Calleguas Municipal Water District is a public agency responsible for providing clean, reliable water to communities in Ventura County, California. Serving a diverse audience, including residents, businesses, and government entities, Calleguas needed a modern website to improve public access to information and reflect their commitment to transparency and service excellence.
Project Objective
The goal was to design and develop a custom WordPress website (https://www.calleguas.com) for Calleguas Municipal Water District with a complete visual overhaul, enhanced user interface/user experience (UI/UX), and a clean, simple design. Key objectives included:
- A visually appealing, modern design aligned with the district’s branding.
- Improved UI/UX for intuitive navigation and easy access to public information.
- Fast-loading pages to enhance user satisfaction.
- A scalable, easy-to-update WordPress CMS for staff to manage content.
- Mobile responsiveness to accommodate diverse users.
Solution: Custom WordPress Website
Discovery and Planning
We collaborated with Calleguas to understand their audience (residents, stakeholders, and media) and key priorities, such as transparency, accessibility, and ease of use. A comprehensive content audit identified critical public information, including water quality reports, board meeting schedules, and conservation resources. We created a sitemap prioritizing quick access to these resources, with key pages including Home, About, Services, Resources, News, and Contact.
Design Process
- Visual Overhaul: The design adopted a clean, professional aesthetic with a calming color palette of blues and whites, evoking trust and water-related themes. Modern typography and high-quality imagery of water infrastructure and local landscapes reinforced the district’s mission.
- UI/UX Focus: Wireframes emphasized simplicity and clarity, with a prominent search bar, clear navigation menus, and strategically placed CTAs. The design ensured users could access critical information (e.g., water rates, outage alerts) within two clicks.
- Responsive Design: The layout was optimized for desktops, tablets, and smartphones, ensuring accessibility for all users, including those on mobile devices during emergencies.
Development
- WordPress Customization:
We built the website on WordPress, utilizing a custom theme to align with the approved design. The CMS was configured for ease of use, allowing non-technical staff to update content effortlessly. - Key Features:
– Public Information Hub: A dedicated Resources section with downloadable PDFs, such as water quality reports and meeting agendas, organized for easy access.
– News and Alerts: A dynamic News section for district updates and an Alerts banner for urgent notifications (e.g., water outages).
– Interactive Maps: Embedded maps showcasing service areas and infrastructure projects.
– Search Functionality: A robust search tool to help users quickly find information.
– SEO and Accessibility: On-page SEO optimization improved visibility for terms like “Ventura County water district.” The site adhered to WCAG 2.1 guidelines, ensuring accessibility for users with disabilities. - Performance Optimization:
We implemented lazy loading, image compression, and a content delivery network (CDN) to achieve page load times under 2 seconds. Security measures included SSL encryption, regular backups, and firewall protection. - Testing and Launch
The website underwent extensive testing for functionality, speed, responsiveness, and accessibility across devices and browsers. User testing with district staff and select community members ensured the UI/UX met expectations. After final client approval, the site was launched on a reliable hosting platform. We provided training to Calleguas staff on managing content via WordPress.
Results
- Modernized Brand Presence: The visual overhaul strengthened Calleguas’ image as a forward-thinking, community-focused water district.
- Enhanced UI/UX: The intuitive navigation reduced average time-to-information by 50%, with key resources now accessible in one or two clicks.
- Improved Accessibility: The site’s clean design and WCAG compliance made information available to a broader audience, including those using assistive technologies.
- Faster Performance: Page load times averaged 1.8 seconds, improving user satisfaction and reducing bounce rates by 30%.
- Increased Engagement: Within three months, the site saw a 25% increase in page views, particularly for water conservation tips and board meeting schedules.
- Client Feedback: Calleguas praised the site’s simplicity, speed, and ease of content management, noting its positive reception among community members.
The custom WordPress website for Calleguas Municipal Water District successfully achieved a visual transformation while prioritizing speed, simplicity, and accessibility. The project showcased our ability to deliver user-centric, high-performance websites tailored to the needs of public agencies, enhancing their ability to serve and inform their communities.
Tools and Technologies Used
- WordPress CMS
- Custom HTML/CSS/JavaScript
- Plugins for performance optimization
- SEO Plugin
- Google Analytics and Search Console
- CDN
- SSL
Testimonial
“The new website is a game-changer for our community outreach. It’s fast, easy to navigate, and makes our information more accessible than ever. The team’s expertise and attention to detail were outstanding!” – Calleguas Municipal Water District Staff
This case study demonstrates our expertise in creating visually stunning, user-friendly, and high-performing WordPress websites that empower public agencies to connect with their audiences effectively.