WEWJA Receives PMAA Community Engagement Award

The Washington-East Washington Joint Authority (WEWJA) is proud to announce that it has been recognized with a 2026 Community Engagement Award from the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association (PMAA).

The award recognizes municipal authorities that demonstrate excellence in communicating with customers, sharing the value of public services, and fostering meaningful community engagement. PMAA's Community Engagement Award honors organizations that go above and beyond to connect with residents through innovative outreach, transparency, and effective communication.

WEWJA received the award during the PMAA Annual Conference and Trade Show on September 14, 2026, where Executive Director Robert Herring accepted the recognition on behalf of the Authority.

The award was presented for WEWJA's website modernization and public outreach initiative, which was launched in early 2026 and served as the first phase of a broader communications strategy. The project focused on improving transparency, accessibility, and customer service by creating a centralized, user-friendly source of information for residents, businesses, developers, and other stakeholders.

Prior to the redesign, WEWJA conducted a comprehensive review of its communications efforts and identified opportunities to better serve customers online. Working with Boeh Agency, the Authority developed a modern website built around customer needs, improved navigation, search functionality, and plain-language content designed to help users quickly find information and understand the services provided by WEWJA.

The project also established a foundation for future community engagement efforts, including customer education initiatives, capital project updates, rate communications, and other outreach programs. Early results demonstrated increased user engagement and improved search visibility, helping more residents connect with the information they need.

The recognition reflects the dedication of WEWJA staff, Board members, and project partners who contributed to the initiative. More importantly, it underscores the Authority's commitment to providing clear, transparent, and accessible information to the communities it serves.

"We are honored to receive this recognition from our industry peers," said Robert Herring, Executive Director of WEWJA. "Our goal has always been to serve our customers responsibly and provide the information they need to better understand their wastewater system, the services we provide, and the investments necessary to protect public health and the environment. This award validates the importance of that commitment."

WEWJA extends its appreciation to PMAA for this recognition and remains committed to continuing its efforts to improve communication, transparency, and customer engagement throughout the Greater Washington area.