He, Ziwei

Ziwei He is a Water/Wastewater Engineer at HDR based in Vienna, VA. She has 5 years of experience with design and condition assessment of water and wastewater conveyance infrastructure. She supports the design of water transmission mains, pump stations, and wastewater collection systems for projects in Maryland and Virginia. She also supports the geospacial and cost analysis on the Anne Arundel County OurwAAter septic-to-sewer connection program. Ziwei has a Bachelor's Degree from Johns Hopkins University and a Master's Degree from Stanford University, both in Environmental Engineering.

Titles from this speaker

Description: Using Adaptive Communications to Encourage Septic Conversion Through a...

Using Adaptive Communications to Encourage Septic Conversion Through a Community-driven Process

Abstract

As part of a multi-pronged strategy to reduce nutrients for the Chesapeake Bay, the Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works (the County) launched a voluntary Septic-to-Sewer connection program in 2021 designed to make public sewer connections more affordable. HDR launched a public outreach program that emphasizes the public education of septic impacts on water quality and provides information on the new program. During more than two dozen outreach meetings, the project team gained important feedback from the community. At the end of the first program application cycle, the team compiled lessons learned in an application debrief meeting. The collaborative discussion informed program changes including communications strategies as well as policy changes. During the second application cycle the team further adjusted its approach to revise its message and the level of detail, which resulted in greater understanding by homeowners. Adaptive management of community outreach has fostered continuous improvement of program messaging.

In 2021, Anne Arundel County, Maryland launched a voluntary Septic-to-Sewer connection program. HDR helped establish an outreach program to educate the public on water quality and to inform residents about the new program. During more than two dozen outreach meetings, the team compiled lessons learned and continued to adjust its message and level of detail, resulting in a greater understanding by homeowner.

SpeakerHe, Ziwei

Presentation time

15:30:00

16:00:00

Session time

15:30:00

17:00:00

SessionCommunications Plans and Actions: Septics, Source Control, and Stakeholders

Session locationRoom S401a - Level 4

TopicCollection Systems, Fundamental Level, PFAS, Public Communication and Outreach, Utility Management and Leadership

Author(s)

Heiner, George