Stakeholder communications for successful water reuse operations

A well-organised, comprehensive communications program with stakeholders is essential to any modern water reuse project. To maximise trust between water reuse organisations and stakeholders, the communication process needs to begin long before project plans are drawn up and continue throughout the life of any project. It must begin with the decision to seriously consider the development of a scheme and remain highly visible throughout all of its stages, including planning, construction, implementation and operation. The communications program must also embrace any extensions of the project. This paper relates to a study that was undertaken in the preliminary preparation of a manual of best practice for water recycling operations. The purpose of the study was to provide an understanding of major communication issues to be addressed and successful means of addressing them. Ten key messages to stakeholders were established during the process and are presented here.