“TAPP”
We at Florida Rural Water Association are working hard to help you keep your sources of water in good quality. The TAPP media campaign is one way to accomplish Source Water Protection. The “Think About Personal Pollution” (TAPP) campaign originated with the City of Tallahassee, and we (FRWA) are working to implement this message throughout the entire state. What is TAPP? The TAPP campaign helps educate individuals on ways that small personal changes in home and yard practices can help keep local lakes, streams, sinks and ultimately your drinking water clean. The campaign is here to help residents understand their impact on water quality and to encourage them to take action by adopting some slightly different approaches to things they do every day. Because “Every Drop You Lose Nature Finds”!
The campaign started on July 30, 2007 and will end October 29, 2007 for the Panama City viewing area. Media consists of a creative billboard strategically located in different sites along with local television, cable and radio commercials. This campaign is funded through federal and state monies at no cost to you; however we are expecting this campaign to raise questions (phone calls) on how and what practices can be made to reduce personal pollution. The campaign suggests folks contact their local utility and gives you credit for the campaign.
Printed educational materials to assist you are located on this page. FRWA has developed five (5) different brochures: Source Water Protection, Good Housekeeping Practices, Tips to a Water Friendly Yard, Septic System Care, and Rain Gardens (City of Tallahassee creation). These brochures can be personalized for your system. The City of Tallahassee has developed a magnificent site (www.tappwater.org) that is loaded with information and practical implementation methods. Though this site is tailored for the Tallahassee area the “What Can I Do” page (http://www.tappwater.org/whatcanido.aspx) is generic and the information and methods found there will benefit anyone. If your system is interested in the billboard creative, radio or television commercials please contact Annette Rudlaff at the Tallahassee office. Your local networks may even be willing to run these ads as Public Service Announcements. Funding is also available to assist you in Source Water Protection efforts through FRWA.
The Florida Rural Water Association (FRWA) oversees the SWAPP Small Grants Program in all areas of the state. The Source Water Specialist administers and manages the program. All public drinking water supply systems or government entities having a completed Wellhead (utilizing the FRWA five step program) or Source Water Protection Plan and an approved proposal are eligible for funding. Funding recipients will be eligible for grants up to and not exceeding $10,000. Funds may be requested all at once or as needed as long as funds are available. Funds will be reimbursed as invoices are received. Once the funding limit is reached, no more funds will be administered to that system or community. First come, first serve, as monies are limited. To learn more about this program please view the brochure on SWAPP Small Grant Program located on this page as well.
If you need any assistance with Source Water Protection implementation methods or the TAPP campaign please contact Annette Rudlaff Florida Rural Water Association Source Water Protection Specialist at 850-668-2746 (Tallahassee area) 800-872-8207 (toll free) email Annette.Rudlaff@frwa.net