California Water Service to Begin Menlo Park Water Infrastructure Upgrade to Improve Water System Reliability and Fire Protection

MENLO PARK, Calif.—California Water Service (Cal Water) will begin a water infrastructure upgrade next month in Menlo Park that will strengthen long-term water system reliability, enhance fire protection, and support affordability for customers. Crews are installing 2,505 feet of new 8-inch water main on the south side of town.

"Proactively upgrading our water system is what has enabled us to deliver a safe, reliable supply of water for a century, while supporting affordability for our customers," said Dawn Smithson, Bear Gulch District Manager. "By replacing and upgrading water mains before they break, causing outages and becoming more costly to fix, our customers can have peace of mind knowing we’re taking care of their water, so they don’t have to worry about it."

Crews are working Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. along Erica Way, from La Mesa Drive to 251 Erica Way, and from 180 to 231 Durazno Way. The project is expected to be completed by November.

Temporary asphalt will be applied until permanent paving is completed approximately 30 days after project completion. This waiting period allows the trench to fully compact, helping provide a smoother road surface when finished.

The project is part of Cal Water’s Main Replacement Program, which focuses on proactively replacing aging infrastructure, while maximizing the existing infrastructure’s life to help prevent small, manageable issues from getting bigger and more expensive to fix.

About California Water Service

California Water Service provides high-quality, reliable water utility services to about 61,500 people through 18,500 service connections in the communities of Portola Valley, Woodside, Atherton, and portions of Menlo Park, Redwood City, and San Mateo County, and more than 2 million people statewide through 500,000 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.

Released July 27, 2026