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Public Education and Outreach
Phone: 832.395.3790
 The Public Education & Outreach Program is a section of Drinking Water Operations (DWO) Branch, a division of Public Utilities Division, Department of Public Works and Engineering. The education and outreach staff is proud to represent more than 300 City water professionals who produce some of the best quality drinking water in the nation
Our goals include:
Educating citizens about Houston’s water resources and the City’s commitment to protecting public health by providing our customers with high quality drinking water;
Empowering citizens to use water wisely;
Encouraging citizens to be good water stewards, and to share their water knowledge with others;
Explaining how the City and the public can work together to protect our water resources and ensure an adequate and safe water supply to meet future demands.
 Water Education Speakers – Do you know where your water comes from and how it gets to and from your home? There is always something new to learn about water and water issues. We provide speakers and educational materials for students and adults at schools, businesses and community meetings. Call 832-395-3790 for more information.
 WaterWorks Museum + Education Center – Make plans to visit the WaterWorks Museum + Education Center and discover the wonders of water. Opening in 2009, WaterWorks will serve as a regional clearinghouse and education center for water-related efforts in Texas. Visitors will learn about Houston’s water supply, water science, water treatment and related career opportunities, and how we can ensure adequate water supply for the future. Museum visitors will travel through each stage of the water treatment process from a water drop’s point of view. Students can climb aboard the “S.S. Lake Houston” and perform water quality tests. Citizens will examine the difference between natural contaminants and other pollutants, and understand how each of us play a role in protecting our water resources. Call 832-395-3783 or E-mail Susan Smyer for more information.
Festivals and Special Events - We participate in a variety of local events including Earth Day celebrations, school festivals, and corporate health fairs and other environmentally focused community events. We coordinate the annual Lake Houston Trash Bash and partner with hundreds of volunteers to remove debris from Lake Houston, one of our primary sources for drinking water.
WaterFest - Houston’s mayor proclaims each May as “Water Awareness Month” in Houston. Drinking Water Operations sponsors the annual WaterFest for thousands of students, educators and the public as part of National Water  Drinking Week. The WaterFest is a fun-filled day of learning. Municipal and corporate water professionals, environmental educators and non-profit organizations host 50 interactive exhibits to help students appreciate their relationship to the environment and understand how they can protect our water resources.
 Annual T-Shirt Design Contest - A few months prior to our annual WaterFest, Houston area 1st through 8th grade students are encouraged to design artwork with a water education message to increase public awareness of water and environmental issues. The winning artwork is printed on WaterFest t-shirts worn by festival volunteers and then distributed to the public at other community events. More than 400 designs are submitted each year.
Outreach Tools
 WET in the City - WET (Water Education for Teachers) in the City is a nationally-recognized training program designed for urban educators by the Council for Environmental Education (CEE). K-12th grade teachers are trained to use the Curriculum and Activity Guide during a 6-hour experiential workshop. The guide includes 69 interdisciplinary activities and printable student worksheets. This TEKS-correlated curriculum can be used year after year to students learn about their local environment and become lifelong water stewards. Drinking Water Operations Educators are trained facilitators for the WET in the City program. To schedule a WET in the City workshop, call CEE at 713-520-1936 or go to
www.wetcity.org.
Team WET Schools - This program is an extension of the WET in the City program. To be designated as a Team WET School, a school’s administrators, educators and students commit to increasing environmental education and stewardship within their community. The school’s Team WET Schools Coordinator receives technical assistance from the Council for Environmental Education and a Team WET Schools Kit. This kit includes a water test kit, guides for conducting a school water audit and planning a school/community water festival, and other materials for successful student and community projects. In 2002 Houston ISD’s Hogg Middle School was designated the nation’s first Team WET School. Since then, another 10 schools in the Houston area have been designated.
Water Wise and Energy Efficient - Managed by the Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District, this education/retrofit program focuses on water and energy conservation. Teachers receive a program guide and each student receives a workbook for classroom activities and to share with their families. Students receive a high quality showerhead (2.75 gallons/minute) and low-flow faucet aerators to install in their homes, and asked to evaluate their family’s current water and energy usage with their parents and determine ways to conserve. The City of Houston has sponsored more than 3,000 Houston ISD students annually through this program.
Adopt-an-Esplanade Program - The City may accept the donation of esplanade irrigation systems that meet certain specifications. This effort is designed to manage the water consumption and maintenance of irrigation systems. For more information visit the. Houston Parks and Recreation Department's Adopt an Esplanade page.
Sponsors and Partnerships - We thank the directors and administrators of the following organizations for supporting The WaterWorks Museum + Education Center. The residents and waterways of the Texas Gulf Coast will reap the benefits of your commitment for generations to come.
Some of these include:
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