Cal Am details San Marino water system, emergency plans and mutual‑aid capacity
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Summary
California American Water told San Marino residents that 90% of the city's supply comes from local groundwater, outlined on‑the‑ground emergency actions and said national parent company resources can supply equipment and bottled water in major events.
California American Water representatives told a San Marino town‑hall audience that roughly 90% of the city’s water supply is sourced from local groundwater wells and that the company maintains emergency plans, interconnections and national mutual‑aid contracts to support response after fires or earthquakes.
Brian Barado, introduced by city staff as Cal Am’s local representative, described the company’s Los Angeles district system, emergency exercises and recent actions taken during fire events in Ventura County. He said the San Marino water system is split into upper and lower zones, served by 16 wells and six storage facilities, and that the utility typically sources about 10% of local supply from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD).
Barado said Cal Am conducts hundreds of water‑quality tests annually and meets state and federal standards. He described operational emergency steps the company takes when a threat appears: raising tank storage levels, prioritizing maintenance work, staging portable generators and preparing supply lines. In a recent Ventura County fire response, Cal Am reported moving portable generators and truckloads of bottled water from other states under national contracts via its parent, American Water.
On hydrants and fire flow, Barado said the company currently inspects roughly 20% of fire hydrants each year but noted a state mandate that will require annual inspections of 100% of hydrants starting in 2027. He encouraged customers to sign up for Cal Am’s Alerts OneView notification system to receive texts, calls or emails during outages or advisories.
Barado answered resident questions about groundwater contamination testing, billing and reclaimed water. He said the utility performs extensive, required testing and would treat at wellheads where emerging contaminants are identified. He described tiered rates and noted that higher bills can reflect higher household usage and the cost of imported water when used.
City staff and Cal Am agreed there was no immediate shortage in San Marino’s system, and attendees were advised to prepare household water supplies and neighborhood plans for the possibility of multi‑week disruptions following a major quake or regional infrastructure failure.
Ending: Cal Am said it will continue to work with city public safety and to update residents through its Alerts OneView system and other municipal communications.
