To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: Mark Marlowe, P.E., Director of Castle Rock Water
Title
Presentation: WISE Video Premiere
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Executive Summary
After more than a decade of planning and coordinating with multiple regional partners, Castle Rock will begin to import WISE water by the end of 2017 or early 2018. WISE (Water Infrastructure and Supply Efficiency) is a major investment at nearly $40 million spent and/or encumbered to date and a critical piece to ensuring a sustainable water future. Keeping our customers informed of our water investments is essential to continued support and community engagement. Community surveys, however, continue to indicate that customers are unaware of long-term water efforts. In fact, both the 2015 and 2017 statistically significant surveys indicated 30 percent of citizens do not have a good understanding of the long term water plan. On a more specific basis, an online survey as part of the Water Resources Strategic Master Plan update found almost 25 percent had no knowledge of our regional partnerships to import water, like WISE. Therefore, Castle Rock Water commissioned educational videos to keep our customers informed of this momentous advancement.
The WISE water videos were designed to have an entertainment value to increase the probability of getting noticed and keeping our audience engaged. Along with the main character, the Most Hydrated Man in Castle Rock, the series of nine videos travel along the route that the imported WISE water flows. Where the imported water comes from, the partners involved and various infrastructure (i.e. pipelines, water plants, tanks, etc.) are highlighted.
Notification and Outreach Efforts
The nine videos are designed for social media and are each less than two minutes. The videos are planned to be launched on Facebook beginning early May (May 3) with subsequent videos following every 2 to 3 weeks until late October. Additional messaging in Town Talk and the H20Acccess billing portal will direct customers to Facebook. Once aired, the videos will be placed on the CRgov website. Additional use and sharing of the videos will be considered as WISE partner outreach develops this year.
History of Past Town Council, Boards & Commissions, or Other Discussions
On March 22, 2017, the Castle Rock Water Commission viewed two of the nine videos which were developed specifically for Castle Rock customers. The commission provided positive comments about the videos.
The WISE Water partners, including Denver Water, Aurora Water, and South Metro Water Supply Authority, as well as a handful of SMWSA members, have viewed one or more of the videos with positive responses. Aurora Water plans to inform their council of this outreach highlighting many aspects of Prairie Waters.