D.C. Hires Edelman to Handle Water Crisis PR

The District of Columbia's water authority plans to pay public relations experts $100,000 to address worries over the lead found in some of D.C.'s tap water. The money would be spent to conduct what's being called "crisis communications."

An executive with the Edelman firm, Eric Hoffman, told The Washington Post that his company will help open communications channels "so residents get the information they need and want." The contract with Edelman will run through September.

Officials first discovered excessive lead levels in the drinking water of some homes in 2002. More widespread problems were uncovered last year.

The Environmental Protection Agency ruled this month that D.C.'s Water And Sewer Authority violated federal regulations in several ways, including some that addressed public information.

Source: The Associated Press