The Consolidated Mutual Water Company is committed to providing a fully accessible website experience for all users of all abilities, including those who rely on assistive technologies like screen readers, screen enlargement software, and alternative keyboard input devices to navigate the web.

Ongoing Efforts to Ensure Accessibility

We follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1 as our guiding principle for determining accessibility. These are internationally agreed-upon standards that cover a wide range of recommendations and best practices for making content useable. As we add new pages and functionality to our website, all designs, code, and content entry practices are checked against these standards.

Website accessibility is an ongoing process. We continually test content and features for WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance and remediate any issues to ensure we meet or exceed the standards. Testing of our website is performed by our team members using industry-standard tools such as axe DevTools, color contrast analyzers, and keyboard-only navigation techniques.

Accessibility Features On Our Website

The following is a list of items we have included in our website to improve its accessibility:

  • Keyboard Navigation: The website can be navigated using a keyboard, ensuring that all interactive elements are accessible via keyboard shortcuts.
  • Screen Reader Compatibility: The website is compatible with screen readers, providing appropriate ARIA labels and roles to ensure content is read correctly.
  • Alternative Text for Images: All images have descriptive alternative text to convey information to users who cannot see them.
  • Captions and Transcripts: Videos on the website include captions and transcripts for users who are deaf or hard of hearing.
  • High Contrast Mode: A high contrast mode is available for users with visual impairments, making text easier to read against backgrounds.
  • Resizable Text: Text on the website can be resized without loss of content or functionality, helping users with low vision.
  • Skip Navigation Links: Skip navigation links are provided to allow users to bypass repetitive content and quickly navigate to the main content of the page.
  • Consistent Navigation: Navigation is consistent across the website, helping users easily find information and predict the location of content.
  • Form Labels and Instructions: All form fields have clear labels and instructions to assist users in completing forms accurately.
  • Accessible PDFs: All downloadable PDFs are accessible, with proper tagging for headings, lists, and other structural elements.
  • Color Contrast: The color contrast between text and background meets WCAG guidelines to ensure readability for users with color vision deficiencies.
  • Responsive Design: The website is designed to be responsive, ensuring accessibility on a variety of devices, including mobile phones and tablets.
  • Error Identification and Suggestions: Forms provide clear error messages and suggestions for correcting input errors.
  • Accessible Menus: Drop-down menus and other navigation elements are accessible via keyboard and screen readers.
  • Descriptive Link Text: Links have descriptive text to inform users of their purpose, rather than using generic terms like “click here.”
  • Adjustable Time Limits: Users can adjust or extend time limits on time-sensitive content or interactions.
  • Focus Indicators: Interactive elements such as links and buttons have visible focus indicators to help users navigate the site.
  • Text Alternatives for Multimedia: Text alternatives are provided for multimedia content, such as descriptions for video and audio files.
  • ARIA Landmarks: ARIA landmarks are used to define regions of the page to assist screen reader users in navigating the content.
  • No Flashing Content: The website avoids flashing content or uses a mechanism to control flashing to prevent triggering seizures in users with photosensitivity.

This is part of our broader effort to make everyone’s experience at The Consolidated Mutual Water Company a welcoming and enjoyable one. Please note that while we make every effort to provide information accessible for all users, we cannot guarantee the accessibility of third party websites to which we may link.

Accessibility Support Contact

We welcome comments, questions, and feedback on our website. If you are using assistive technologies and are having difficulty using our website, please email Info@CMWC.net or give us a call at (303) 238-0451. We will do our best to assist you and resolve issues.