2024 Infrastructure Improvement Plan for Salinas

In Salinas, Cal Water is continuously modernizing and upgrading our water system to provide safe, clean, reliable drinking water for our customers.
 

Learn more about how Cal Water’s Infrastructure Improvement Plan impacts Salinas customers.

These figures represent bill effect in 2026 for a residential customer with a 5/8" x 3/4" meter.

IIP and You

How Rates Are Set

Understanding the Infrastructure Improvement Plan and rate review process

Cal Water’s rates are set by an independent, third party, state agency—the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)—with input from the public. We are required to file a new application every three years, so that rates reflect the actual cost of operating, maintaining, and upgrading our water system to provide safe, clean, reliable drinking water to our customers.

Any changes to customer bills as a result of this Infrastructure Improvement Plan would not occur until January 2026 at the earliest.

Learn more about how rates are set.

These figures represent bill effect in 2026 for a residential customer with a 5/8″ x 3/4″ meter.

Median Water Use

Customers using the median amount of water per month of 5,236 gallons, or 7 Ccf, would see a bill increase of 22 cents per day.

Customers enrolled in our Customer Assistance Program and using the median amount of water per month of 5,236 gallons, or 7 Ccf, would see a bill increase of 12 cents per day.

Customers using 9,724 gallons, or 13 Ccf, of water per month would see a bill increase of 23 cents per day.

Customers using the median amount of water per month of 5,236 gallons, or 7 Ccf, would see a bill increase of 22 cents per day.
Customers enrolled in our Customer Assistance Program and using the median amount of water per month of 5,236 gallons, or 7 Ccf, would see a bill increase of 12 cents per day.
Customers using 9,724 gallons, or 13 Ccf, of water per month would see a bill increase of 23 cents per day.

IIP Planning

Explore the Facts About Salinas’ Water System

Investing in Salinas

Where Each Dollar Goes

5%
Water production

53%
Capital improvements

15%
Centralized services (Water quality, Engineering, etc.)

14%
Local water professionals (Pump operators, Utility workers, etc.)

11%
Other operations & maintenance

2%
Conservation

Future Upgrades

Reliability

  • Replace 28,191 feet of water main to prevent failure of aging and high-risk pipelines
  • Install new generators to provide reliable water service during a power interruption

Safety

  • Install new water treatment facilities and upgrade existing water sites to provide safe, clean water

Water Supply

  • Install three new wells to meet water supply needs of the community


2024 Infrastructure Improvement Plan Priority Areas

Our highest priority is to provide safe, clean, reliable water to our customers. This requires a proactive commitment to infrastructure investment and water quality treatment and testing. These rate adjustments for 2026-2028 will fund critical water infrastructure projects, such as new pipes, treatment facilities, pumps, and fire hydrants, plus improve water supply and storage.

 

More details about our infrastructure improvement priorities can be found below.

Focus on Water Quality

We focus relentlessly on water quality. Our water quality experts conduct more than 500,000 water quality tests per year for more than 300 contaminants in our state-certified, state-of-the-art laboratory. On average, that’s more than 1,000 tests per day.

From improving wildfire protection and emergency preparedness to proactively addressing the impacts of climate change, our ongoing maintenance and upgrades help make our communities safer.

Our ongoing upgrades and maintenance help prevent small, manageable problems from becoming bigger and more expensive to fix. Even with our strong record of system upgrades, delivery of safe, clean tap water, and commitment to exceptional customer service, our customers pay about a penny per gallon.

We focus relentlessly on water quality. Our water quality experts conduct more than 500,000 water quality tests per year for more than 300 contaminants in our state-certified, state-of-the-art laboratory. On average, that’s more than 1,000 tests per day.
From improving wildfire protection and emergency preparedness to proactively addressing the impacts of climate change, our ongoing maintenance and upgrades help make our communities safer.
Our ongoing upgrades and maintenance help prevent small, manageable problems from becoming bigger and more expensive to fix. Even with our strong record of system upgrades, delivery of safe, clean tap water, and commitment to exceptional customer service, our customers pay about a penny per gallon.

See the improvements planned for your area.

Public Participation Hearings

Public Participation Hearings

As part of the review process, the CPUC will hold public participation hearings that serve as your opportunity for public input. Find upcoming, scheduled hearings.

Learn More

Previous IIPs

Previous IIPs

Cal Water has invested more in infrastructure upgrades in the last decade than any other regulated water provider in California.

Read about our previous proposals and projects.