Tour Shows How Investor-Owned Utilities Can Bring Service Reliability to Communities

Add American States Water Company boilerplate after last paragraph of release dated August 25, 2022.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220825005655/en/

Staff from California American Water and Golden State Water tour a water system in Dunnigan, CA, with California Public Utilities Commissioner Darcie Houck (center).

The updated release reads:

CALIFORNIA AMERICAN WATER AND GOLDEN STATE WATER HOST “SACRAMENTO VALLEY SMALL SYSTEM CONSOLIDATION TOUR”

Tour Shows How Investor-Owned Utilities Can Bring Service Reliability to Communities

California American Water and Golden State Water Company (Golden State Water) jointly invited California Public Utilities Commissioners on a tour to explore the challenges and opportunities of small water system consolidation, specifically in the Sacramento Valley area. Commissioner Darcie L. Houck was the first to take the tour last week, which provided a hands-on look at the benefits for smaller water systems when they are acquired by larger public utility companies. Topics included water treatment improvements to small, underserved communities, infrastructure advancements, increasing and more equitable access to quality water, and more.

The tour began with three stops in the Robbins water system, which was recently acquired by Golden State Water after over ten years of collaboration with Sutter County and other parties. During the tour, Golden State Water staff explained the many ways the company is working to return the Robbins water system to full compliance with federal and state health and safety standards.

“We are proud to extend water service to the Robbins community,” said Paul Schubert, Northern District General Manager with Golden State Water. “Golden State Water is a professional water provider that holds itself to the highest standards for service, water quality and customer care. Our team of dedicated professionals looks forward to being a trusted community partner, today and for generations to come.”

To demonstrate what a small water system transformation looks like after consolidation, the tour group then visited California American Water’s Dunnigan system. When acquired in 2015, the Dunnigan system’s supply consisted of two wells with high levels of Chromium 6, a state-regulated contaminant that is subject to state drinking water standards. Since consolidating with California American Water’s larger Sacramento Service Area, the Dunnigan community has benefitted from major improvements, with costs spread over a much larger customer base.

“Customers in our Dunnigan system are now being served by staff that are experts in their fields of water treatment and distribution,” said Audie Foster, Director of Operations for California American Water’s Northern Division. “In addition to addressing main breaks quickly and efficiently as early as the first day after our acquisition, our staff have worked over the last several years to bring on a brand new well, water storage upgrades, treatment advancements — including Chromium 6 treatment — a new generator, booster pump skid, and more.”

California American Water and Golden State Water plan to host additional California Public Utilities Commissioners for the same tour later in the year.

About California American Water

California American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), provides high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to more than 725,000 people. Information regarding California American Water’s service areas can be found on the company’s website www.californiaamwater.com.

About American Water

With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people in 24 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and diversityataw.com. Follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

About Golden State Water

Golden State Water Company delivers quality, reliable water to more than 1 million people in over 80 communities throughout California. Golden State Water has been in business for more than 90 years because we put customers first. To learn more, visit www.gswater.com.

About American States Water Company

American States Water Company is the parent of Golden State Water Company, Bear Valley Electric Service, Inc. and American States Utility Services, Inc., serving over one million people in nine states. Through its water utility subsidiary, Golden State Water Company, the company provides water service to approximately 263,000 customer connections located within more than 80 communities in Northern, Coastal and Southern California. Through its electric utility subsidiary, Bear Valley Electric Service, Inc., the company distributes electricity to approximately 24,700 customer connections in the City of Big Bear Lake and surrounding areas in San Bernardino County, California. Through its contracted services subsidiary, American States Utility Services, Inc., the company provides operations, maintenance and construction management services for water distribution, wastewater collection, and treatment facilities located on 11 military bases throughout the country under 50-year privatization contracts with the U.S. government.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220825005655/en/