BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Cal Water is looking to improve the city’s water quality through a series of infrastructure plans taking place over the next few years.
Turning on your household faucet to get flowing water may seem simple enough, but Cal Water said there is much more behind the process.
Under the 2025- 2027 Infrastructure Improvement Plan, Cal Water is in the middle of a handful of projects throughout the city.
Near the corner of 3rd and N streets, the work starts with replacing nearly 80,000 feet of the main, which is the hub for delivering water to customer homes.
Multiple steps are taken before breaking ground.
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First, beginning with filing the rate case, justification for replacement, approval, and then the design and permits.
Kelly Hargraves lives across the street from a current Cal Water project, which started last week after she called in about a leak covering half of the street.
The leak was caused by a large tree in front of her house.
Hargraves said this is the first time she’s seen a leak since she moved in six years ago. She also said she was impressed by the speed in which Cal Water responded to the inquiry.
Another item planned to be checked off on the infrastructure plan is the installation of new generators, which are essential for providing water during a power outage.
They hope the new generators will last up to 50 years, and the main will last around 100 years, along with plans to install around a 2 million gallon storage tank.
Cal Water told Eyewitness News that their infrastructure plan for the future is all about strengthening the water’s reliability, safety, and supply.