Jerry Brown

Message From the General Manager

May 2010

Since it was organized in 1936, the goal of the Contra Costa Water District has been to provide high quality and reliable water service to the people we serve in an environmentally-responsible, cost effective manner.

As the only urban water provider in California that depends solely on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for its water supply, meeting those goals remains a challenge. The ever-changing environmental and political uncertainties that surround the Delta means the District must remain a flexible and innovative organization and at the same time ensure our customers’ drinking water source is protected. 

Three major projects that are underway now illustrate the District’s sustained commitment to provide high quality and reliable water service to our 550,000 customers

CCWD will begin operating its new Middle River Source Water Intake this summer. The new intake extends the Los Vaqueros Reservoir intake into the Central Delta. This will provide higher quality water directly from the Delta throughout the year. The facility is designed to keep fish in the river and out of the pumps.

Also this year, the District and the Bureau of Reclamation will start construction of a fish screen at the Rock Slough intake near Oakley.  Once it’s completed late next year, all four of CCWD’s water intakes will have modern screens that protect fish, which will improve flexibility in operating our intakes.

The District recently approved a project to expand Los Vaqueros Reservoir and in early 2011, construction will begin to expand from 100,000 to 160,000 acre-feet, which will further improve our ability to get through droughts with more water available to the customers.

Even with these major projects in various stages of completion, CCWD continues to look into  the future to ensure our customers’ health and safety are protected.  The District’s treatment plants are state-of-the-art facilities that consistently meet all public health standards for the water delivered to our customers’ taps. 

Comprehensive long-range financial and infrastructure planning is CCWD’s hallmark.  Expenditures are focused on the highest priorities and new sources of revenues outside of the rates are always being sought, which helps keep CCWD rate increases below inflation and purchasing power in our customers’ pocketbooks.

As we enter CCWD’s 75th year, the challenges remain high. But with these major investments and our employees’ continued commitment to innovate, the District remains in a strong position to exceed the expectations of our customers.

Sincerely,



Jerry Brown
Interim General Manager
Contra Costa Water District