SANTA ANA JAZZES UP WATER QUALITY REPORT WITH A STYLIZED CALENDAR

The EPA requires community water systems to deliver annual drinking water quality reports to customers each year. The City of Santa Ana Public Works Department wanted to enhance the black & white typewritten report it used in the past to promote readership and increase the report’s consumer appeal in an innovative way.

Straightline Communications created a 4-color, pictorial calendar using stylized photographs of the City’s landmarks and developed the tagline “We are the stewards of Santa Ana’s infrastructure” to reinforce the important role of the Public Works Department in protecting the City’s resources. Paying close attention to Santa Ana’s large Spanish speaking population, the bi-lingual calendar presented the EPA mandated information, which included charts and technical data in a consumer-friendly format. It also offered water conservation and energy efficiency tips as well as highlighted the City’s many public works programs, resources, and services.

The City of Santa Ana extended the value of the consumer confidence (water quality) report by providing an educational piece and useful reference tool that resident access throughout the year. The 2008 City of Santa Ana Public Works calendar has also served as a positive community outreach and public relations piece for the City.