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

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.