According to Cal Water Dixon local manager Ben Voight, Cal Water prioritizes infrastructure improvements to keep customer affordability in mind. Photo by Kendall Brown

DIXON, CA (MPG) - Dixon is growing, and with this growth comes necessary infrastructural maintenance. California Water Service Co., or Cal Water, is integral to this development. According to the City of Dixon’s website, construction is taking place from May 19 to June 27. Starting at West A Street, construction stretches from First Street to Porter Street. According to Cal Water Dixon’s local manager, Ben Voight, this construction is part of their main replacement program (MRP). 

“Cal Water has a proactive main replacement program that prioritizes mains to be replaced based on considerations such as age, leak history and risk of main failure,” said Voight. “This main is part of our ongoing, proactive main replacement program (MRP), which is a routine part of our operations.” 

This project will include the replacement of approximately 600 feet of water main and 13 individual water service connections.

“The aging main we are replacing is 6” cast iron, and the new main will be 8” PVC,” said Voight. “A large portion of this project, including tie-in of the water services, is being completed at night to minimize interruptions to businesses in the area. The larger-size main will also enhance flow for both everyday needs and fire protection." 

The main replacement program aims to replace approximately 1% of water mains in the district per year. In Dixon, Cal Water typically completes one major replacement project per year. Construction on West A Street in-particular is a function of Cal Water’s Infrastructure Improvement Plan (IIP). 

“The Cal Water IIP is an infrastructure improvement plan that must be provided to the state every 3 years to ensure the rates reflect the cost of providing water service. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) oversees this process,” said Voight.  “The current breakdown for our plan in Dixon is capital improvements (42%), water production (29%), centralized services (12%), local water professionals (8%), other operations and maintenance (7%) and conservation (2%).” 

According to Voight, Cal Water prioritizes infrastructure improvements to keep customer affordability in mind. The organization is dedicated to improved water services, but Dixonites can help through considerate water usage. 

“For Dixonites looking to use water more wisely, focusing on toilets and irrigation is a good place to start. For toilets, don’t let a small toilet leak go, as it can add up quickly. If you need help determining if your toilet is leaking, reach out to Cal Water, and we can provide leak detection tablets free of charge,” said Voight.  “As for irrigation, especially with the hotter summer months coming, set an automatic timer so you only irrigate before dawn or after dusk, when evaporation is lower. Also, check to ensure you don’t have a leak in your sprinklers that could increase your water bill dramatically at night while you sleep.” 

Construction on West A Street will continue until June 27, with work hours varying. Lanes have been reconfigured to suit the needs of the project.  

For more information on the construction area, visit cityofdixonca.gov/trafficalerts or call 707-678-7000. For more information on Cal Water Dixon, visit calwater.com or call 707-678-5928.