California Water Service Has Begun Water Infrastructure Upgrade to Improve Water Supply Reliability and Fire Protection in East Los Angeles

COMMERCE, Calif.—California Water Service (Cal Water) has begun a water infrastructure upgrade to enhance water supply reliability and fire protection in East Los Angeles and Commerce. Crews are installing 400 feet of new 12-inch water main, which will strengthen the water system by increasing water transportation capacity, increasing water flow rate, and decreasing pressure loss incidents, especially in the event of an earthquake.

“This infrastructure improvement project is another step in our proactive approach to providing a reliable supply of safe, clean water to our customers in East Los Angeles and Commerce, long-term,” said Jim Crawford, East Los Angeles District Manager, about the project which began in February. “All the work that we do is centered around providing quality, service, and value to our customers for their everyday and emergency needs.”

The two-phase project will replace the original water main installed in 1947. The new main installation is the first phase of the project, happening along Atlantic Boulevard and South Eastern Avenue, on the Interstate 5 overpass, near the Citadel Outlets. Typically, main is installed over or below an overpass, but due to this old main’s unique position – installed inside the overpass - removing it requires more complex coordination. Crews are using the roller-cut method: cutting, then pulling, and then extracting the old main and replacing it with the new main. To reduce traffic disruption in the area, crews are working overnight, Monday through Friday, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. During the second phase, crews will install fittings that will help the new main and existing water system withstand shaking and minimize damage in the event of an earthquake. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of April, weather permitting.

This is just one of Cal Water’s efforts to continually modernize and upgrade its water system so that it continues meeting federal and state regulations for customers and provides them safe, clean, reliable water, both now and in the future.

About California Water Service

California Water Service provides high-quality, reliable water utility services to about 151,900 people through 26,621, service connections in its East Los Angeles District and another 1,250 people through an operating contract with the City of Commerce, and more than 2.1 million people statewide through 499,400 service connections. Cal Water’s purpose is to enhance the quality of life for customers and communities. To do so, it invests responsibly in water and wastewater infrastructure, sustainability initiatives, and community well-being. The company’s 1,200 employees live by a set of strong core values and share a commitment to protecting the planet, caring for people, and operating with the utmost integrity. The utility, commemorating a century of service this year, has been named one of “America’s Most Responsible Companies” and one of the “World’s Most Trustworthy Companies” by Newsweek, a USA Top Workplace, and a Great Place to Work®. More information is available at www.calwater.com.

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Released March 5, 2026