map of North America showing wastewater surveillance program websites and contacts by jurisdiction.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Screenshot-2023-09-21-101626.png?w=1321&amp;ssl=1 1321w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Screenshot-2023-09-21-101626.png?resize=300%2C149&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Screenshot-2023-09-21-101626.png?resize=1024%2C509&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Screenshot-2023-09-21-101626.png?resize=768%2C382&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><p class=\"elementor-image-box-description\">Figure 2. Wastewater Surveillance Programs Map. Click the image above to launch an interactive map with contact information for wastewater surveillance programs in the U.S.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-18bb093\" data-id=\"18bb093\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c78134 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8c78134\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Get Local<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">In some cases, state health departments have found greater success in recruiting utilities when they engage local health departments (LHDs). If you\u2019re having trouble connecting with a specific utility, consider asking the LHD in that area to reach out on your behalf. Some LHDs have even stepped in to support utilities by collecting samples when the utility staff are short-handed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.7px;\"><b>Have a Single Point of Contact<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n<p>Finding the right person to talk to can sometimes feel like navigating a maze for both public health and utility professionals. You can simplify this process by designating a single point of contact at your health department. WEF offers a map (<a href=\"https:\/\/app.powerbi.com\/view?r=eyJrIjoiZGE5YWMxZDQtYTRjYS00NDE1LWJhNjQtNWFlNWZlMWYyNTY4IiwidCI6ImI3ZTk3ODAyLTJhNjktNDc3ZS1iN2QyLWY0ZDE2MWMyMTBjYiIsImMiOjF9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Figure 2<\/a>) to help utilities identify their jurisdiction\u2019s point of contact for wastewater public health monitoring. If you\u2019d like to add a point of contact for your program to the map, or update the name already in there, please email us at <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"mailto:nwbe@wef.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nwbe@wef.org<\/a><\/span>. It\u2019s also good practice to have a designated point of contact on the utility side, which is a question that\u2019s included in <u><a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/2023-08-31-Example-Survey-Questions-for-Utility-Partners.docx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the repository of survey questions<\/a>.<\/u><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1fabfb9 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1fabfb9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c78c04 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"5c78c04\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-33e3b6f elementor-position-inline-start elementor-view-default elementor-mobile-position-block-start elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"33e3b6f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<span  class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-exclamation\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span  >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat to consider when engaging with tribes and tribe-serving organizations\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e283672 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e283672\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6a5334 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f6a5334\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Building wastewater public health monitoring systems that truly serve tribal communities can only be achieved by ensuring tribal representation and input from the very beginning. Here are key steps to consider when engaging with tribes and tribe-serving organizations on wastewater public health monitoring:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a105d78 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a105d78\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>\u00a0Learn the status and history of wastewater public health monitoring with the tribe<\/li>\n<li>Ask about what resources are needed to support wastewater public health monitoring in their community<\/li>\n<li>Learn about and engage their trusted partners<\/li>\n<li>Defer to their timelines and processes<\/li>\n<li>Respect data sovereignty\n<ul>\n<li>Tribes should have access to and control over wastewater data from their communities<\/li>\n<li>Tribal wastewater data should not be shared without tribal permission<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Support their outreach about wastewater public health monitoring<\/li>\n<li>Incorporate their health knowledge and priorities for monitoring<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9be7013 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9be7013\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Do you have questions or want to learn more? Reach out to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"mailto:nwbe@wef.org\">nwbe@wef.org<\/a><\/span>!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c5407ab e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c5407ab\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a2d69c1 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"a2d69c1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f0c01a0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f0c01a0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-39603fc\" data-id=\"39603fc\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-83f7a5a elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"83f7a5a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6464248 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6464248\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ed3d80d\" data-id=\"ed3d80d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-df0275c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"df0275c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"offering\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-xl\">Offering Support &amp; Resources<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e1af9f6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e1af9f6\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-23316fb\" data-id=\"23316fb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6f783b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f6f783b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>To encourage your utility partners to take part in wastewater public health monitoring, aim to make it as easy as possible. The simpler you make it, the more likely they&#8217;ll be to include sampling at their facility. Here are some options for health professionals to consider:<\/p>\n<p><strong style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">Offer Supplies and Equipment<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Offering sampling and shipping supplies is critical for enabling your utility partners to fold wastewater public health monitoring sampling into their daily routines. Supplies can be provided as a kit containing everything needed to collect, package, and ship one sample. Shipping two to four weeks of kits at a time is ideal, but you\u2019ll want to confirm how much space your utility partner has for storing the sample kits. The contents of your sampling kits will depend on your program needs but could include sample collection tubes, ice packs, sealable biohazard bags, absorbent pads, and packing material as shown in <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/2023-09-01-Sampling-supplies-and-equipment-2.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Figure 3<\/a><\/span>. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>When providing shipping, consider the following based on advice from the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Review your current shipping arrangements and costs for wastewater samples and associated sampling and shipping supplies. Check if there are any ongoing negotiations or changes in rates.<\/li>\n<li>Explore courier services as an alternative to traditional shipping companies for both samples and supplies. Some health departments may have their own courier service. Reach out to local health departments to explore the possibility of them providing sample pickup services.<\/li>\n<li>Look into high-volume shipping contracts with UPS or FedEx for potential cost savings. Consider negotiating discounted shipping contracts for use by state public health labs in wastewater public health monitoring programs, similar to arrangements made by other agencies like EPA and U.S. Geological Survey.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Certain equipment, such as an autosampler, may be necessary for your utility partners to participate in wastewater surveillance. Even if your utility partner already has an autosampler, it may not be located at the influent or may need replacement, but your partner will be able to tell you what their facility needs are.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">Provide a Stipend<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Money talks! Offering a stipend is a nice gesture of goodwill to offset the 20 to 40 minutes (minimum) required of your utility partner per sampling event (see <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Infographic-How-Long-Does-Wastewater-Surveillance-Sampling-Take-WEF-July-2023.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Figure 4<\/a><\/span>). About one in five jurisdictions participating in NWSS already offer stipends, ranging from $100 to $150 per sample, paid on a per-sample, monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis using contracts or an invoice based-system. Read <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/2023-29-08-Stipend-Report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">our memo<\/a><\/span>\u00a0summarizing our conversations with 44 jurisdictions with NWSS funding to decide if offering a stipend is right for you.<\/p>\n<p><strong style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">Obtain Contact Hour Approval<\/strong><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Offering supplies or a financial incentive is not the only way to support your utility partners. Wastewater operators and engineers usually need to obtain a certain number of contact hours (such as continuing education units, professional development hours, operator contact hours, training contact hours) to remain licensed within a jurisdiction. In most jurisdictions, the approval of contact hours for a given training course is made by the department of environment (such as the Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Environmental Management, or the Department of Environmental Protection). You could consider working with your jurisdiction\u2019s environmental department to obtain contact hour approval for either participation in your wastewater public health monitoring program or attending free wastewater public health monitoring training courses on your health department\u2019s website, similar to what <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nywastewatcher.io\/training-courses\/event-one-p2jdl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New York<\/a><\/span> does.<\/p>\n<p><strong style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">Provide Multiple Training Opportunities<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Even if a training program isn\u2019t eligible for contact hours, it still may be of value for maintaining utility interest in wastewater public health monitoring. Here are a few options for free wastewater public health monitoring training that you can share with your partners:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>WEF offers a <strong>free <\/strong>Wastewater Surveillance 101 eLearning course, designed to help wastewater professionals build their knowledge while earning 2 contact hours. This course is available on the WEF Learning Center\u2014check it out <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/learn.wef.org\/local\/catalog\/view\/product.php?productid=265\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a><\/span>.<\/li>\n<li>The Colorado NWSS Center of Excellence has created standard operating procedures on collecting\u00a0<u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.du.edu\/file\/82859\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">composite <\/a><\/u>and\u00a0<u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.du.edu\/file\/82860\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">grab.<\/a><\/u><\/li>\n<li>The Houston NWSS Center of Excellence has <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hou-wastewater-epi.org\/wastewater-monitoring-training-modules\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">training modules on sample collection<\/a><\/span> (and other topics).<\/li>\n<li>WEF member associations (MAs) offer local conferences and workshops, published resources, and training opportunities for their members, while the state chapters of the <u><a href=\"https:\/\/nrwa.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Rural Water Association (NRWA)<\/a><\/u> have similar offerings. Find out more about your local WEF MA and NRWA state chapter <u><a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/?page_id=704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/u>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fc35574 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fc35574\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c31fc1c\" data-id=\"c31fc1c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e2c8586 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"e2c8586\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><figure class=\"elementor-image-box-img\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/2023-09-01-Sampling-supplies-and-equipment.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"625\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/2023-09-01-Sampling-supplies-and-equipment-e1693938744544.png?fit=625%2C681&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-2333\" alt=\"Infographic showing the supplies and equipment needed for wastewater surveillance sampling.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/2023-09-01-Sampling-supplies-and-equipment-e1693938744544.png?w=625&amp;ssl=1 625w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/2023-09-01-Sampling-supplies-and-equipment-e1693938744544.png?resize=275%2C300&amp;ssl=1 275w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 625px) 100vw, 625px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><p class=\"elementor-image-box-description\"><span style=\"font-size: 13px;font-weight: 600;letter-spacing: 0.7px\">Figure 3. Supplies and equipment wastewater utilities need to participate in wastewater public health monitoring programs. Click on image to download infographic. Access the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/?attachment_id=2333\" style=\"font-family: lato, sans-serif;font-size: 13px;letter-spacing: 0.5px;text-align: start\"><span>text alternative for web accessibility infographic here.<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4676c62\" data-id=\"4676c62\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c23936 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"8c23936\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><figure class=\"elementor-image-box-img\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Infographic-How-Long-Does-Wastewater-Surveillance-Sampling-Take-WEF-July-2023.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1545\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Infographic-How-Long-Does-Wastewater-Surveillance-Sampling-Take-WEF-July-2023.png?fit=2000%2C1545&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1870\" alt=\"Infographic showing the time required to collect, package, and ship wastewater surveillance samples.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Infographic-How-Long-Does-Wastewater-Surveillance-Sampling-Take-WEF-July-2023.png?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Infographic-How-Long-Does-Wastewater-Surveillance-Sampling-Take-WEF-July-2023.png?resize=300%2C232&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Infographic-How-Long-Does-Wastewater-Surveillance-Sampling-Take-WEF-July-2023.png?resize=1024%2C791&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Infographic-How-Long-Does-Wastewater-Surveillance-Sampling-Take-WEF-July-2023.png?resize=768%2C593&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Infographic-How-Long-Does-Wastewater-Surveillance-Sampling-Take-WEF-July-2023.png?resize=1536%2C1187&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Infographic-How-Long-Does-Wastewater-Surveillance-Sampling-Take-WEF-July-2023.png?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Infographic-How-Long-Does-Wastewater-Surveillance-Sampling-Take-WEF-July-2023.png?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><p class=\"elementor-image-box-description\">Figure 4. Average time it takes for a utility professional to collect a sample for wastewater public health monitoring. Click on image to download infographic. Access the <a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/?attachment_id=1870\" style=\"font-size: 13px;font-weight: 400;letter-spacing: 0.5px;text-align: start\"><span>text alternative for web accessibility infographic here.<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-986e6d8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"986e6d8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-83e7ded\" data-id=\"83e7ded\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32c2632 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"32c2632\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-faab4e2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"faab4e2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ca8c21b\" data-id=\"ca8c21b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-979897b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"979897b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"communicating\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-xl\">Communicating &amp; Engaging<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-91c09f4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"91c09f4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a294a67\" data-id=\"a294a67\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c4d7518 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c4d7518\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><h2 data-elementor-setting-key=\"title\" data-pen-placeholder=\"Type Here...\" style=\"font-family: Lato, sans-serif;letter-spacing: 0.7px\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0.7px\">Communication Strategies<\/span><\/h2><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e6a77ad elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e6a77ad\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-25e2545\" data-id=\"25e2545\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-454b442 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"454b442\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Here are some ideas for implementing regular, consistent communication to help sustain your utility partnerships.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6e359bc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6e359bc\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-130bf02\" data-id=\"130bf02\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ed26d55 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ed26d55\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Share the Data<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Your utility partner wants to see what is going on with the wastewater data just as much as you. Although uploading data directly to a dashboard (such as those linked from <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.powerbi.com\/view?r=eyJrIjoiZGE5YWMxZDQtYTRjYS00NDE1LWJhNjQtNWFlNWZlMWYyNTY4IiwidCI6ImI3ZTk3ODAyLTJhNjktNDc3ZS1iN2QyLWY0ZDE2MWMyMTBjYiIsImMiOjF9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this map<\/a><\/span>) may be the easiest way to share data, utility professionals may appreciate receiving an email report of the data, too. This is something you can discuss with your utility partners during your initial conversations.<\/p>\n<p><strong style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">Speak the Language<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">Just like in any field, effective communication in wastewater is challenging without knowing the terminology. You can become wastewater literate with WEF\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0<a style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); letter-spacing: 0.7px;\" href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/?page_id=2260\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Wastewater 101<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">\u00a0lessons focused on the \u2018what\u2019, \u2018how\u2019, \u2018where\u2019, and \u2018who\u2019 of wastewater collection and treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">Host Regular, Virtual Community of Practice Meetings<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">These meetings, which can be monthly or less frequent, can be geared towards updating wastewater professionals and local health departments with the latest wastewater public health monitoring news and success stories in your jurisdiction. Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois and others are already hosting meetings like this with their local partners.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">Keep the Conversation Going<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">Send email updates, pick up the phone, or visit in person. Keep the communication short and sweet, but frequent enough that your partners don\u2019t feel forgotten. Ask them how often they prefer to be contacted (weekly, biweekly, monthly, quarterly) and keep a spreadsheet to track their preferences and incorporate this communication into you routine.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">Foster Utility Champions<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If possible, it\u2019s helpful to identify a wastewater utility champion within your jurisdiction who is a seasoned wastewater professional actively involved in your wastewater public health monitoring program. At your program\u2019s outset, this champion might not stand out immediately, but you\u2019ll likely notice someone over time who not only understands the program but also shows a genuine eagerness to help other utilities. You could consider reaching out to this individual to ask if they\u2019d be willing to mentor other utilities in your region to help address various challenges and promote a sense of community among utilities participating in your program, and participate in program leadership discussions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e2b0145\" data-id=\"e2b0145\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4cb37c7 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"4cb37c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><figure class=\"elementor-image-box-img\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/COVID_wastewater_surveillance_gif_animation_02_1200x675.gif?ssl=1\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"674\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/COVID_wastewater_surveillance_gif_animation_02_1200x675.gif?fit=1200%2C674&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-2259\" alt=\"Gif of a map of the United States showing the spread of wastewater sampling from March 11, 2020 to March 2022.\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><p class=\"elementor-image-box-description\">Figure 5. Map representing all wastewater data submitted directly to CDC's NWSS DCIPHER platform through March 2022.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db039d0 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"db039d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><figure class=\"elementor-image-box-img\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/?page_id=2260\" target=\"_blank\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/WW-101-Part-1-What-is-wastewater-WEF.png?fit=1920%2C1080&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-2264\" alt=\"Screenshot of titles screen for the Wastewater 101 series.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/WW-101-Part-1-What-is-wastewater-WEF.png?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/WW-101-Part-1-What-is-wastewater-WEF.png?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/WW-101-Part-1-What-is-wastewater-WEF.png?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/WW-101-Part-1-What-is-wastewater-WEF.png?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/WW-101-Part-1-What-is-wastewater-WEF.png?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/WW-101-Part-1-What-is-wastewater-WEF.png?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><p class=\"elementor-image-box-description\">Figure 6. A series of videos explaining all things wastewater aimed towards health department professionals. Click on image to access video series.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4bbcddc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4bbcddc\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5da0dd0\" data-id=\"5da0dd0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0144bc2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"0144bc2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c329f67 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c329f67\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a537514\" data-id=\"a537514\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-713e4de elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"713e4de\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><h2 data-elementor-setting-key=\"title\" data-pen-placeholder=\"Type Here...\" style=\"font-family: Lato, sans-serif;letter-spacing: 0.7px\"><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0.7px\">Engaging the Public and Utilities<\/span><\/h2><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c7960ab elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c7960ab\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-763b765\" data-id=\"763b765\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eb0ca90 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"eb0ca90\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Below are a few strategies for engaging the public and utility partners to raise awareness of wastewater public health monitoring\u2019s vital role in safeguarding public health.<\/p>\n<p><strong style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">Have an Appreciation Week<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This doesn\u2019t have to be anything elaborate, but should be designed to show that you value your utility partner\u2019s participation in your program. Ideas for what to include in your appreciation week based on what Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) have done include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Provide an appreciation packet with a summary of program accomplishments in the previous year, or since the program inception<\/li>\n<li>Issue a letter or certificate of appreciation signed by the state epidemiologist or even the governor, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/052224_Proclamation_Wastewater-Professionals-Appreciation-Day.pdf\">like Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene did<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li>Write press releases and shout outs on social media<\/li>\n<li>Offer gift baskets with swag and treats, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Appreciation-day-gifts-1-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">the gift basket offered by the OHA<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You can also consider encouraging LHDs to reach out and express gratitude, and timing the appreciation week to coincide with a particularly challenging time of year for your utilities. For example, CDPHE scheduled their utility appreciation week for the week after Thanksgiving when wastewater flow rates are highest in their jurisdiction.<\/p>\n<p><strong style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">Be Active on Social Media<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Leverage social media for engagement; a search for &#8220;wastewater data&#8221; on platforms like Twitter shows significant interest. View examples from departments like the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CDPHE\/status\/1598456473159450626\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CDPHE<\/a><\/span> and the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/OHAOregon\/status\/1567600149211549697\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">OHA<\/a><\/span>\u00a0for inspiration in effective engagement. Respond to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/wcpublichealth\/status\/1672245275081994244\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">local residents&#8217; concerns<\/a><\/span> on social media for transparency. Share recent <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/?page_id=39\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wastewater public health monitoring<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/?page_id=39\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a><\/span> and data trends to inform and engage the public, showcasing collaboration with utility partners. Feel free to use <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/2023-09-13-Public-Communication-Templates.docx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">templates adapted from the Ohio Department of Health<\/a><\/span> to facilitate public communication.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">Take Part in Face-to-Face Community Engagement<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Presenting during town hall or other community meetings can be valuable. You could consider asking a LHD professional to attend these meetings on your behalf to bring awareness to wastewater public health monitoring in their community. This is an excellent opportunity to advocate for the program, sway naysayers, and highlight the work of your utility professionals.<\/p>\n<p>Another great opportunity for face-to-face engagement is in schools. You can consider partnering with local schools to educate students about wastewater treatment and monitoring. Share how samples are collected, why it matters for community health, and encourage young minds to spread the word to their families.<\/p>\n<p>Encourage public participation in wastewater public health monitoring. Invite community members to engage by observing sample collection, taking facility tours, and learning about how utilities protect public health. This direct involvement demystifies wastewater public health monitoring, fostering community ownership and support for the program\u2019s success.<\/p>\n<p><strong style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">Encourage Utilities to Communicate with the Public<\/strong><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); letter-spacing: 0.7px;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Provide utilities with effective talking points and messaging they can distribute through bill stuffers or other communication channels. These materials should explain the significance of wastewater public health monitoring, how it\u2019s useful for so much more than COVID-19, and its role in safeguarding community health. By proactively sharing this information, utilities can keep the public informed and engaged in the program, building trust and support within the community.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-17de8c8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"17de8c8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cd35deb\" data-id=\"cd35deb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-27d3864 elementor-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"27d3864\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><figure class=\"elementor-image-box-img\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/WS_for_COVID-19_Fast_Facts_v18-JAN-2022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"899\" height=\"754\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Talking-points.png?fit=899%2C754&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-2357\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Talking-points.png?w=899&amp;ssl=1 899w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Talking-points.png?resize=300%2C252&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Talking-points.png?resize=768%2C644&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><p class=\"elementor-image-box-description\">Figure 7. Talking points for wastewater utility professionals. Click image to download infographic. Access the  <a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/?attachment_id=2504\" style=\"font-size: 13px;font-weight: 400;letter-spacing: 0.5px;text-align: start\"><span>text alternative for web accessibility infographic here.<\/span><\/a>\n\n<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-92f4f27\" data-id=\"92f4f27\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e51312 elementor-position-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-box\" data-id=\"4e51312\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-box-wrapper\"><figure class=\"elementor-image-box-img\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bill-Stuffer-Wastewater-Surveillance-WEF.png?ssl=1\" target=\"_blank\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"824\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bill-Stuffer-Wastewater-Surveillance-WEF.png?fit=824%2C2000&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-2020\" alt=\"Infographic that can be used as a bill stuffer for wastewater utility professionals to inform their communities about how they are continuing to protect public health.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bill-Stuffer-Wastewater-Surveillance-WEF.png?w=824&amp;ssl=1 824w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bill-Stuffer-Wastewater-Surveillance-WEF.png?resize=124%2C300&amp;ssl=1 124w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bill-Stuffer-Wastewater-Surveillance-WEF.png?resize=422%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 422w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bill-Stuffer-Wastewater-Surveillance-WEF.png?resize=768%2C1864&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nwbe.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bill-Stuffer-Wastewater-Surveillance-WEF.png?resize=633%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 633w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"elementor-image-box-content\"><p class=\"elementor-image-box-description\">Figure 8. Example bill stuffer to send to ratepayers. Click image to download infographic. Access the <a href=\"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/?attachment_id=2020\" style=\"font-family: Manrope, sans-serif;font-size: 13px;font-weight: 400;letter-spacing: 0.5px;text-align: start\"><span>text alternative for web accessibility infographic here.<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-69789ea elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"69789ea\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6ed3a8b\" data-id=\"6ed3a8b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a7deed2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"a7deed2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d72e806 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d72e806\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0689b70\" data-id=\"0689b70\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93a99bb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"93a99bb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Do you have feedback on this content? Submit your anonymous comments to our <a href=\"https:\/\/app.sli.do\/event\/e2i65M1zd8Xmiu6KAJiVKz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">suggestion box<\/a>!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Utility Engagement Toolkit for Health Departments &amp; Labs Last updated September 25, 2025\u00a0 \u00a0 This toolkit is designed to guide health departments and labs interested in building productive partnerships with wastewater utilities for wastewater public health monitoring programs. It provides strategies, best practices, and resources for initiating and sustaining those partnerships based on the ideas [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2201","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2201","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2201"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2201\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4878,"href":"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2201\/revisions\/4878"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nwbe.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2201"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}