California Water Service Begins Water Infrastructure Upgrade to Improve Water Supply Reliability and Fire Protection in Chico

CHICO, Calif.—California Water Service (Cal Water) will begin work on a water infrastructure upgrade on Wednesday, March 26, that will improve water supply reliability and fire protection in Chico. Crews are set to install 2,400 feet of new 6-inch water main in southwest Chico to replace aging main.

"Infrastructure improvements like this help Cal Water maintain a reliable water supply for both customers' everyday needs and firefighters' emergency needs, while also preventing water loss from aging pipes," said Evan Markey, District Manager.

Installation will take place on:

• Arcadian Avenue, between West 6th Avenue and West 8th Avenue
• Magnolia Avenue, between West 6th Avenue and West 8th Avenue
• West 7th Avenue, between Magnolia Avenue and Arcadian Avenue
• Alley east of Arcadian Avenue, between West 7th Avenue and West 8th Avenue

The project is part of Cal Water's efforts to continually modernize and upgrade its water system to better serve customers. In Chico, Cal Water has approximately 415 miles of main and replaces approximately 12,000 feet of main per year.

The southwest Chico main replacement project is expected to be completed in May, and work will be performed between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.

"We will make every effort to minimize traffic delays during construction, and we will notify customers in advance of any temporary water service interruptions," said Markey, noting that customers can visit myaccount.calwater.com to confirm that their contact information is up to date, along with their preferences on how they would like to be notified.

Temporary asphalt will be applied until permanent paving is completed, which can be up to 30 days after project completion.

About California Water Service

California Water Service provides high-quality, reliable water utility services to about 109,700 people through 30,800 service connections in Chico and Hamilton City, and more than 2 million people through 499,400 service connections statewide. 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 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 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 March 25, 2025