A Unique Holiday Gift: Cal Water Employees Volunteer to Make Bakersfield Police Activities League Center More Environmentally Friendly

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 12/18/14 -- Employee volunteers from California Water Service Company (Cal Water), the largest subsidiary of California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT), will help the Bakersfield Police Activities League (PAL) celebrate the holidays by doing a "green makeover" on its youth center that provides after-school and enrichment services for local at-risk youth.

The makeover, which will be done Christmas week, will include replacing low-efficiency toilets, showerheads, and faucet aerators; planting beautiful, low-water-using native landscaping; and doing clean-up, repairs, and painting. Cal Water employees will also install new irrigation controllers and sprinkler nozzles in its sports field, plant a small edible garden, and replace standard light bulbs with energy-efficient ones.

"This project enables us to do something good for our environment and for a charitable organization that provides a really important service to our community," said Cal Water District Manager Rudy Valles. "And what better time than this holiday season to help PAL bring more cheer to the center and its staff and children?"

According to Valles, enthusiasm for the project spread, and about 70 local employees have volunteered to participate. The enthusiasm extended beyond employees, too, and local certified arborist and landscape irrigation auditor Jonathan McCormick, of McCormick Landscape Service, has been providing consultation services for the project.

"This project shows our children that the community cares about them, and we really appreciate the efforts Cal Water is making toward the center," said Senior Officer Kyle Ursery, PAL's executive director. "Since our mission is to teach children to become successful, responsible, and caring individuals, this project is right up our alley, as it also teaches our kids about the importance of using water wisely and other smart living habits."

Cal Water serves about 2 million people through 473,100 service connections in California. The company has provided water service in the state since 1926. Additional information may be obtained online at www.calwater.com.

Released December 18, 2014