A letter from Operations Director Spencer Vartanian
February 24, 2026
Dear Valued Customer:
As the Director of Operations for California American Water’s Coastal Division, it is my privilege to oversee our
community’s critical water infrastructure, and I am immensely proud of the work we accomplished last year to continue delivering reliable water service to you, our customers. California American Water is a solution-oriented company – from replacing aging water mains and implementing innovative facility upgrades to holding free webinars and offering rebates through our water conservation programs – providing sustainable and resilient solutions to our community’s most urgent water needs is something we are deeply passionate about. I am incredibly fortunate to lead a team of skilled experts who share the same dedication to our important mission.
I am pleased to share some of the details about the important work that took place across our division over the past year as we continue executing our mission of providing safe, clean and affordable water service to our community.
MAINTAINING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IN 2025
Our operations, engineering and water quality teams work around the clock so that our
infrastructure provides reliable water service to the Monterey region. We made several updates to our wells and treatment plants last year to support our commitment to dependable water delivery, including:
EMERGENCY WELL REPAIRS
• Completed emergency repairs to Pearce Well, restoring 700 gallons per minute (GPM) of source water capacity (for comparison, a typical showerhead runs at 1.8 GPM).
• Completed emergency rehabilitation of Rancho Canada Well #2, restoring 500 GPM of sourcewater capacity.
WELL REHABILITATIONS
• Completed the rehabilitation of Los Laureles #5 and Garza #3 wells.
• Completed rehabilitation of ASR #4 well.
WELL CONSTRUCTION UPDATES
• Completed drilling of Extraction Wells #1 and #2.
• Completed construction of Begonia #3 replacement well, adding an additional 700 GPM of source water capacity.
MAIN REPLACEMENTS
• Replaced approximately 9,300 feet of water mains.
TREATMENT PLANT UPDATES
• Completed temporary improvements to cover the backwash ponds at the Begonia Iron Removal Plant to provide uninterrupted water service in the high-demand summer months.
• Completed Phase 1 Improvements to the Begonia Iron Removal Plant.
CONSERVATION
At California American Water, we are steadfast in taking all steps to conserve our water resources and thank you for all you do to support these efforts and conserve water at home. We finished the year with:
A SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLY
California American Water, alongside our partners, has reduced pumping from the Carmel River by 75%. This has been achieved, in part, thanks to last year’s expansion of Pure Water Monterey.
Additionally, in 2025, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) unanimously approved Water Supply and Demand Estimates for the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project. More information on the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project can be found at watersupplyproject.org.
PROVIDING AFFORDABLE SERVICE
At California American Water, providing safe, reliable water while keeping service
affordable is our top priority. To support customer affordability, last year we:
• Requested the CPUC increase our customer assistance discount from 35% to 50% for essential water use in 2027.
• Proposed a new discount program to the CPUC for customers living in multi-family
housing.
• Partnered with United Way in Monterey to provide crisis assistance to customers
experiencing unexpected financial hardships.
Safeguarding, operating and maintaining our community’s critical water infrastructure is something I’m deeply committed to and passionate about. This responsibility is both an honor and a privilege, and I am steadfast in my commitment to providing safe, reliable and affordable water service to you, our customers.
Sincerely,
Spencer Vartanian
Director of Operations
California American Water