On behalf of Chester Water Authority (CWA), its Board of Directors, employees, and ratepayers, CWA recently announced that the recipients of the 2026 Public Water Warrior Award are Chester County Commissioners Josh Maxwell, Marian Moskowitz, and Eric Roe, and State Representatives Bryan Cutler and John Lawrence. The award recipients were formally recognized during the CWA Board of Directors meeting on Feb. 19.

The Public Water Warrior Award honors elected officials and others whose leadership, advocacy, and public service exemplify an unwavering commitment to protecting public water, ensuring affordability, and defending the interests of Pennsylvania residents.

At the time of the announcement, CWA extended its profound appreciation to Chester County Commissioners Josh Maxwell, Marian Moscowitz and Eric Roe for their extraordinary partnership throughout every phase of litigation. Chester County’s attorneys appeared alongside CWA in arguments before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, as well as in related Commonwealth Court and federal bankruptcy proceedings. Their participation demonstrated the county’s clear and vested interest in defending public utility ownership.

Beyond legal advocacy, the County Commissioners provided consistent public support, issued statements defending CWA’s mission, and formally recognized the Authority’s excellence in delivering clean, safe, award-winning water. No other group of elected officials within CWA’s service region provided such sustained, hands-on support — at times sharing in the legal and financial burdens necessary to defend public ownership. CWA’s ratepayers deserve to know that without the Commissioners’ continuous and tireless backing, CWA’s future could have been very different.

State Representatives Bryan Cutler and John Lawrence filed an amicus curiae brief before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court addressing the legal questions surrounding the attempt to seize or sell CWA assets. The brief argued that neither the City of Chester nor outside parties had unilateral authority to take such action, a position that was later reflected in the court’s ruling.

The two State Representatives’ involvement positively supported CWA’s position regarding its independence and the interests of the communities it serves. Representatives Cutler and Lawrence were the only two state elected officials to submit this type of filing during this stage of the litigation. CWA recognized that their participation gave ratepayers a much brighter future. 

While CWA’s legal battle has seen significant developments, the broader effort to protect public water ownership continues. Because of this, CWA’s mission remains clear—to deliver award-winning, affordable, high-quality water to the more than 200,000 residents and businesses across its service region. Like this year’s honorees, CWA is dedicated to the public good and to protecting essential infrastructure from monetization or privatization efforts that could jeopardize affordability and local control.

The 2026 Public Water Warrior Award is a testament to the courage and resolve shown by these leaders in standing up to powerful corporate and lobbying interests in defense of Pennsylvania’s citizens.

“This award is a small token of our deep and sincere appreciation,” said Noël Brandon, the CWA board chair. “We are proud to recognize these officials as true Public Water Warriors and urge them to continue standing with ratepayers and the public in the ongoing effort to protect public water for generations to come.”

For more information about the Chester Water Authority and its mission, please visit chesterwater.com.