California Water Service (Cal Water) is upgrading Chico’s water system to make it stronger, safer, and more reliable for everyone. Earlier this year, crews replaced about 2,400 feet of water main in southwest Chico to boost fire protection and reduce leaks.
Now, as of October 2025, the work has moved to central Chico, where Cal Water is replacing another 700 feet of water mains between West 5th and West 7th Streets on Cherry Street. These infrastructure improvements are designed to ensure a dependable water supply for homes, schools, and first responders throughout the community.
What These Upgrades Mean for Chico Residents
- Stronger water flow for firefighters and emergency crews
- Fewer leaks and less chance of service interruptions
- A more resilient and efficient water system for the future
Temporary Water Changes Are Normal
During construction and pipe replacement, it’s common to notice a stronger chlorine smell or taste in your tap water. That’s not a sign of a problem. It’s actually the result of the municipality doing its job well. Crews use disinfectants and system flushing to keep water lines clean and safe, which can temporarily affect taste or odor.
Worried about your water quality? Take our quiz here: Water Quality Quiz
Make Sure Your Water Is as Clean as It Can Be
These upgrades are a great reminder to check your home’s water quality. Even when the city does everything right, there can still be residual chlorine or minerals that affect how your water tastes and feels.
Culligan of Chico can help you take full advantage of these improvements with certified water testing and filtration systems designed for Chico’s specific water conditions.
See What Your Chico Neighbors Are Saying
“Spent a good deal of time with Water Treatment Specialist about ways to improve our water. We met in our home, at his office and talked over the phone. I was very impressed by his knowledge, professionalism and friendly demeanor. He doesn’t push a solution, but is great at explaining the options and helping the customer understand the relative advantages of different technologies.”
– Gordon G., Yelp Review ( View this review on Yelp)
Final Call to Action
Get the same quality advice for your unique water needs just like Gordon got. Click here to request a visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cal Water is replacing more than 2,400 feet of water main in central Chico around Cherry Street to boost fire protection and make the city’s water system more reliable. That means stronger water flow for firefighters, fewer leaks, and less chance of service interruptions — all good news for Chico residents.
When Cal Water replaces pipes or flushes the system, they temporarily increase chlorine levels to disinfect the water mains. The smell or taste usually fades within a few days
Yes. Cal Water continuously monitors and tests the system to ensure the water meets all state and federal safety standards. The chlorine taste may be noticeable, but it is safe.
A reverse osmosis or activated carbon filtration system from Culligan of Chico can reduce chlorine and other common taste or odor issues, giving you clean, great-tasting water year-round.
Schedule a free water test with Culligan of Chico. We’ll test for chlorine, hardness, and other local contaminants so you can see exactly what’s in your water.
