OREANDA-NEWS. October 19, 2012. Vodokanal St. Petersburg presented its experience in working with social media at EFQM-2012 Forum (European Foundation for Quality Management) that was held 9-10 October in Brussels (Belgium).

European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) is a non-profit organization, established in 1998 with the support of the European Organization for Quality and the EU Commission to enhance the competitiveness of the European economy through dissemination of new approaches to management, to encourage the learning of the management basics and to create opportunities for the recognition of achievements in this area. The EFQM members number over 800 companies in different European countries, their staff totaling several million employees.

In 2011, Vodokanal St. Petersburg became a finalist for the prestigious award of the European Foundation for Quality Management – Excellence Award 2011. SUE ‘Vodokanal of St. Petersburg” is the first European water company to achieve such a result.

And in 2012, Vodokanal St. Petersburg has won the best practice competition in creative use of social media organized by the EFQM. The competition is a part of the EFQM programme comprising recognition of the leading organizations and the sharing of best practices.

At the competition, Vodokanal St. Petersburg presented its experience of using social media - the Da-Voda Internet portal (www.da-voda.com) to disseminate the ideas of careful attitude to natural resources.

This portal is a social project of Vodokanal St. Petersburg implemented in cooperation with its partner – public relations agency “2PR”. Vodokanal uses different awareness-raising instruments, such as the Youth Environmental Centre (it will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2012), The Universe of Water museum complex, media relations... With the Da-Voda Internet Portal in operation since 2010, Vodokanal could involve a new audience – active Internet users - in the activities aimed at the creation of water consumption culture.

The portal has its own main character - the Neva Crayfish. Using this personage the website explains why more and more people stop wasting water; what technical means are available to save water without impairing the quality of life; how to save water-related domestic problems; and what thoughtless attitude to water might lead to.

The Neva Crayfish’s efforts are supported by the website guests – popular actors, composers and film directors. Using a video-lesson format, the Neva Crayfish tells how to install a water meter in your flat and take readings properly, how to check water quality, etc.

Today, the Neva Crayfish has his accounts in the social networking sites, such as VKontakte, Facebook and Twitter, where the website’s main character converses in Russian and English.