Biosolids Communication Toolkit

Water Environment Federation (WEF) members know the significance of the use of biosolids to wastewater treatment and to the communities we serve. The benefits are obvious but not always without controversy. Our member volunteers have done a significant amount of work to elevate the conversation about what biosolids bring in terms of innovation, resource recovery, and stewardship, and we think you’ll agree that this work is even more important in today’s environment.

This biosolids communications toolkit builds on and expands the digital resource developed by WEF and can be used by WEF members to help raise awareness and support for the use of biosolids. This is a resource for communicating about biosolids in ways that are factual, science-based, and easily understandable by those who might be hearing about biosolids for the first time—your neighbor, a city council member, or your mom.

The toolkit includes guidance on some of the more challenging communication tasks you may encounter—responding to, or proactively pursuing media coverage, handling concerns raised about the safety of biosolids, creating presentations for use at events or meetings with the public, and developing content to post online or on social media. The toolkit features messages that serve as an overall umbrella that can be adapted for FAQs, talking points, community meetings, fact sheets, brochures, social media, and websites.

Think of this toolkit as a do-it-yourself handbook designed for the range of utility professionals who may need it. Some may want to follow all the step-by-step guidance the toolkit offers while others may only need specific sections. You are encouraged to use this as a reference any way you need, to address any number of issues related to biosolids, to create messages, to see samples for best practices, and more.

WEF members and water professionals around the world are incredibly proud of the services they provide and know biosolids are part of their
innovative industry’s future. This toolkit, and the accompanying training, will help make you proficient at communicating all that biosolids can do, as you share how valuable this resource is.