Community monitoring
Individuals can play a key role in monitoring and ensuring that processes and procedures are safe by being involved as a community member on a reference group such as the one set up for the WA Moora community. This enables community issues to be taken on board to ensure the ongoing safety and monitoring of processes. Such reference groups have a terms of reference and provide valuable input on community concerns and future directions. As well as providing a valuable opportunity for community consultation and communication.
Increased Community Awareness Programs
A key finding from the survey was that there is a lack of knowledge about biosolids and the potential use of recycled products from the waste water process.
To assist the community to gain a better understanding and knowledge an education and community awareness program could include:
- Information about biosolids on or attached to water bills
- Information on biosolids attached to water rates
- Simple media promotion programs which raise awareness about the wastewater and biosolids production processes
- Media programs to encourage people to watch what they put down the toilet and into water from the kitchen sink, bathroom and laundry
- Wastewater treatment plant tours to encourage a better knowledge and understanding
- Use of available websites to assist monitoring knew plants and what is happening in the industry.
Educating the Future Consumer (Starting Young..)
As we move into the future it will be increasingly important to ensure that children and becoming informed citizens. This may be done through:
- School based education programs designed to inform children about waste management and the role of wastewater and biosolids. This can be included as an addition to many existing programs on waste management and recycling that are completed in schools.
- School visits to waste water treatment plants to gain a better understanding of the process and see how they can improve the process by being careful about what they put in the toilet.
The NSW Department of Primary Industry has produced some fantastic resources for children to introduce biosolids