This year marks a centennial of service for California Water Service Group, a truly remarkable milestone. As I reflect on my 20 years at the company and the decades that preceded my time here, I am struck by the challenges we have overcome to fulfill our mission. In essence, three things emerge clearly.
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.
