IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER

As your water utility provider, Cal Water is committed to providing reliable, high-quality water service to customers in the Lancaster water system. We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water constituents and are notifying you of an elevated test result for hexavalent chromium at one of the wells, LAN-W-001-01, in our Lancaster system. Although compliance with the new California maximum contaminant level (MCL) is not required until October 2028, we are taking steps to reduce the hexavalent chromium level for this source.

Please note that this is not an emergency. If it was, we would have notified you nearly immediately. However, as our customer, you have a right to know what happened, what we are doing to address the situation, and what actions you may take.

What happened? What is being done?

• The new California hexavalent chromium MCL became effective October 1, 2024 with our Lancaster District required to comply with the MCL by October 1, 2028.
• On July 10, 2026, water sample test results received for one well showed a hexavalent chromium level of 11.0 parts per billion (ppb). This brought the running annual average for this source, upon which compliance with the standard will be determined, above the MCL of 10 ppb.
• While hexavalent chromium was detected at a level that exceeds the MCL, water systems of our size have until October 1, 2028, to comply with the MCL.
• Regardless of the compliance timeline, we are currently working with the State Water Resources Control Board to complete a hexavalent chromium compliance plan to address this issue and comply with the MCL. This includes blending our water sources to reduce hexavalent chromium levels.
• We anticipate achieving compliance with the MCL by the October 1, 2028 date.

What should you do?

There is nothing required of you at this time. 

• You do not need to use an alternative water supply (e.g., bottled water).
• As noted above, this is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified immediately. However, some people who drink water containing hexavalent chromium in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of cancer.
• If you have other health issues concerning the consumption of this water, you may wish to consult your doctor.

We will keep you updated on any new developments and are committed to protecting our customers’ health and safety. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact Interim Water Quality Program Manager Spencer Kim at [email protected] or (650) 304-2042.

Please also share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this public notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

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If you are a school or school system, the owner or operator of residential rental property, or the owner or operator of a business property, you are legally required to notify the following people of the information in this notice within 10 days of your receipt of this notice:

• SCHOOLS: You must notify school employees, students, and parents (if the students are minors).
• RESIDENTIAL RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS OR MANAGERS (including nursing homes and care facilities): You must notify tenants.
• BUSINESS PROPERTY OWNERS, MANAGERS, OR OPERATORS: You must notify employees of businesses located on the property.
• If you fail to notify the above people, you shall be civilly liable up to $1,000 per day for each day that you fail to notify them. (Health & Saf. Code, §§ 116450, subd. (g); 116650, subd. (e).)