Cal Water completed construction on a sixth water storage tank and booster station and added it to its system last week. The one-million-gallon tank will help augment water supply as residential growth continues in northeast Visalia.

"This is a critical investment in Visalia's future that strengthens the water system and supports our ability to continue delivering reliable service to every home and business for decades to come," said Stuart Skoglund, Cal Water's Interim Visalia District Manager, noting that Cal Water also recently completed work on a 975,000-gallon water storage tank and booster station in downtown Visalia. "As part of our commitment to delivering quality, service, and value to our customers, we're improving overall system performance and safeguarding the high quality drinking water our community depends on every day."

The new tank was built on a two-acre site along McAuliff Street, by an existing well that Cal Water previously installed to increase water supply in step with residential growth in east Visalia. The site has more room for another tank, as water demands increase in the future, Skoglund said.

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Cal Water crews recently began construction to install approximately 1,980 feet of new water main on Ellis Lake Drive, between 14^th Street and 1730 Ellis Lake Drive. The project involves replacing the existing 8-inch main with 12-inch main to increase water flow and enhance firefighting capabilities in drier months. Construction is expected to be completed in May.

"Replacing this aging main is a critical investment in Marysville's future. This upgrade strengthens the water system and supports our ability to continue delivering reliable service to every home and business for decades to come," said Tavis Beynon, Marysville District Manager. "By proactively replacing this section of pipeline, we're improving overall system performance and safeguarding the high‑quality drinking water our community depends on every day."

Crews are working Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and traffic control is in place to assist motorists and reduce delays. Businesses in the area remain open during construction.

Temporary asphalt will be applied until permanent paving is completed, which can be up to 30 days after project completion. This time delay is necessary to allow the trench to become fully compacted, so the road surface is smooth after permanent paving is completed.

“We recognize that this work impacts nearby residents and businesses, and our crews will work hard to minimize any temporary inconvenience to the Marysville community as we make water system improvements that will benefit the city for years to come,” Beynon said.

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Our Timeless Purpose

Our company was founded by three World War I veterans-Christopher T. Chenery, Thomas Hollis Wiggin, and George Lewis Ohrstrom. Their pioneering spirit, forged in circumstances where failure was not an option, infused Cal Water with a deep sense of purpose from day one: to deliver safe, clean, reliable water. We believe there is no higher calling than protecting the essential lifeblood for our communities.

While much of our employees' work goes unseen, I want to publicly acknowledge our 1,300 current employees who tirelessly deliver safe, clean, and reliable water service to our customers day in and day out, along with the many former employees who did the same.

At our recent town hall, we heard inspiring stories from Chris K., a cross-connection control specialist; Lila M., a project engineer; and Jackie O., a customer service representative. Though diverse in role and region, they all embody the same unwavering purpose. Their dedication is reflective of our workforce and traces back generations, from the engineers who designed our first systems, the operators who maintained them through every challenge, the customer service professionals who patiently answered every call, to the leaders who championed our mission.

As I've often said, while the service we provide requires pipes, pumps, and panel boards, it's the people who have made us the company we are today. You are unsung heroes who deliver Trust on Tap every day.

Our Enduring Resilience

As we prepared for our centennial, our team meticulously reviewed thousands of historical photos, documents, and artifacts-unearthing everything from early handwritten customer ledgers to vintage blueprints of infrastructure projects to letters of gratitude and commendation from communities we serve. One unmistakable truth emerged from this rich history: our enduring resilience in the face of adversity.

We've persevered through the economic upheaval of the Great Depression and the sacrifices of World War II. We've weathered devastating earthquakes in Bakersfield, Loma Prieta, and Northridge, as well as relentless wildfires across California and Maui. We've navigated landslides on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, severe droughts throughout California, and a global pandemic.

Through it all, our employees have faced—and passed—every imaginable test:

• Cal Water's East Los Angeles District Manager, Fred Dodge, was in New York for training and toured the New York Stock Exchange on Black Thursday, witnessing the pandemonium of the stock market crash that marked the start of the Great Depression.
• During World War II, over 20% of our employees joined the armed forces, while those at home supported national Victory Garden efforts, earning distinguished recognition.
• In 1952, we maintained uninterrupted service for Bakersfield customers through two major earthquakes that hit in one summer, earning commendations from public authorities.
• The 1970s saw us proactively launch conservation efforts during the energy crisis and a severe two-year drought.
• After the devastating 2018 Camp, Mendicino, and Woolsey wildfires, our employees not only kept water flowing and provided critical resources, but we also established our Firefighter Grant Program, equipping local departments with vital resources.
• During the global pandemic, our field workers maintained continuous water service as we supported financially struggling customers and took significant measures to keep our essential employees safe.
• During the Maui wildfire, our team was the only water utility in West Maui to provide safe, clean water continuously throughout the devastating emergency. And, when the Palos Verdes Peninsula landslides caused catastrophic damage to homes and infrastructure, we stationed crews on location 24/7, brought tens of thousands of feet of water mains above-ground, and escalated our already-robust emergency response procedures.

Through these challenges and many more, we showed our resilience, which is woven into our DNA. You can learn more about these moments and others by visiting our historical timeline at our centennial website.

Our Steadfast Resolve

Reaching a centennial is a rare achievement. It's a testament to the vision, hard work, and dedicated people who have shaped Cal Water's legacy through every era, from before the dawn of the computer age to the rise of AI.

While technologies and times will change, our dedication to our customers and the communities we serve will not. We will maintain an unwavering commitment to water quality and safety. We will remain relentlessly focused on meeting the moment for our customers, supporting our communities through good times and bad, and being good stewards of the environment. The next 100 years will bring new opportunities and challenges, but our purpose, resilience, and resolve remain as steadfast as the safe, clean water we deliver.

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Through Cal Water's conservation program, Cal Water and the South San Francisco Fire Department partnered to bring the DRAFTS Unit to South San Francisco as a way to continue regular training and fire equipment testing, while also saving water. Though millions of gallons of water are needed for training and testing purposes, the unit allows water used for full-flow training to be recycled and reused instead of going down the drain.

"I want to thank Cal Water for its ongoing partnership and commitment to our community," said South San Francisco Mayor Mark Addiego. "This new equipment strengthens our hardworking fire department by giving them the tools they need to respond more efficiently and effectively. It enhances their ability to provide the highest level of care and protection to our residents, while also advancing our shared sustainability goals. The DRAFTS Unit is another strong example of our continued collaboration."

Cal Water estimates that, with this unit, the South San Francisco Fire Department will save more than 4.2 million gallons of water every year, while fully training firefighters and testing its equipment. South San Francisco is one of seven fire departments from Los Angeles County Fire Department in the south to Stockton in the north that Cal Water has partnered with on DRAFTS units to save more than 46 million gallons each year.

“Cal Water is dedicated to assisting firefighters, not just with a reliable supply of water, but also with their training,” said Christy Ariey, Director of Water-Use Efficiency for Cal Water. “As conservation is becoming a way of life in California, Cal Water is investing in making sure firefighter training can happen in ways that significantly reduce water use.”

By teaming up with Cal Water's Conservation Department, the utility was able to provide the South San Francisco Fire Department $127,722 as a rebate to purchase the DRAFTS Unit.

Matt Samson, South San Francisco Fire Chief, said saving water while training firefighters is a win-win. "This capability reduces water use by an estimated 89%, resulting in millions of gallons of water savings annually. This type of impact will make a real difference in water conservation efforts for both the city and CAL Water, an important impact as we continue to face a changing climate and uncertain water future," he said.

Ross Moilan, Cal Water's Bayshore District Manager, thanked South San Francisco Fire for its continued partnership to keep the community safe. "We stay in close touch with South San Francisco Fire to make sure they always have the water and pressure they need to protect the community," he said. "We're grateful for their leadership in showing how conservation can be part of everyday life."

Cal Water offers customers a number of incentives to save water every day through conservation rebates and programs. To learn more, visit our Conservation page.

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Newsweek honored the top 300 out of the 2,000 largest public companies by revenue with headquarters in the United States. Recipients were selected through a multi-layered process based on publicly available key performance indicators (KPIs), independent survey results from U.S. residents, and a comprehensive social listening analysis. The KPIs evaluated companies' activities around volunteering, corporate giving, community impact, partnerships, along with their human rights policy and GRI disclosures.

Over the past five years, Group has donated more than $8.3 million to charitable organizations through its philanthropic giving program. These contributions, which are stockholder-funded and do not affect customer rates, included support for at-risk, underserved, and disadvantaged communities; first responders; disaster relief; students pursuing higher education; veterans; animal welfare; healthcare; and more. Beyond these donations, Group augments employees' personal giving through its employee charitable matching program. The company also hosts an annual Season of Service, which provides opportunities for employees to volunteer their time and energy to local charitable organizations over the Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas holidays.

“At California Water Service Group, we exist to enhance the quality of life in the communities we serve, and that responsibility means not only providing safe, clean, reliable water, but also giving back and supporting those who need it,” said Marty Kropelnicki, Group Chairman & CEO. “We appreciate Newsweek for recognizing us among this inaugural group of leading charitable companies.”

The full listing, which spans 14 industries, is published at rankings.newsweek.com/americas-most-charitable-companies-2026. Group is listed in the Energy & Utilities category.

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Last month, Cal Water crews began construction to install the first 750 feet of the more than 7,000 feet of new water main, along with 18 fire hydrants, this spring in the downtown area. These upgrades are designed to strengthen the local water system and provide long-term reliability for the San Carlos community.

"We are excited to break ground on this project because this investment in infrastructure will strengthen our water system in the area," said Ross Moilan, Bayshore District Manager. "These upgrades make it possible for us to deliver safe, clean, reliable drinking water to our customers' homes and businesses, meeting everyday and emergency needs for our community."

In coordination with the City of San Carlos, work on this first phase of the project is taking place on Elm Street between Cherry and Olive streets ahead of the city's planned restoration in the area. Crews are working 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, and traffic control is in place. Customers will be notified of any temporary traffic impacts or service interruptions that may occur as a result of this work at least 48 hours in advance. Cal Water is waiting for permits to begin subsequent phases of the project.

Once complete, the new main will improve the distribution grid strength, flow, and reliability. Temporary asphalt will be applied until permanent paving is completed, which can be up to 30 days after project completion.

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This project will help keep the water system functioning properly and delivering safe, clean water to local customers-anytime they need it. The infrastructure improvement project, set to begin in late March and run through August, includes installing new motor control centers, transformers, a pressure tank, and associated pipelines. Work will be performed off University Ave near Bakersfield College, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

"We will work hard to minimize any temporary inconvenience to our customers and community as we make these improvements," said Rafael Molina, Cal Water's Bakersfield District Manager. "Progressive upgrades such as this one help us improve not just everyday reliability, but also our emergency preparedness so that water infrastructure remains reliable during emergencies and natural disasters."

The pump station upgrade is part of Cal Water's broader commitment to proactive, ongoing maintenance and upgrades that support safe, clean, reliable drinking water.

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To advance Cal Water's efforts to continuously modernize and upgrade its water system to better serve customers, crews have begun construction on two projects installing a combined 2,200 feet of new 10- and eight-inch water main and three new fire hydrants. Work on the projects, which is expected to be completed in April, is taking place Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Wall and Service streets.

"Improvements like these, keep the water system safe and reliable for our customers' daily needs and to support first responders as they work to protect our community, especially in our downtown," said Rafael Molina, Bakersfield District Manager. "Our infrastructure improvement projects provide quality, service, and value to the communities we serve."

Temporary asphalt will be applied until permanent paving is completed. Cal Water and the City of Bakersfield will work together to perform the permanent paving when the city completes its sewer project in August.

“We will make every effort to minimize traffic delays during construction, and we will notify customers in advance of any temporary water service interruptions,” Molina said.

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