Education is key to helping stakeholders understand how water gets to consumers and creating water advocates for the future. The City of Waco, Texas partnered with staff from Baylor University to develop and host “Wading Through Waco Waters,” a community tour that explains and showcases this process.
The tour follows the journey of a water drop—from the dam where water enters the reservoir to the wastewater plant where the water returns to the river. Participants learn about the science, planning and hard work involved in producing their high-quality drinking water.
The Community Science Team offered tours of the Waco Water Utility Services facilities to the public on August 9, 2024 and October 12, 2024. Participants received first-hand knowledge about the processes and efforts that contribute to high-quality drinking water and safe wastewater practices. This educational and practical program will result in a higher valuation of water and wastewater treatment and create a base of consumer-advocates in times of both adversity and prosperity.
All Waco Communities have been included in this project from the Beta testing to the roll out of the community tour, Wading Through Waco Waters. The participants in our tours were impacted by experiencing the community science that takes place as our public water moves through the systems to make it to our homes. Communities learned how this is done, who does it and how it impacts their day-to-day lives. These physical field trips are to be offered throughout the year for community groups and individuals. Photos and videos were produced so that the tour might be offered virtually in the future.
A similar tour has been presented to students, partner organizations, utility employees and elected officials in the past. On the Wading Through Waco Waters tour, participants visited several water facilities with guidance from utilities staff. The scientists involved will share their expertise, through guided talks and hands-on tours, so that participants walk away with a more thorough understanding of the process, and a higher appreciation of one of our community’s most valuable shared resources.
The Wading Through Waco Waters tour was offered on two dates during the fall of year and were dependent upon the availability of the scientists and participant availability feedback. Each tour took about half a day. Transportation was provided for all participants and additional educational opportunities were presented in transit. Participants also received printed material that accompanies and complements the information in the presentations.
Dates for the tours were decided early on in this project. The beta tour was scheduled for Friday, August 9, 2024 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM hoping to gather those participants who might have flexibility in their work schedules. The community tour was scheduled for Saturday, October 12, 2024 with a similar time frame. After the beta tour was completed, participants offered feedback. The project team also reconvened to adjust the program for the community tour group. The plan is for this tour to continue indefinitely, reaching as many Waco residents as possible.
A community science aspect of the project was realized as each scientist/expert hosted a specific station, explaining the science behind the water systems that are in place and how each piece of the process is a part of the entire system. Each had a Q&A after their presentations.
Surveys were conducted for community participants through a Qualtrics survey that was produced for a quick Before the Tour survey (what do they already know?, how their communities are affected?, etc.) and another quick After the Tour survey. There was a QR code provided that can be downloaded to the participant’s phone. Prizes were available for those answering the most questions correctly. Surveys were also given to our scientists/experts with a separate Qualtrics survey for their impressions of how the community responded to the science that was presented, changes that they may suggest to the educational features of the tour, etc.)
Our project team communicated well throughout the entire process. Our TEX fellow served as project manager, sending meeting times, arranging information, staying on track, purchasing items for project, and general communications needs. Our community leads were very agreeable and understood their role in the project as connectors and facilitators of this community science project. During all meetings, the key players respected each other, their views, and what they all brought to the project.
Expectations were established early in the process. All parties understood the timelines and goals for the project and worked together collaboratively to achieve the project objectives. When the welcomed, but overly saturated rainy areas around Lake Waco Wetlands gave reason to reschedule the beta tour, the planning was easily reconfigured to fit into a new date. Everyone involved were eager to do their part of the project with an eye toward educating the community on climate resilience.
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. It is situated along the Brazos River and I-35, halfway between Dallas and Austin. Indigenous peoples occupied areas along the river for thousands of years. In historic times, the area of present-day Waco was occupied by the Wichita Indian tribe known as the “Waco.” We value everyone, embracing the diverse faces and facets of our city and people — offering opportunity, a voice, and a seat at the table to all. We are resourceful, and strong, harnessing the full potential of our city and people to pave the way to a bright, promising future.
Although the Brazos River is a major landmark, Lake Waco is the regional water source with the Bosque River contributing heavily to the watershed and health of the lake. The City of Waco’s Water & Utilities services an estimated population of 143,984, with an estimated 302,582 residents in the Waco metropolitan area. The racial composition includes 42.4% white, 31.7% Hispanic, and 19.4% African American with under 7% percent total for all other races.
Residential reactions from to messaging during recent periods of drought are part of the motivation to expand our water education efforts to the citizens of Waco. It became apparent that many water customers and area residents were unaware of the scope of the watershed, the water treatment process, and ways to reduce water usage without significantly adjusting their quality of life.
Nora Schell
Jessica Sellers
Cindee Millard, a native Wacoan and Baylor University graduate, works as the Public and Community
Engagement Manager at Baylor University’s Mayborn Museum Complex. Cindee has worked with numerous non-profits and enjoyed a variety of volunteer community leadership positions before she joined the museum over thirteen years ago. She received her B.B.A. and M.A. from Baylor University with a concentration in organizational communication, combining her years of non-profit expertise with academic knowledge to collaborate with community partners. Millard resides in Waco, Texas with her husband Mike. The pair enjoy time with their adult children and travelling.
The Mayborn Museum Complex celebrates the natural science and cultural history of Central Texas. This 143,000-square-foot building on the Baylor University campus sparkles with numerous exhibits, rich collections, vibrant programs, and hands-on experiences, engaging our community and inspiring life-long learning.
Waco is situated on the I-35 corridor between Dallas and Austin. The city was founded in 1849 by the Huaco Indians that lived on the land in the present-day downtown area. Waco is the county seat of McLennan County and strives to provide exemplary municipal services in a collaborative and transparent manner while honoring the public’s trust.
The City of Waco Water Utility Services Department is committed to the protection of public health and to quality management of water and wastewater services through customer service; regulatory compliance; environmental awareness, action, and management; sound fiscal management; continuous improvements of facilities, services, distribution and collection systems; extensive training programs; shared responsibility of teamwork and individual effort.
