Information Campaign to Encourage the Citizens to Drink Tap Water
Bottled water is the preferred choice of Hong Kong citizens when it comes to drinking water. Tap water is practically free in Hong Kong and the government makes sure that it matches the quality of bottled water. Many people believe that bottled water have health benefits and that they are cleaner and safer. However, there are no strong evidence that will support these claims. Clark (2005) even argues that the water used for bottled water came from tap. Buying bottled water is more convenient than waiting for boiled water to cool before pouring it in to a water bottle. However, the increasing usage of bottled water have a severe impact on the environment. Plastic bottles have become the fastest-growing form of solid waste, releasing toxic chemicals and contaminants into the air and water.
Fighting the Misconceptions
One of the primary reasons why people in Hong Kong, and around the world are drinking bottled water is because they think it is safer, healthier, and cleaner than tap water. These perceptions have no strong evidence to support them. In order to encourage people to drink tap water, the government of Hong Kong needs to fight the misconceptions of people about bottled water and tap water. Consumers also associate blotted water with social status and healthy living. Their perceptions trump their objectivity, because even some people who claim to have switched to bottled water because of the taste cannot tell the difference between tap water and bottled water (Howard 2003).
Tap Water
There are some arguments that tap water adheres to stricter purity standards than bottled water. Tap water can have a different taste because of chlorine. Yet many people cannot tell the difference between tap water and bottled water. Tap water has fluoride which is added in order to prevent tooth decay (Wanjek 2003). The government needs to address the following concerns about tap water:
1. Is It Suitable for Drinking?
Many people complain about the suitability of tap water for drinking. They complain that tap water is polluted. The government needs to inform the people that tap water is safe for drinking and that it undergoes continuous inspection. Tap water is constantly checked by the government and there are strict standards when it comes to the quality of the water. According to the Water Supplies Department and scholars the tap water in Hong Kong meets the quality standards set by the World Health Organization. The tap water in Hong Kong can be consumed directly and there is no need for boiling.
2. Color of Tap Water
Some people complain that water from the tap is sometimes yellow in color. According to Water Supplies Department this can be because of the rust in pipes. The department stresses that the amount of rust dissolved in water is trivial. In order to get rid of the rust, people are advised to turn the faucet and let the water keep running for a moment.
3. The Odor of Tap Water
Some people complain that drinking water supplied by the Water Supplies Department is occasionally contaminated by a slight odour of chlorine, making it unpleasant to drink. According to the Water Supplies Department, most people in Hong Kong live in tall buildings. It takes time for drinking water to travel from the water works through water pipes to the rooftop water tanks of buildings and further to the households. It is necessary to keep a sufficient amount of chlorine in the water to guard against bacterial growth in the delivery system and storage tanks. The chlorine in water can be removed simply by boiling the tap water.
Environmental Issues
One of the main concerns against bottled water is its negative effect on the environment. The carbon footprint of producing and transporting water, and the waste left by plastic bottles damage the environment. The 2001 World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) focused on the environmental effects of bottled production. The report estimates that 1.5 million tons of plastic are used in bottling 89 billion liters of water worldwide each year. In addition, the energy used in manufacturing plastic bottled, recycling them, and transporting them to market all drain fossil fuels and contribute to greenhouse gases (Potera 2002).
What Should the Government Do?
An information campaign is important in order for the people to make informed decisions. Communicating research findings and information about both tap water and bottled water will help in eliminating the wrong perceptions and misconceptions of the people.
Standard Definitions for Bottled Water
The first way in fighting the misperceptions about bottled water and tap water in by coming up with standard definitions for all bottled water products and set limits for approximately 50 chemicals and other contaminants that may be present in bottled water.
- Distilled Water would be bottled water that has been produced by a process of distillation – vaporizing water, then condensing it in a way that leaves it free of dissolved minerals.
- Purified Water would be water that is produced by distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis, or other suitable processes that meet the government standards.
- Spring Water would be bottled water obtained from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface, or would if it were not collected underground through a bore hole where spring emerges.
- Mineral Water would be water that comes from a source tapped at one or more bore holes or springs originating from a geologically and physically protected underground water source.
How Can the Government Promote Drinking Tap Water?
- Tap Only Policy – create a policy that tap water will be served at internal staff meetings or at public meetings whenever possible.
- Tap Water On Camera – during all media interviews and conferences ensure that a glass of water in visible and used by the speaker.
- Tap Water Pledge – encourage people who check government websites to drink tap water by adding a section to the websites that will allow individuals to take the Tap water Pledge. By volunteering to take the pledge, participants commit to drinking tap water whenever possible, and limiting use of bottled water.
- Taste Test – conduct blind taste tests in public places with tap water and popular bottled brands. The test could be judged by a celebrity and implemented at fairs, festivals and other gatherings.
- Endorsements – seek endorsements for tap water from trusted individuals and organizations such as dentists, pediatricians, nutritionists, hospitals and others.
How can the Government Lead Change?
According to Aiken and Keller (2007), in order for the change process to be successful and to make sure that the people are committed, the leader must:
1. Make the Transformation Meaningful
The commitment of the people is the most important ingredient in any transformation. The government needs to create a powerful transformation story to unlock the energy and dedication of the people. The government needs to deal with the concerns and to answer the questions of the people and let them see the future state that the government wants to achieve. The government needs to:
- Adopt a Personal Approach – the government needs to personalize the story of transformation, making sure that every individual understands the transformation initiative, the reasons behind the initiative, and the benefits that they can get from it.
- Openly Engage Others – the government must appeal to every individual through information and communication. The effects of using bottled water on the environment and the benefits of drinking tap water must be communicated to the people. The people must understand the standards and regulations that ensure the safety and quality of tap water.
2. Role Model Desired Mind-Sets and Behavior
The government, in order to ensure that the people are committed must lead by example. He must act as a role model. The leader must:
- Start Transformation within Himself – the leader must first change himself in order for him to successfully lead the transformation process. He must change his behavior, attitude, and he must align his personal objectives and goals with the transformation objectives. The government must be committed to the transformation initiative. Each department and governmental offices must take the initiative to start drinking tap water.
- Take Symbolic Action – The most effective and fastest way of communicating the transformation initiative with the people is by taking a series of symbolic acts that communicate to the people that they should behave in ways appropriate to the transformation initiative and support these types of behavior in others.
3. Build a Strong and Committed Top Team
The government must organize a team that will lead the transformation initiative. The team members must be dedicated and they must share the leader’s goals and objectives. In order to ensure that the team will be effective in leading the transformation, the leader must:
- Assess and Act – the abilities and characteristics of each team member must be assessed by the leader. The leader must also act swiftly on the result of the assessment. A team of experts and scholars when it comes to water safety and quality issues must be formed.
4. Relentlessly Pursue Impact
The government and its officials must be personally involved. They must set as an example.
Steps to be Taken
1. Analyze the Need for Change
The government must have all the evidences and information regarding the problem.
2. Create a Share Vision and Common Direction
Uniting concerned departments and government agencies behind a central vision is important to the success of the transformation (Jick and Peiperl 2003).
3. Create a Sense of Urgency
The government must create a sense of urgency and appeal to the people’s self-interests by clearly explaining the current situation and the future that it wants to achieve.
4. Support a Strong Leadership
Strong leadership is important in the transformation process. A leader must be able to sir the information campaign to the right direction.
5. Craft Implementation Plan
A well-crafted implementation plan is important. All the concerned government agencies and departments must be coordinated.
6. Communicate and Involve People
Real Communication requires a dialogue among the different change roles. By listening and responding to concerns, resistance and feedback from all levels, implementers gain a broader understanding of what the change means to different parts of the organization and how it will affect them.
Resistance to Change
One of the biggest obstacle to the success of the transformation initiative is resistance. Resistance from the people will endanger the success of the transformation. People generally resist change because of its negative consequences. Some of the perceived negative consequences of change are:
- Loss of status
- Alteration of work
- Discomfort
Symptoms of Resistance
People exhibit behaviors that can be considered as ‘symptoms’ of resistance to change. There are different causes of resistance to change. The resistant behaviors that people exhibit during the change process can be categorized into two – active resistance and passive resistance. People who actively resist change exhibit the following behaviors:
- Finding fault
- Ridiculing
- Appealing to fear
- Manipulating
People show passive resistance to change through the following behaviors:
- Agreeing verbally but not following through
- Feigning ignorance
- Withholding information
It is challenging to affect a person’s state of mind. The success of the planned change depends on the support and commitment of the people. A person’s behavior and attitude towards change is affected by his beliefs, feelings and values.
Reasons for Resisting Change
One the reasons why people resist change is because they fear that they will not be able to adapt to the change. People usually are suspicious about the unfamiliar. Another source of resistance is the person’s low tolerance of change. An individual who has a low tolerance of change resists change because he or she is not comfortable with the change in his or her lifestyle. People may understand the importance of change but may have difficulties adapting to it (Bolognese 2002). People are said to exhibit resistance to change when:
- Change is seen as superfluous or when change is perceived to worsen the current situation
- Change is seen as a threat to security, finances, status etc.
- The people are not involved in the decision-making process
- The plans for change are kept hidden from the people
- The people believe that the government’s resources are not enough to facilitate the change (Wynn 2005)
On the other hand, people will commit and support change when:
- Change is seen as an opportunity for personal gain
- Change is seen as a challenge
- The employees believe that change is necessary
- The employees are involved in the planning for change
- The change champion is highly respected
Facilitating Change through Empowerment
In order to deal with resistance organizations according to Randall (2004) need to energize, enable and empower their people. By energizing we mean creating a goal that will prompt or energize everyone in the organization. Also the management must be able to lead from the front by showing integrity and establishing trust. Enabling involves invigorating the top team by strengthening its leadership capability. In addition, in order to enable the people, the organization must build a culture of empowerment by opening the door to ideas. Moreover, the organization must also make sure that the employees understand the change process and reasons behind it. In order to effectively influence people, the government must create a shared vision and common direction. Empowerment is very important. The government must make sure that everyone is informed and educated about the change initiative.
References
Aiken, C B and Keller, S P 2007, ‘The CEO’s Role in Leading Transformation’,
Management Quarterly, pp. 30 – 39.
Bolognese, A F 2002, Employee Resistance to Organizational Change, New Foundations, viewed 31 July, 2008, <http://www.newfoundations.com/OrgTheory/Bolognese721.html>.
Clarke, T 2005, Inside the Bottle: An Expose of the Bottled Water Industry, Polaris Institute, viewed 01 August, 2008, <www.polarisinstitute.org>.
Howard, B 2003, Message in a Bottle: Despite the Hype, Bottled Water Is Neither Cleaner nor Greener Than Tap Water, E. Volume, 26+.
Jick, T D and Peiperl, M A 2003, Managing Change: Cases and Concepts, McGraw Hill, New York.
Potera, C 2002, The Price of Bottled Water, Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 110, no. 2, 76+.
Randall, J 2004, Managing Change, Changing Managers, Routledge, New York.
Sims, R 2002, Managing Organizational Behavior, Quorum Books, Westport, CT.
Wanjek, C 2003, Bad Medicine: Misconceptions and Misuses Revealed, from Distance Healing to Vitamin O, Wiley, New York.
Wynn, G 2005, Managing Resistance to Change, Change Management, viewed 31 July, 2008, <http://managingchange.biz/manage_change_resistance.html>.
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