AWWA JAW62631

Utilities often feel that time and resource constraints limit their ability to mount effective advocacy campaigns. This case study demonstrates how to achieve success even on a small budget. In August 2005, President George W. Bush signed national energy legislation without a provision that would have granted gasoline makers immunity from water contaminated by the gasoline additive methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE). The exclusion of this provision was largely the result of the AWWA-led advocacy discussed in this article. The AWWA MTBE campaign demonstrated the power of a disciplined advocacy and effective media campaign, showing the importance of framing the issue, staying on message, providing the best information, building partnerships, and mobilizing grassroots support. Utility managers will be able to apply the lessons learned from this campaign to face their own public affairs challenges and create more effective public campaigns.