California American Water Secures Federal Funding to Advance Affordable Wildfire-Resilience Upgrades for Monterey County Water System

Posted on October 15th, 2026 | Filed under Press Releases

PACIFIC GROVE, Calif., Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — California American Water received a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) award of $864,500 for the Monterey Wildfire Infrastructure Improvement Project which will strengthen two critical drinking-water facilities within the company’s service area. The U.S. EPA’s award will cover approximately 84 percent of the project’s original estimated cost of $1,027,816, leaving a local cost share of $102,782.

“This investment will help us strengthen critical water infrastructure without placing the full cost on local customers,” said Spencer Vartanian, Director of Operations, California American Water. “With the Timber Fire still impacting Monterey County, the need to protect water service and firefighting capacity has never been more immediate. These improvements are a practical, affordable step toward keeping our communities safer and more resilient.”

The project will improve the Carmel Valley Clearwell Tank and the San Carlos Booster Pump Station, both located in high-risk wildfire zones. Planned work includes fire-hardening walls, brush and vegetation removal, replacement of a roof with fire-resistant materials, and installation of an emergency generator. Together, these upgrades are designed to help maintain drinking-water service and firefighting capacity when wildfire conditions threaten power and physical infrastructure.

Federal participation makes these improvements more affordable for the 92,450 residents served by the system. By directing outside funding to essential resilience work, the project reduces pressure on customers while accelerating upgrades that protect public health, water reliability, and emergency response capacity.

The recent Timber Fire emergency is a clear reminder that reliable water storage, pumping and backup power are essential for day-to-day service and during extreme events.

About American Water
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886 and celebrating 140 years in 2026, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to approximately 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 19 military installations. American Water’s approximately 7,000 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.

About California American Water
California American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, with approximately 300 dedicated employees, provides safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 720,000 people.

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