The Soquel Creek Water District has proudly received a significant honor from the National WateReuse Association: the 2018 Award of Excellence for Outreach and Education, in recognition of the District's Pure Water Soquel Mobile Educational Trailer. This annual award was presented during the 33rd Annual WateReuse Symposium in Austin, Texas which recognizes agencies, individuals, and projects that are making significant contributions in increasing knowledge, awareness, and research of recycled water and beneficial reuse.
The Mobile Educational Trailer is a colorful, interactive, fun, and engaging community outreach tool, designed to help educate the community on the critical issue of water reuse, and the District's proposed water purification/groundwater recharge and seawater intrusion prevention project, Pure Water Soquel. The trailer, which District staff takes to schools, special events, and other locations, features bright and colorful information panels, hands-on-samples of actual materials involved in the water purification process, entertaining and informative videos, and more.
Our Mobile Educational Trailer has had great success in helping people of all ages throughout our community to gain a better understanding of water reuse and Pure Water Soquel,
said Ron Duncan, General Manager. We're very proud to gain this recognition and praise from the WateReuse Association - it tells us we're doing the right things to reach our community, and inspires us to continue seeking new, interesting ways to engage people in learning about the District and the services we provide.
Built last year on a shoestring budget and with an eight-week deadline, the Soquel Creek Water District's Outreach team was able to create the Mobile Educational Trailer, put it on the road, and get it in front of audiences. In that very short time-frame available, District staff acquired the trailer, developed the informational messaging, designed the layout and look-and-feel for both inside and outside the trailer, arranged for all the materials to be printed/assembled, had the outside professionally wrapped with graphics and text, and produced/installed all the interior materials.
So far the Pure Water Soquel Mobile Educational Trailer has visited over 24 sites, reaching more than 3,500 kids and adults. Upon its debut in July 2017, the District started receiving inquiries from other water agencies seeking information about the trailer and how to create one for their community.
If local community groups, schools, clubs, or neighborhood associations are interested in having the District's mobile educational trailer come to visit them, please email Vaidehi Campbell or call 831-475-8501, ext. 142.
As always, if you have any questions about this month’s topic or anything else related to Soquel Creek Water District, feel free to email Melanie Mow Schumacher or call 831-475-8501, ext. 153.