Water Filter Education: Customize Your Handouts

Educational resources to help community members properly use and maintain water filters

EPA and its collaborators have developed water filter education materials based on community feedback and lessons learned through its research partnership. These materials are designed to assist community members in learning more about reducing their risk from lead, choosing a water filter, installing a water filter, and maintaining their water filter.

Organizations can tailor these educational materials to a specific audience and/or local context using two options:

• Customize text fields with content-specific information and branding in the ready-to-use handouts
• Fully customize content by using the blank templates included with each handout

Additional resources are provided to assist organizations in building these templates, including a Microsoft Word document that contains text from the ready-to-use handouts. This text can be modified to suit the organization's needs and copied over to the template. Further instructions are highlighted in the margins of the PowerPoint document.

Organizations can also access the ready-to-use Educational Handouts rather than customizing their own. Learn more about this research effort and access the full Toolkit.

 Remember to do a 508 accessibility check on your final pdf.

Instructions and Resources

The  PowerPoint Document (pptx) (1.92 MB) provides more information on each template and guides organizations on how they can be customized. The customizable text fields are optional and can be removed. For additional guidance, please refer to the "Water Filter Education Handouts - Handout Instructions and Resources" section of the Toolkit. When the handouts are finalized, print to PDF so that it can be shared with the community.

The  Handout Script (docx) (58.41 KB)  document includes text from all of the handouts that can be copied and pasted to build your own handouts, using accompanying content, for an even higher level of customization.

Customizable Handout Templates

Organizations can customize the content of the water filter education handouts to fit their needs. Each handout below includes sections to suggest areas where custom content may be added. Multiple templates are included (including blank templates), allowing different levels of customization.

Custom Handout:  Reduce Your Risk From Lead Using Water Filters (pdf) (1.76 MB)

This handout introduces how certified water filters can be an immediate, highly effective step to take to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. It highlights basic information and key considerations to increase general awareness of water filters. The subsequent handouts dive deeper into the topics introduced here.

Custom Handout:  Choose the Water Filter That's Right For You! (Two-Page Version) (pdf) (2.63 MB) (two-page version)
Custom Handout:  Choose the Water Filter That's Right For You! (Four-page Version) (pdf) (1.5 MB)  (May be useful for organizations distributing specific filter model(s)).

This handout is focused on helping people choose the right filter for their needs and their household. However, giving specific guidance can be challenging for the very reason people want help - there are many variables to consider, and the answer often depends on the specific filter. This handout tries to balance providing concrete instruction with general guidance.

Custom Handout:  Learn How to Install Your Water Filter (pdf) (1.04 MB)

Every type of filter and their various makes and models are unique. As such, the manufacturer's instructions are the ultimate authority on installation. For that reason, rather than a 'how-to', this handout is meant to be a compliment to any manufacturer's guidance. Its intention is to highlight why proper installation matters, reinforce the importance of following the manufacturer's instructions, and provide general guidance so people have a sense of what is required upfront.

Custom Handout:  Learn How to Maintain Your Water Filter (pdf) (2.61 MB)

Learning to use and maintain filters effectively doesn't happen all at once. And while the learning curve gets smaller, it doesn't go away. From remembering how to change the filter cartridge to troubleshooting issues, effective filter use often involves a process of learning and relearning. Helping people establish good water filter hygiene habits from the start and providing frequent reminders can help support this learning journey. This handout emphasizes the most critical behaviors people need to adopt to keep their water filter working well and ensure maximum protection from lead.