San Diego Water Department's Proactive Approach to Public Information/Outreach for the Miramar Water Treatment Plant Upgrade/Expansion Project

摘要

The City of San Diego Water Department has recognized and capitalized on the benefits of partnering with the community throughout the life of its major construction projects. The Miramar Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Upgrade/Expansion project is a prime example of the City's successful Public Information/Outreach (PIO) approach to 'community input and acceptance' with a highly sophisticated community that surrounds the WTP.As early as 1996, after it was determined that this major construction project must be built in the Scripps Ranch community, the City began to identify opportunities for partnering with the community to help promote the project's advantages and to offer solutions to construction impacts. The City first identified all possible groups in or near the WTP, and then offered each of them an opportunity to participate in a Community Advisory Group (CAG). The CAG was challenged with helping the City develop a project with the minimal amount of disruption, while accomplishing the necessary expansion/rehabilitation at a reasonable cost.By translating the City's successes on other recent major facilities expansion/construction projects to the Miramar expansion project, a win-win relationship is being created which will enable the Scripps Ranch community and the City to peacefully coexist throughout the Miramar WTP construction project and for many years to come.