California Water Service to Begin Water Infrastructure Upgrade to Improve Water Supply Reliability in Salinas Hills Area

SALINAS, Calif.—California Water Service (Cal Water) will begin work on a water infrastructure upgrade this week that will benefit water supply reliability and operational flexibility in its Salinas Hills system in unincorporated Monterey County. Cal Water crews will be constructing a new groundwater well that will help meet current and future customer demands while strengthening overall system reliability.

"This important water system upgrade will help us continue to provide a reliable supply of high-quality water for our customers in Salinas," said Brenda Granillo, Salinas District Manager. "Our infrastructure improvements are all about providing quality, service, and value to the communities we serve."

Construction is scheduled to begin on Friday, Sept. 4, and continue through November 2026. Work will include drilling and development of the new groundwater well, installation of the well casing, and related activities necessary to complete the project. Once completed, the well will be one of six groundwater wells serving the Salinas Hills area, helping improve water supply capacity and enhance system resiliency.

Crews will typically work Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Due to the continuous nature of well drilling operations, certain construction activities must occur 24 hours per day, seven days per week. To help minimize noise impacts to nearby residents and businesses, temporary sound walls will be installed around the construction site.

Cal Water crews will work hard to also minimize dust, traffic impacts, and other temporary inconveniences during construction. For public safety, a nearby walking path will be temporarily rerouted around the fenced construction area; however, access will remain available throughout the project.

"We appreciate the community's patience and understanding while we complete this important infrastructure improvement," Granillo said. "Investments like this will help us continue to deliver safe, clean, and reliable water service for decades to come."

About California Water Service

California Water Service provides high-quality, reliable water utility services to about 126,620 people through 29,000 service connections in Salinas, 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 August 31, 2026