Posted: September 22, 2025
By Mike Mares, Senior Vice President, Operations
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.
