Technical Assistance

Get the Lead Out Community Engagement

lbennett — Tue, 13 May 2025 18:44:28 +0000

Get the Lead Out Community Engagement

lbennett Wed, 05/14/2025 - 01:44

The Ask: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Get the Lead Out Initiative provides technical assistance to communities to inventory lead service lines and access water infrastructure funding for lead pipe removal. EPA sought MDB’s support in grassroots outreach, community education, and collaboration with local stakeholders to support the Get the Lead Out Initiative.

The Solution: MDB conducted outreach in communities with lead service lines to raise awareness about lead contamination in water, educate residents about the initiative's goals and actions, and identify lead service lines in homes. MDB community engagement specialists attended community events and, alongside local utility workers, conducted household visits to establish a comprehensive inventory of water service lines in towns across the country.

Notable Outcomes: MDB is part of a team that has reached thousands of residents across several communities with lead service lines. The home visits help in the development of local lead pipe inventories and address potential sources of lead contamination in the water supply, contributing to efforts aimed at improving public health and safety.

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Building a Brand to Spread Community Awareness

lbennett — Tue, 13 May 2025 18:39:01 +0000

Building a Brand to Spread Community Awareness

Communication & Outreach

Community Engagement

Technical Assistance

Water

lbennett Wed, 05/14/2025 - 01:39

The Ask: Stillmeadow Community Fellowship Church, a partner of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Urban Waters Program, expanded its programs and partnerships to restore and enhance green spaces in Baltimore communities. Stillmeadow sought MDB’s guidance to improve their external communications for new partners and help leverage their goals and accomplishments to stakeholders in Baltimore and strengthen funding proposals.

The Solution: MDB convened meetings with Stillmeadow to help organize and identify their priorities to develop communication products that best convey Stillmeadow’s mission and highlight their achievements. MDB also provided guidance on leveraging narrative storytelling to assist Stillmeadow in broadening their partnership network and compete for more funding opportunities. MDB also reviewed previous communication products created by Stillmeadow partners to identify and build off existing branding.

Notable Outcomes: MDB communication specialists and graphic designers worked with Stillmeadow to generate consistent brand elements and develop a portfolio of communication materials with new and improved design elements and written content, including a fact sheet and PowerPoint template, that they can customize for each program and personalize for the intended audience. These materials help convey their brand and build awareness among partners, stakeholders, and funders in the Baltimore community.

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Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap: A Comprehensive Wastewater Solutions Plan for the San Carlos Apache Tribe

lbennett — Tue, 13 May 2025 18:33:23 +0000

Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap: A Comprehensive Wastewater Solutions Plan for the San Carlos Apache Tribe

Communication & Outreach

Community Engagement

Technical Assistance

Water

lbennett Wed, 05/14/2025 - 01:33

The Ask: The San Carlos Apache Tribe conducted a septic survey which identified many homes on the Reservation with poorly functioning onsite systems or no sewer services at all. Through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap initiative, the Tribe’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) sought technical assistance to address these known wastewater gaps by connecting residents to educational and financial resources.

The Solution: EPA engaged MDB’s project management, community engagement, and engineering support and decentralized wastewater expertise to help the Tribe develop a plan to address current and future wastewater issues. MDB worked extensively with the Tribal DEP to organize information on wastewater services. As community engagement was a key element to building trust, MDB planners and community engagement specialists made frequent visits to the Reservation, conducting site visits and delivering presentations to the Tribal Council.

Notable Outcomes: MDB developed a comprehensive wastewater treatment improvement plan and authored the Options for Clean Water Solutions for the San Carlos Apache Tribe, Arizona. The wastewater treatment improvement plan provides recommendations for the onsite systems and improvements to the central sewer system as well as approaches for management, public education, and governance. It addresses the Tribe’s immediate sanitation system needs and includes recommendations for building a policy framework for sound management and sufficient financial resources. MDB also developed a wastewater management ordinance to help the Tribe prevent issues with septic system failures.

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Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap: Community Engagement Efforts in Chaparral, New Mexico

lbennett — Tue, 13 May 2025 18:27:15 +0000

Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap: Community Engagement Efforts in Chaparral, New Mexico

Communication & Outreach

Community Engagement

Technical Assistance

Water

lbennett Wed, 05/14/2025 - 01:27

The Ask: Chaparral is a fast-growing, unincorporated community split between Doña Ana County and Otero County. The community is experiencing increased home density and economic growth which is now stressing existing wastewater infrastructure. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sought MDB’s community engagement and decentralized wastewater expertise to help Chaparral address its wastewater challenges.

The Solution: MDB supported EPA in providing technical assistance, including community engagement, development of wastewater solutions, and identification of funding opportunities. MDB decentralized wastewater and community engagement specialists developed community engagement materials and conducted multiple site visits to work with community stakeholders towards a solution.

Notable Outcomes: MDB developed an educational brochure, in English and Spanish to promote septic maintenance best practices and the benefits of a working septic system. Additionally, MDB was part of a team that brought together representatives from Doña Ana and Otero Counties and initiated a process toward an intergovernmental agreement.

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