After a survey showed that fewer than half of Mesa Consolidated Water District’s customers knew the independent utility was their water provider, the utility’s leaders decided in 2009 to step up communications. Their decision was rewarded with the California Special District Association (CSDA) 2011 Exceptional Public Outreach award for large districts.Mesa Water is a special district with more than 110,000 customers in suburban Orange County. The 18-square-mile district serves most of the City of Costa Mesa, parts of Newport Beach, and some unincorporated areas, including John Wayne Airport.Mesa Water is governed by an elected five-member board of directors. Still the
