"Our customers' health and safety is our top priority. This water infrastructure upgrade helps us continue to deliver safe, clean, and reliable water to the Oaks Hills' community," said Brenda Granillo, Salinas District Manager, of the upgrade that started in February 2025. "Meeting the everyday and emergency needs of our customers is a responsibility that we take seriously."

The infrastructure improvement is one of two groundwater well sources in the Oak Hills water system, which is part of Cal Water's Salinas District. It helps treat water by removing hexavalent chromium, a contaminant that can be found in groundwater, making it safe to drink and use. This is the first non-regenerable ion exchange system implemented by Cal Water, which means it is a single-use water treatment method where special resin is removed once its capacity for removing contaminants has been exhausted. It's located west of Oak Hills Private Tennis Courts and produces 300 gallons of water per minute. This is just one of Cal Water's efforts to continually modernize and upgrade its water system so that it continues meeting federal regulations for customers.

The post Cal Water Completes Infrastructure Upgrade in Salinas appeared first on Cal Water.

Forty-four residences struggling with failing private wells in the disadvantaged community of West Goshen now have access to safe, clean, reliable drinking water, as Cal Water completed connecting its water system to the homes. This consolidation was made possible by advocacy from community residents and funding obtained by the County of Tulare, with support by Community Water Center (CWC), from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR).

Through DWR's Small Community Drought Relief Program, CWC helped Tulare County secure $3.45 million in 2022 for the consolidation. The grant funds enabled Cal Water to extend its service and connect the 44 customers, whose private groundwater wells had gone dry or were found to contain harmful contaminants, no longer meeting California water quality standards. Cal Water had previously connected about 80 customers who were part of West Goshen Mutual Water Company to its Visalia system in 2014.

"We believe that everyone should have access to safe, clean, and reliable water, regardless of where you live," said Marty Kropelnicki, Cal Water Chairman and CEO. "We are pleased to have joined forces with Tulare County, Community Water Center, and the Department of Water Resources to make that a reality for West Goshen residents with a goal of improving their quality of life. This project is an excellent example of government, the local community, and Cal Water working together to address critical issues and improve lives."

"This project marks a transformative moment for the community. After years of advocacy and collaboration, we're proud to see clean, reliable water finally flowing into homes," said Supervisor Eddie Valero, who represents Tulare County's Fourth District, which includes Goshen. "This is what progress looks like: neighbors coming together with public and private sectors, working side-by-side for a healthier and more secure future for everyone."

The post Goshen Consolidation to Provide Safe, Clean Water appeared first on Cal Water.

"This project reflects our commitment to providing safe, clean, reliable water to our customers' homes in Visalia," said Stuart Skoglund, Interim Visalia District Manager. "Our investment in infrastructure helps us deliver safe, clean drinking water and improves emergency readiness."

The projects, which began last month, are expected to be completed in January 2026. Work is taking place on the two main replacement projects from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, in the following areas:

• On North Turner, Jacob, Stevenson, Highland, and Willis streets between West Houston and Harold avenues.
• On West Sweet and Harold avenues between North Turner Street and North Dinuba Boulevard.

Cal Water crews are making every effort to minimize traffic delays during construction.

The main replacement projects are part of Cal Water's broader commitment to proactive, ongoing maintenance and upgrades that support safe, high-quality drinking water.

The post Cal Water Begins Infrastructure Upgrades in Visalia appeared first on Cal Water.

"This project reflects our commitment to providing Chico with a dependable, high-quality water supply-today and for years to come," said Evan Markey, Chico District Manager. "These infrastructure investments strengthen our ability to meet both everyday and emergency water needs."

This single-phase project is expected to be completed by mid-December, weather permitting. Crews will work 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, on Cherry Street between West 5th Street and West 7th Street. Cal Water crews will make every effort to minimize traffic delays during construction.

The main replacement project is part of Cal Water's broader commitment to proactive, ongoing maintenance and upgrades that support safe, high-quality drinking water.

The post Cal Water Starts Infrastructure Upgrade in Chico appeared first on Cal Water.

The project replaces an aging storage tank that held 60,000 gallons of water. The new storage tank will be the sixth storage tank in Leona Valley and the 13th in Cal Water's entire Antelope Valley District. This is just one of Cal Water's efforts to continually modernize and upgrade its water system for customers.

Through its 2024 Infrastructure Improvement Plan (IIP), which is currently under review by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), Cal Water proposes to make other important upgrades in the Antelope Valley, including:

• Replacing 48,965 feet of water main to prevent failure of aging and high-risk pipelines
• Installing new treatment sites and enhancing existing facilities to expand capacity and improve water quality
• Rehabilitating existing wells to augment water supply reliability
• Identifying locations for new wells and groundwater recharge locations

These upgrades will help strengthen reliability, safety, and supply in the utility's Antelope Valley communities.

The post Infrastructure Upgrade in Antelope Valley appeared first on Cal Water.

With its 2024 cycle, Cal Water's Firefighter Grant Program surpassed the $1 million mark, providing grants to 27 local fire departments since the program started in 2019. Last year, grants ranged from $10,800 to $38,400 to fund equipment such as ballistic helmets and vests, portable radios, specialized wildland firefighting personal protective equipment, cardiac EKG monitors, mental wellness coaching, and refurbishment of training towers.

"Beyond being a water provider, we are a community partner and extend our focus beyond the water to coordinating emergency response activities and supporting our local fire departments' need for essential gear and life-saving equipment," said Martin A. Kropelnicki, Cal Water Chairman and CEO. "It has been exciting to see how these 27 fire departments have used more than $1 million in grants to help better protect their communities and be better prepared for local emergencies."

For more information about the Firefighter Grant Program or to apply, applicants can visit the Firefighter Grant Program page or email firefightergrant@calwater.com. The application period for this year's cycle will be open through 5 p.m. Pacific time on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. Cal Water plans to notify grant recipients in late fall.

To date, the following fire departments have received grants through Cal Water's Firefighter Grant Program:

• Bakersfield Fire Department
• Chico Fire Department
• Colma Fire Protection District
• Dixon Fire Department
• Kern County Fire Department
• King City Fire Department
• Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department
• Los Angeles County Fire Department
• Marysville Fire Department
• Montebello Fire Department
• Monterey County Regional Fire Protection District
• North County Fire Authority (Daly City)
• Northshore Fire Protection District
• Oroville Fire Department
• Redondo Beach Fire Department
• Redwood City Fire Department
• Russian River Fire Protection District
• Salinas Fire Department
• Selma Fire Department
• Sonoma County Fire District
• South San Francisco Fire Department
• Stockton Fire Foundation
• Sunnyvale Fire Department
• Ventura County Fire Protection District
• Visalia Fire Department
• Woodside Fire Protection District
• Willows Fire Department

The grants are part of California Water Service Group's stockholder-funded philanthropic giving program and do not affect customers' rates.

The post Cal Water Opens 2025 Firefighter Grant Program appeared first on Cal Water.

"Infrastructure improvements are not always visible, especially when crews install water main underground, but they help provide our Lucerne community with the water they need for everyday and emergency situations," said Tavis Beynon, Redwood Valley District Manager. "Proactively maintaining and upgrading our water system helps prevent small, manageable issues from escalating and becoming more expensive to fix, which helps keep water service affordable for customers."

Crews are primarily working Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with some overnight and weekend work required. Customers will be notified about any scheduled after-hours work, as needed.

Installation is taking place in the following areas:

• 14^th Avenue, between E Highway 20 and Country Club Drive
• 15^th Avenue, between E Highway 20 and Country Club Drive
• In the alleyway between 14^th Avenue and 15^th Avenue

This main replacement project is expected to be completed by the end of November, weather permitting. Crews are making every effort to minimize traffic delays during construction. Temporary asphalt will be applied until permanent paving is completed, which can be up to 30 days after project completion.

The post Cal Water Performing Infrastructure Upgrade In Lucerne appeared first on Cal Water.

As California communities face the impact of escalating wildfires, climate resiliency is more important than ever. While fires are a natural part of the ecosystem process, climate change has heightened the threat and effects of wildfires, creating longer and more extreme fire seasons. A recent study indicates that compounding effects of climate change and wildland-urban interface expansion quadruple the likelihood of extreme-impact wildfires in California.

At Cal Water, we recognize that to continue delivering safe, clean, and reliable water, we must proactively implement fire hardening measures and work with our communities to mitigate the risks of wildfires and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

To help address the factors that contribute to the spread and intensity of wildfires, we set goals to increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We are on track to achieve our target of reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 63% by 2035 from a 2021 base year, having achieved a 23.5% reduction in 2024 from our 2021 base year. Our GHG mitigation efforts included using 13% renewable energy, sourced from onsite solar, renewable diesel, and a utility green rate program.

Our efforts to address climate change risks also include infrastructure projects and upgrades intended to prevent power loss at critical facilities, protect worker safety, and increase reliability during wildfires and flood events. Additionally, we conduct annual vegetation management across our districts to reduce the risk of damage to our facilities.

To better respond to wildfire risks, we have worked to harden our systems to help continue delivering water, even in an active emergency.

• Fire-hardening infrastructure: We regularly inspect and upgrade infrastructure, installing permanent generators and positioning portable generators at key facilities to help our infrastructure continue operating if the power is shut off. We also upgrade pumps, pipes, and treatment plants to increase resiliency.
• Emergency response planning: Collaborating closely with local governments and community leaders, fire departments, and other first responders is critical-before an emergency occurs. At Cal Water, we conduct annual community trainings to coordinate and prepare for emergencies.
• Wildfire task force: Formed in 2019, our task force guides emergency preparedness and the company's efforts to harden our infrastructure. Since 2020, the team has evaluated our entire water system and identified necessary wildfire hardening projects, which led to investing $50 million in pipelines, pumps, and emergency generators.

At Cal Water, we also encourage customers to be water-wise and fire-wise every day. In fire-prone areas, creating a fire-resistant landscape is an effective way to mitigate the vulnerability of houses and properties to fires. Through this landscaping approach, customers can proactively save water while enhancing their home's protection. Cal Fire provides the following guidance:

• Design a fire-resistant landscape: Create an open space by avoiding crowded vegetation and swapping oily plants with fire-resistant and drought-tolerant plants
• Establish a defensible safe zone: Clear all flammable and dead vegetation at least 30 feet from your home or property. For an additional 70 feet, mow grass to four inches.
• Perform upkeep to preserve your yard: Conduct routine maintenance at least once or twice per month, using appropriate fire-wise plants in optimal locations

The increasing threat of wildfires demands a collective effort. We are committed to continuing to deliver safe, clean, and reliable water while taking steps to prepare through fire hardening and proactive climate risk mitigation. We encourage everyone to embrace water-wise and fire-wise practices, building a more resilient California together.

To learn more, visit our Be Water Wise and Fire Wise page.

The post Cal Water's Fire Hardening for a Changing Climate appeared first on Cal Water.

At Cal Water, we are committed to providing safe, clean water to more than 2 million Californians each and everyday. Our customers can feel confident that when they turn on their taps, water will be there. What they may not think about, however, is that our ability to deliver on this commitment depends on a vital and intricate system-our water infrastructure.

This typically unseen and interconnected network extends far beyond water pipes leading to customers' homes and businesses. It encompasses the sources of our water, treatment facilities, pumping stations, supply and storage facilities, and thousands of miles of distribution lines that bring water directly to their properties. Without this comprehensive system and our teams working seamlessly behind the scenes, our customers' daily routines and health-along with the safety of our communities-would be greatly impacted.

Continuous and proactive infrastructure maintenance and improvements are a key part of delivering on our promise of quality, service, and value every day. We do this through a multi-faceted approach:

• Engineering: Our teams design and implement best-in-class infrastructure solutions to deliver on efficiency and longevity.
• Advanced Technology: We use innovative technology for monitoring, treatment, leak detection, and system optimization, which allows us to identify and address issues proactively.
• Water Quality Testing: With more than 600,000 water tests conducted annually, we monitor water quality throughout our systems, making sure it meets or surpasses all regulatory standards.
• Skilled Professionals: Our dedicated team of engineers, technicians, scientists, and field crews are the backbone of our operations, bringing expertise and commitment to every task.

At Cal Water, we don't just maintain our infrastructure for today; we also continuously invest in our future. We understand that the needs of our growing communities and the challenges of a changing climate and emerging regulations demand a proactive approach to improvements. That is why Cal Water has invested more in infrastructure than any other regulated water provider in California, with investments totaling over $471 million in capital improvements in 2024 alone. Our infrastructure investments make our communities safer, supporting the delivery of a reliable supply of drinking water for everyday use and emergency needs.

Our investments in infrastructure throughout our districts are strategically and carefully planned and executed with our team of engineers and operations professionals on the ground. For example, our Bakersfield District is building a new water storage tank that will increase storage capacity and improve water pressure for residents, while a newly replaced water main in Stockton will reduce leaks, help prevent service disruptions, and continue to provide a consistent supply. Our Selma and Willows districts are also installing new water main to not only improve water supply but also support fire protection and preparedness efforts. These upgrades are designed to help provide reliable service, forward-looking solutions, and long-term water security and quality.

In our latest Infrastructure Improvement Plan, we've proposed investing $1.6 billion across our districts' communities in 2025-2027, with approximately $1.3 billion allocated to new capital improvements to further support and strengthen our facilities and systems.

Our commitment to infrastructure is a commitment to our customers and the communities we serve. By investing in the unseen backbone of our water systems, we are building a more resilient California for our customers.

To learn more, visit Cal Water's Infrastructure Improvement Plan page.

The post Infrastructure's Role in Providing Safe, Reliable Water appeared first on Cal Water.

This is the third year in a row Group has earned this designation, which comes six months after receiving the nod as one of “America's Most Trustworthy Companies” for 2025. Newsweek and Statista Inc., a leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider, gave the company the global recognition-also in its third year-based on feedback and analysis from the utility's customers, investors, and employees.

Newsweek honored 61 companies in the energy and utilities category across 20 countries, with Group being one of only three water utilities recognized. This year's list, which spans 23 industries, recognizes 1,000 of the largest stock exchange-listed companies with annual revenues of more than $500 million USD. Rankings were determined through both an independent survey of more than 65,000 participants submitting 200,000 evaluations and a social listening analysis of more than 500,000 company mentions.

"As a purpose-driven company committed to enhancing the quality of life for our customers, communities, employees, and stockholders, we strive to earn their trust each and every day," said Martin A. Kropelnicki, Group Chairman & CEO. "We appreciate the feedback that our customers, investors, and employees have given and the recognition among the world's top companies from
Newsweek for the third consecutive year.”

The full listing and more information about the award are available online at www.newsweek.com/rankings/worlds-most-trustworthy-companies-2025.

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