Drinking Water Week – a marketing opportunity

Water Quality Dealers need to align themselves with the national Drinking Water Week. It’s a tremendous marketing opportunity for water dealerships – especially this year.

This year’s theme, “There When You Need It,” highlights the work water professionals do around-the-clock to ensure high-quality drinking water is always available at your tap, right when you need it.

National Drinking Water Week is a perfect example of how a Water Quality Dealer can use the news to highlight what they do. This is an opportunity to build brand awareness and become “bigger than themselves” by identifying with a national initiative.

This is not just a great social media opportunity. Rather this becomes a dealership’s perfect time to launch a new marketing campaign.  This is the type of campaign aligns the effectiveness & convenience of a new efficient Water System with the essential role drinking water plays in our daily lives.

This year, Drinking Water Week is May 1 – May 7, 2022. 

Celebration Ideas

Celebrating Drinking Water Week is an easy way to educate the public, connect with the community, and promote employee morale. Too often, water utilities receive publicity only when something bad happens. You know what I mean. We hear about water main breaks in the middle of rush hour or an increase in rates, again. Drinking Water Week celebrations give you an opportunity for some positive communication.

Drinking Water Week is also a perfect time to educate children about their water supply in an atmosphere of fun. Perhaps you can partner with your local school. After all, families with children are the #1 buyers of water filtration!

AWWA has compiled a toolkit for businesses to use. This will allow you to reach out to your employees, your customers, and your community.

Celebrate Your Staff

Drinking Water Week is a chance to help you remind your employees about the importance of what they do. Above all, they provide clean, safe drinking water for the public every day. Let’s celebrate them!!

What else can you do to raise awareness of both DWW and your Dealership?

Public Communication

Whether you send out press releases, take out ads in your local newspaper, or use any of the other ideas provided, communicating the public during drinking water week is integral to any successful celebration.

• Advertise in your local newspaper.
• Send Bill Stuffers.
• Work with your local librarian to set up a Library Display.
• Use Mall Kiosks to reach a broad audience.
• Coordinate distribution of AWWA News Releases.
• Publicize the release of your Consumer Confidence Report.
• Send public service announcements to your local radio or television stations.

Community Events

It’s important for you to be a part of your local community. Community events are fun and festive ways to make sure that your customers know about their drinking water – where it comes from, how they get it, and what they can do to help ensure their drinking water quality.

• Invite your community to an Open House
• Inaugurate an Adopt-a-Hydrant Program
• Plant a Tree
• Plant Tours
• Hold a Landmark Dedication/Anniversary Celebration
• Bury a Time Capsule
• Partner with your local botanic gardens or other groups
• Plan a community clean-up

Youth Focus

• Feature a children’s Coloring Contest or Essay Contest
• Hold a Poster Contest
• A great community outreach method: School Presentations

Internal Communications and Events

• Hold your Annual Employee Picnic during Drinking Water Week
• Create a utility Newsletter Feature on Drinking Water Week

For more than 40 years the American Water Works Association and its members have celebrated Drinking Water Week. This is a unique opportunity for both water professionals and the communities they serve. It’s a great time to join together in recognizing the vital role water plays in our daily lives.

For more information about Drinking Water Week, go to the American Water Works Association site. Click on https://www.awwa.org/Events-Education/Drinking-Water-Week.