Following the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) adoption
of a new National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for certain
per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) today (new PFAS
regulation), California Water Service Group (Group) (NYSE: CWT)
confirmed that it believes its subsidiaries are well positioned to
treat potentially impacted water sources and to meet the EPA’s
five-year compliance timeline.
Under the new PFAS regulation, EPA established maximum
contaminant levels (MCL) of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for both
PFOA and PFOS; MCLs of 10 ppt for PFHxS, PFNA, and GenX; and a
combined Hazard Index of 1.0 for PFBS, PFHxS, PFNA, and GenX.
Generally, PFAS are manmade compounds that are found in a number of
everyday products; these compounds are soluble in water and can
travel long distances. Under the new PFAS regulation, water
utilities with impacted water systems across the country are
required to monitor for these PFAS by 2027 and to comply with the
MCLs and Hazard Index by 2029.
Group’s utilities California Water Service (Cal Water), Hawaii
Water Service (Hawaii Water), New Mexico Water Service (New Mexico
Water), and Washington Water Service (Washington Water) have a
rigorous, coordinated water quality assurance program, and the
utilities have protocols in place to test and monitor the water
they deliver to customers. In California and Washington, Group’s
utilities have been complying with previously issued PFAS
guidelines issued by State regulators.
Cal Water, Hawaii Water, and New Mexico Water have tested all of
their active water sources for a number of PFAS, including the six
addressed in the new regulation. Washington Water Service
(Washington Water) has tested all of its Group A water system
sources, which are water sources subject to the new PFAS
regulation. The company began monitoring all of its sources for
these PFAS before it was required to do so under the new PFAS
regulation, because it believed it was the right thing to do.
“Protecting our customers’ health and safety is our highest
priority, and we have long supported EPA’s establishment of
national drinking water standards for the most common PFAS,” said
Martin A. Kropelnicki, Group Chairman & CEO. “While we did not
put the PFAS in the water, we are committed to treating it in
accordance with all applicable regulations. Our team has already
evaluated the impact of the EPA’s proposed regulations so that we
could be better prepared to comply with the final set, and we are
moving forward to bring any affected sources into compliance with
the new MCLs and Hazard Index.”
Beyond the new PFAS regulation, Group believes that a
comprehensive regulatory approach is needed to properly address
PFAS entering water supplies in the United States, including
measures such as point-of-use restrictions on PFAS manufacturers,
legislation that prohibits the sale and use of certain
PFAS-containing products, certification for accurate PFAS testing
methods, and establishment of a publicly available database to
monitor PFAS sources entering water supplies. Additionally, Group
filed lawsuits to hold PFAS manufacturers financially responsible
for the costs of monitoring and treating water for PFAS and is
pursuing grant funding, where available, to help reduce the
financial impact of treatment on its utilities’ customers.
The full name of PFOA is perfluorooctanoic acid, of PFOS is
perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, of PFHxS is perfluorohexanesulfonic
acid, of PFNA is perfluorononanoic acid, of GenX is
hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid and its ammonium salt, and of
PFBS is perfluorobutane sulfonate.
About California Water Service GroupCalifornia
Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT) is the largest regulated water
utility in the western United States. It provides high-quality,
reliable water and/or wastewater services to more than 2.1 million
people in California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Washington, and Texas
through its regulated subsidiaries, California Water Service,
Hawaii Water Service, New Mexico Water Service, and Washington
Water Service, and its utility holding company, Texas Water
Service.
Group’s purpose is to enhance the quality of life for customers,
communities, employees, and stockholders. To do so, it invests
responsibly in water and wastewater infrastructure, sustainability
initiatives, and community well-being. The company’s 1,200+
employees live by a set of strong core values and share a
commitment to protecting the planet, caring for people, and
operating with the utmost integrity. The company has been named one
of “America’s Most Responsible Companies” and the “World’s Most
Trustworthy Companies” by Newsweek and a Great Place to
Work®. More information is available
at www.calwatergroup.com.
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995 (PSLRA). The forward-looking statements are intended to
qualify under provisions of the federal securities laws for “safe
harbor” treatment established by the PSLRA. Forward-looking
statements in this news release are based on currently available
information, expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections,
and our management’s beliefs, assumptions, judgments and
expectations about us, the water utility industry and general
economic conditions. These statements are not statements of
historical fact. When used in our document, statements that are not
historical in nature, including words like will, would, expects,
intends, plans, believes, may, could, estimates, assumes,
anticipates, projects, progress, predicts, hopes, targets,
forecasts, should, seeks, commits or variations of these words or
similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. Examples of forward-looking statements in this news
release include, but are not limited to, statements describing
Group’s and its subsidiaries’ ability to treat potentially impacted
water sources and to comply with the New PFAS Regulations.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance. They are based on numerous assumptions that we believe
are reasonable but are subject to uncertainty and risks. Actual
results may vary materially from what is contained in a
forward-looking statement. Factors that may cause actual results to
be different than those expected or anticipated include, but are
not limited to: governmental and regulatory commissions' decisions;
consequences of eminent domain actions relating to our water
systems; changes in regulatory commissions' policies and
procedures; the outcome and timeliness of regulatory commissions'
actions concerning rate relief and other actions; changes in water
quality standards; changes in environmental compliance and water
quality requirements; electric power interruptions; the impact of
opposition to rate increases; our ability to recover costs;
availability of water supplies; issues with the implementation,
maintenance or security of our information technology systems;
civil disturbances or terrorist threats or acts; the adequacy of
our efforts to mitigate physical and cyber security risks and
threats; the ability of our enterprise risk management processes to
identify or address risks adequately; changes in customer water use
patterns and the effects of conservation; the impact of weather,
climate change, natural disasters, and actual or threatened public
health emergencies; the impact of market conditions and volatility
on unrealized gains or losses on our operating results; risks
associated with expanding our business and operations
geographically; and other risks and unforeseen events described in
our SEC filings. In light of these risks, uncertainties and
assumptions, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this
news release. When considering forward-looking statements, you
should keep in mind the cautionary statements included in this
paragraph, as well as in our Annual 10-K, Quarterly 10-Q’s, and
other reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC). We are not under any obligation, and we
expressly disclaim any obligation to update or alter any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
Media ContactYvonne
Kingmanykingman@calwater.com310-257-1434
California Water Service (NYSE:CWT)
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