# Presentation: 716439

## Reporting and Public Notification Regarding Sewage Overflows or Bypasses in Maryland

- Testimony to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and EnvironmentRegarding The Raw Sewage Overflow Community Right to Know ActOctober 16, 2007
- Robert M. Summers, Ph.D., Deputy Secretary
- Maryland Department of the Environment

**Notes:**
Frequently, presenters must deliver material of a technical nature to an audience unfamiliar with the topic or vocabulary.  The material may be complex or heavy with detail.  To present technical material effectively, use the following guidelines from Dale Carnegie Training®.

Consider the amount of time available and prepare to organize your material.  Narrow your topic.  Divide your presentation into clear segments. Follow a logical progression. Maintain your focus throughout. Close the presentation with a summary, repetition of the key steps, or a logical conclusion.

Keep your audience in mind at all times.  For example, be sure data is clear and information is relevant.  Keep the level of detail and vocabulary appropriate for the audience.  Use visuals to support key points or steps.  Keep alert to the needs of your listeners, and you will have a more receptive audience.

## Sewage overflows are a significant public health and environmental concern

- Pathogens (viruses, bacteria, protozoans)
- Suspended solids
- Oxygen demanding substances
- Nutrients
- Toxic constituents
- Floatable materials

**Notes:**
In your opening, establish the relevancy of the topic to the audience.  Give a brief preview of the presentation and establish value for the listeners.  Take into account your audience’s interest and expertise in the topic when choosing your vocabulary, examples, and illustrations.  Focus on the importance of the topic to your audience, and  you will have more attentive listeners.

## Significant impacts on receiving waters

- Contamination of drinking water supplies
- Closure to fishing and swimming
- Fish kills
- Water quality degradation
- Ancillary degradation of parks, playgrounds, and other public use areas near affected streams

**Notes:**
In your opening, establish the relevancy of the topic to the audience.  Give a brief preview of the presentation and establish value for the listeners.  Take into account your audience’s interest and expertise in the topic when choosing your vocabulary, examples, and illustrations.  Focus on the importance of the topic to your audience, and  you will have more attentive listeners.

## Benefits of reporting and public notification

- Advisories protect the public from contact with impaired waters.
- Ensures that local health officials are aware of potential  public health impacts
- Decreases inquiries from the media and public
- Builds public support for infrastructure improvements
- Increases the likelihood of timely response by owners
- Improves analysis of overflow impacts (root cause, water quality assessments, capital cost benefit)

**Notes:**
In your opening, establish the relevancy of the topic to the audience.  Give a brief preview of the presentation and establish value for the listeners.  Take into account your audience’s interest and expertise in the topic when choosing your vocabulary, examples, and illustrations.  Focus on the importance of the topic to your audience, and  you will have more attentive listeners.

## Maryland’s Actions

- Initiation of reporting requirements, in cooperation with local health departments and public works officials (October, 2000)
- Governor’s Task Force on Upgrading Sewerage Systems (December, 2000)
- Cost and financing of necessary repairs
- Public education
- Maryland legislation (April, 2001)
- Reporting and public notification requirement

**Notes:**
In your opening, establish the relevancy of the topic to the audience.  Give a brief preview of the presentation and establish value for the listeners.  Take into account your audience’s interest and expertise in the topic when choosing your vocabulary, examples, and illustrations.  Focus on the importance of the topic to your audience, and  you will have more attentive listeners.

## Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs)Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs)

- Since initiation of record keeping in 2001, total of 11,120 spill reports estimated at 2.7 billion gallons spilled
- 1.9 billion gallons of CSO
- 0.8 billion gallons of SSO
- Average of approximately 381 million gallons per year
- 270 million gallons of CSO
- 114 million gallons of SSO

**Notes:**
In your opening, establish the relevancy of the topic to the audience.  Give a brief preview of the presentation and establish value for the listeners.  Take into account your audience’s interest and expertise in the topic when choosing your vocabulary, examples, and illustrations.  Focus on the importance of the topic to your audience, and  you will have more attentive listeners.

## Slide 7

**Notes:**
In your opening, establish the relevancy of the topic to the audience.  Give a brief preview of the presentation and establish value for the listeners.  Take into account your audience’s interest and expertise in the topic when choosing your vocabulary, examples, and illustrations.  Focus on the importance of the topic to your audience, and  you will have more attentive listeners.

## Slide 8

**Notes:**
In your opening, establish the relevancy of the topic to the audience.  Give a brief preview of the presentation and establish value for the listeners.  Take into account your audience’s interest and expertise in the topic when choosing your vocabulary, examples, and illustrations.  Focus on the importance of the topic to your audience, and  you will have more attentive listeners.

## 1800 Washington Boulevard  |  Baltimore, MD 21230-1718410-537-3000  |  TTY Users: 1-800-735-2258www.mde.state.md.us

**Maryland Department of the Environment**

- http://www.mde.state.md.us/Programs/WaterPrograms/cso_sso.asp

- CSO/SSO Spill reports available online at:

**Notes:**
Determine the best close for your audience and your presentation.  Close with a summary; offer options; recommend a strategy; suggest a plan; set a goal.  Keep your focus throughout your presentation, and you will more likely achieve your purpose.