SFWMD Launches Modern, Accessible, User Friendly Site with Drupal 8

South Florida Water Management District

SFWMD Drupal 8 ADA accessiblity screen shot

Client Info

The South Florida Water Management District is a regional governmental agency that manages the water resources in the southern half of the state, covering 16 counties from Orlando to the Florida Keys and serving 8.1 million residents. It is the oldest and largest of the state’s water management districts.

Created in 1949, the agency is responsible for managing and protecting the water resources of South Florida by balancing and improving water supply, water quality, and natural systems.

Their hard-coded pages were difficult to update, and they required a more robust content management system that could handle large amounts of information while being easy for non-technical staff to use.

Industry

Waste and Water

Top challenge

• The site needed to be migrated to Drupal 8 to improve stability and performance for its many visitors.

• A primary objective was to redesign the site to achieve a more modern, user-friendly look that would enhance the overall user experience for the district’s diverse audience.

• Improving usability for site administrators was essential, as SFWMD needed a content management platform that allowed non-technical users to update information without relying on developers or custom coding.

• SFWMD aimed to improve the cost-effectiveness of their site management by reducing the reliance on custom code and prioritizing the use of standard Drupal modules wherever possible.

• As a government entity, SFWMD needed to meet Section 508 compliance standards to ensure accessibility for users with disabilities.

• SFWMD sought to achieve Level AA conformance for accessibility, a high standard that demonstrates a commitment to providing a fully inclusive experience for all users.

• The project demanded an expedited timeline, presenting a challenge to the development team to meet the deadlines for the design, functionality, and testing phases.

• Given the nature of SFWMD’s responsibilities, the site required functionality for real-time data display.

• SFWMD needed to add an interactive events calendar to inform the public about upcoming meetings and initiatives, enhancing transparency and community engagement.

Top solution

• We addressed accessibility requirements by fully integrating Section 508 standards into the Drupal 8 development process, ensuring that accessibility was a fundamental aspect of the site’s structure and content.

• By implementing ADA Section 508 standards, SFWMD achieved full compliance, enabling access for users with a wide range of disabilities and ensuring regulatory adherence.

• To reduce development time and ensure a stable build, we used Acquia Lightning and BLT, which facilitated efficient development workflows and reliable source code control.

• We implemented ongoing testing and support to monitor performance, manage updates, and address any issues proactively, providing SFWMD with a robust, sustainable solution.

• We implemented role-based permissions and editorial workflows, allowing SFWMD’s content editors to review and approve content without needing direct support from developers.

• The development team created a rich, user-friendly interface for page editing and media management, making it simpler for SFWMD staff to update content and keep the site current.

• The site’s usability for differently-abled users increased by 40% over the previous design, reflecting a more accessible environment aligned with SFWMD’s inclusive objectives.

South Florida Water Management District homepage

South Florida Water Management District permits

What We Did

We created a modern, accessible Drupal 8 website with a phased development approach. Instead of relying on custom code, we used proven Drupal modules and Acquia Lightning to create an efficient, maintainable platform that makes content updates simple.

South Florida Water Management District water conservation

South Florida Water Management District procurement

South Florida Water Management District science and data

Easy Content Management

Content editors can now easily update information without touching code. The new system includes workflow approvals, scheduled publishing, and simple tools for embedding media—making it easy for staff to keep information current.

South Florida Water Management District work page

Better Search and Performance

We implemented Apache Solr Search to handle the vast amount of content, including documents and PDFs. Combined with Acquia Cloud hosting, the site delivers fast, relevant results even under heavy traffic.

Improved Accessibility

The site now meets Section 508 and WCAG 2.0 AA compliance standards, making it accessible to all users. We saw a 40% increase in usability for people using assistive technologies, ensuring everyone can access critical water management information.

The Result

The new site successfully handles the district's large content needs while being significantly easier to maintain. Both staff and residents benefit from faster performance, better search capabilities, and improved navigation to frequently accessed features like permits and water data.

Platform Development

Drupal 8 implementation
Acquia Lightning setup
Performance optimization

Content Management

Editorial workflows
Media handling tools
Scheduled publishing

Search & Analytics

Apache Solr integration
Google Analytics setup
Real-time data display

Accessibility & Testing

Section 508 compliance
WCAG 2.0 AA standards
Ongoing testing support

Let’s start your project

Need to handle complex content? Let's explore how we can help you build a website that makes managing large amounts of information easier while improving access for your entire community.

Have a project in mind? Fill out the form above, and we'll be in touch to discuss how we can help you succeed.

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