Our History

How It All Began…

H2O Hero emerged as a public awareness campaign in response to growing concerns about our local water quality. The Water Education Collaborative (WEC) and representatives from Monroe County deployed a community survey that revealed a widespread lack of awareness about the conditions and behaviors that impact water quality, and the simple, everyday actions residents could take to protect their water resources.

WEC engaged Causewave Community Partners (then the Ad Council of Rochester) to develop a public media campaign that would build awareness and inspire the kind of behavioral change that would lead to cleaner water. Since its launch in 2006, H2O Hero has been uniting partners, educating the community, empowering action, and fostering a shared sense of responsibility for the health of our waterways.