Seeing the Unseen: Using Interactive Mapping to Engage with the Public

This panel discussion, showcasing City of Phoenix Water (www.waterworks.phoenix.gov) and San Antonio Water Systems (https://water.saws.org/) examples, will highlight the benefits of using interactive mapping to inform and engage communities of vital infrastructure improvement initiatives. Participants will gain insight into how interactive mapping will help them engage with their customers, be transparent with their Capital Improvement Program (CIP) revenue and provide the opportunity to communicate potential impacts and risks with the public. In the face of a changing climate, aging infrastructure and emerging water quality concerns, investing in water and wastewater infrastructure is critical. To ensure customers have safe, clean and reliable water well into the future, utilities must invest in and maintain their water and wastewater pipes, pump stations, wells, storage reservoirs and treatment plants today. City Councils, Boards, other key stakeholders and customers need to know how infrastructure funds are being allocated and spent — especially when utilities increase rates to generate the revenue required to ensure reliable delivery, distribution and storage. One way utilities can be transparent in highlighting their responsibilities to stakeholders is through interactive CIP infrastructure mapping. Interactive mapping tools allow utilities to enhance public understanding of how and where CIP revenue is spent, what capital improvements mean to them, why those improvements are necessary for the future of the entire system, construction impacts associated with improvements, and affected geographic areas. While much of water and wastewater infrastructure is unseen, investing in interactive mapping allows utilities to be transparent in their responsibility to engage, educate, and manage precious infrastructure well into the future. Whether it's investing millions of dollars in supply, delivery, storage or flood control systems, or the need to communicate impacts and risks, interactive maps help tell a story and make the unseen seen.