MWA
Macon Water Authority
Grease Education
From 2004 – 2006, JWA conducted a series of research projects for the Macon Water Authority (MWA), in order to obtain feedback from customers on their media consumption patterns and opinions concerning several issues, most notably attitudes and beliefs regarding household grease disposal.
Since household grease was attributed to over half of the sewer spills and overflows in Macon/Bibb County, the MWA wanted to implement a public education program to lessen this impact on the system. The research findings from our study have helped verify the most effective communication tools for use by JWA in the Authority’s public education campaign. Coupled with other operational changes at the MWA, the campaign resulted in a significant reduction in sanitary sewer spills and overflows over the last three years. The MWA has twice been selected the Collection System of the Year in the state of Georgia as well, further reflecting the effectiveness of public education in addressing serious issues, those environmental and operational, of a public water utility.