Looking Ahead to 2026: A Year Focused on Reliability and Renewal
Happy New Year! It’s time to open the blinds, turn on the lights and get back to work.
2026 is Caliagua’s 48th year in business, and we’re more committed than ever to being part of the solution to Southern California’s ever evolving demand for potable and irrigable water. We begin the year by assessing the market drivers of our region’s water infrastructure via the plans already underway at each of the major water districts including MWD, LADWP, SGVMWD, OCWD, IEUA, Three Valleys MWD, City of Santa Ana, SDCWA, City of Santa Ana, City of Long Beach (Utilities), Yucaipa Valley Water District, and East Valley Water District. When you step back from individual agencies, 2026 capital plans are remarkably aligned.
Taken together, the 2026 trends show Southern California water agencies converging on a shared set of priorities: renewing aging assets, strengthening reliability, improving operational flexibility, and reducing system risk. The scale of investment varies by agency, but the types of work do not.
Agencies are prioritizing systems that work reliably. We see ongoing state-of-good-repair investments and continued focus on core infrastructure: pipelines, pump stations, wells, conveyance, and operational reliability (power, controls, redundancy). As construction partners, Caliagua’s resolution is to support water districts and municipalities by leaning into the areas where we consistently add the most value. What follows is a regional overview, followed by recent project examples that show how these priorities are being delivered in practice.
What the 2026 Trends Reveal Across Southern California
Viewed together, the 2026 capital plans of major Southern California water agencies present a clear pattern. Despite differences in governance, service area, and system configuration, agencies are investing in the same core types of infrastructure, and at comparable scale relative to system size.
Pipelines and conveyance infrastructure dominate near-term investment, followed closely by treatment and process facilities and pump stations and hydraulic assets. These categories account for the majority of capital spending entering construction this year and form the backbone of the region’s infrastructure workload. Investment priorities are being driven by shared regional pressures acting on water systems across Southern California.
More to Come — Dining, Retail & Wellness on the Horizon
Pipelines and conveyance: managing aging, high-risk assets at scale
Pipeline and conveyance work represents the single largest category of 2026 capital investment. Many water systems were built decades ago, with large portions of pipe networks now approaching or exceeding their original design life. For example, in San Diego, portions of the potable distribution system are more than a century old. Similar replacement and renewal programs appear in capital plans for large wholesalers and retail agencies alike, signaling a shift toward proactive replacement rather than reactive repair.
Treatment and process facilities: reliability under changing conditions
Treatment and process facilities represent the second-largest area of investment entering 2026. Importantly, this spending is about maintaining reliable performance at existing facilities.
Agencies are rehabilitating aging treatment components—sedimentation basins, filters, mechanical equipment, and process controls—to address wear, corrosion, and obsolescence. One example is MWD’s Weymouth complex where planned work targets deteriorated mechanical and structural elements that directly affect treatment reliability and operational flexibility.
These investments reflect the need to keep treatment systems dependable as source-water conditions become more variable and operational tolerances tighten. Agencies are prioritizing modernization and lifecycle renewal of critical assets.
Pump stations and hydraulic facilities: operational control and redundancy
Pump stations and hydraulic facilities form another consistent investment category. These assets are essential to maintaining pressure, balancing flows, and ensuring service continuity across complex systems.
Regional capital plans show a focus on replacing deteriorated pump stations, improving redundancy, and upgrading hydraulic controls. In cities like San Diego, pump station projects are explicitly tied to replacing aging facilities, improving efficiency, and strengthening reliability during outages or peak demand events.
As systems age and interdependencies increase, this pattern underscores the importance of operational flexibility—rerouting flows, isolating zones, and maintaining service during maintenance or emergencies.
Electrical, controls, and SCADA: keeping systems operable and visible
Spending on electrical systems, instrumentation, and controls appears across nearly every major agency’s capital plan. Agencies are replacing end-of-life instrumentation, upgrading SCADA platforms, and modernizing electrical systems to maintain visibility into system performance and enable faster, more reliable operational response. At facilities like MWD’s Diemer plant, aging turbidity meters and control instruments have reached the end of their useful lives, necessitating replacement to maintain continuous monitoring and treatment control.
How Caliagua Is Delivering 2026 Priorities on the Ground
The projects below reflect the work agencies are prioritizing in 2026—focused on reliability, renewal, and long-term performance.Salinity and Groundwater Enhancement (SAGE); Yucaipa, California
Owner: Yucaipa Valley Water District Engineer: Brown & Caldwell/Kennedy Jenks Construction Manager: Krieger & Stewart Contract Value: $45.6 MillionScope of Work
Caliagua is constructing the Salinity and Groundwater Enhancement (SAGE) Project at the Wochholz Regional Water Recycling Facility in Yucaipa, California. This project will deliver the capability to produce 3.75 million gallons per day of fully advanced recycled water for groundwater recharge, supporting long-term regional water reliability. The work includes building a new Advanced Water Purification (AWP) facility, a pre-engineered metal structure that will house advanced Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Ultraviolet Advanced Oxidation (UVAOP) treatment systems. Supporting infrastructure includes a below-grade RO transfer pump station, RO cleaning and flush systems, UVAOP facilities, post-treatment decarbonators, a product water pump station, RO flush tank and pump station, and new chemical facilities. Key components from the existing MF/UV building will be relocated and integrated into the new facility. Upgrades to the existing MF/UV building will include the removal and demolition of outdated RO systems, installation of a new District-provided membrane filtration train, and HVAC improvements. An additive scope also includes the construction of a tertiary clarifier with sludge collection equipment. The project also involves new instrumentation, controls, PLC and SCADA integration, as well as extensive site work, utilities, yard piping, electrical systems, and painting. Caliagua will oversee equipment unloading and storage, procurement and installation of specified equipment, startup, testing, operator training, and commissioning support, ensuring seamless transition into service.Community Benefits
The SAGE Project provides lasting benefits for the Yucaipa Valley community and the broader Inland Empire region:- Water Supply Resilience – Produces 3.75 MGD of advanced recycled water for groundwater recharge, reducing reliance on imported supplies and safeguarding local resources during drought conditions.
- Groundwater Quality Protection – Removes salts, nutrients, and emerging contaminants through state-of-the-art RO and UVAOP treatment, improving aquifer health for future generations.
- Environmental Stewardship – Supports sustainable water management, reduces basin overdraft, and aligns with California’s climate adaptation and water reuse goals.
- Public Health & Safety – Enhances treatment reliability and protects public health by ensuring safe, high-quality water resources.
- Education & Innovation – Serves as a model for sustainable infrastructure and a living classroom for students, universities, and regional water leaders, while demonstrating the value of EPA’s WIFIA funding program.
Lord Ranch Facilities Project (Booster Pump Station); West Valley, California
Owner: West Valley Water District
Engineer: Engineering Resources of Southern California (ERSC), Inc.
Contract Value: $18 Million
Scope of Work
Caliagua will execute the Lord Ranch Facilities Project under the direction of West Valley Water District (WVWD), located in Rialto, California. The project entails constructing a new 1.0 million gallon welded-steel reservoir (80’ diameter x 32LF high) and an associated pump station in a concrete masonry building. The pump station will house multiple booster pumps designed to provide a maximum capacity of about 2,980 GPM (20 MGD equivalent, with one pump on standby) to integrate with the existing water delivery network.
Additional work includes connecting pipelines-specifically two 30” pipelines linking the new facilities to existing infrastructure-as well as site grading, drainage improvements, access roadways, asphalt paving, and utility tie-ins. The project also involves constructing site improvements, driveways, and hardened surfaces around the tank, pump station, and treatment facility. Electrical, instrumentation, and control system integration will be required to make the new reservoir and pump facility fully operable with existing systems. Caliagua will also oversee startup, testing, commissioning, and coordination with WVWD operations to ensure seamless transition and integration into the district’s distribution systems. To the extent necessary, temporary bypasses or partial operational phasing must be employed to maintain supply service during construction.
Community Benefits
The Lord Ranch Project delivers numerous community and regional benefits:
- Improved water supply resilience – The new reservoir and enhanced pump station increase storage and boosting capacity, enabling greater flexibility in serving demand peaks and providing redundancy in the system.
- Better system reliability – By integrating new infrastructure with existing pipelines and distribution, the project helps prevent outages, maintain consistent pressures, and accommodate maintenance without service disruption.
- Support for growth and development – The upgraded infrastructure positions WVWD to serve future development in its northern service area more effectively, ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with community expansion.
- Operational efficiency and modernization – New mechanical, electrical, and control systems improve energy efficiency, reduce losses, and enable smarter management of flows.
- Public trust and sustainability – Transparent, high-quality infrastructure investment demonstrates the district’s commitment to water reliability, helping build confidence among residents, developers, and local planners.
Telemark Booster Pump Station; Santa Clarita, California
Owner: FivePoint
Engineer: Cannon Engineering Consultants
Construction Manager: Stylo Group, Inc.
Scope of Work
Caliagua is constructing the Telemark Booster Pump Station for the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency (SCVWA) to expand pumping capacity and improve regional water distribution. The project includes construction of a new booster pump facility designed to meet SCVWA’s long-term operational and reliability needs.
Key elements of the work include site grading and preparation; reinforced concrete foundations; a structural masonry and steel pump station building; and installation of vertical turbine pumps, suction and discharge piping, surge protection, and flow control equipment. The project scope also incorporates chemical feed systems, electrical switchgear, motor control centers, and standby power facilities to ensure continuous service during outages.
Integration with SCVWA’s existing water system will be achieved through extensive yard piping, tie-ins, and utility connections, supported by SCADA and PLC-based control system upgrades. Civil improvements include access roads, drainage, and security fencing. Startup, testing, commissioning, and staff training are provided to deliver a fully operational facility. The work also includes phasing and sequencing to maintain reliable service during construction.
Community Benefits
The Telemark Booster Pump Station delivers direct and lasting benefits to Santa Clarita Valley communities:
- Improved Reliability – Expands SCVWA’s ability to move water throughout its distribution system, ensuring consistent service even during peak demand.
- Water Supply Resilience – Provides additional capacity to manage drought conditions, system interruptions, and growth in the Santa Clarita Valley region.
- Operational Efficiency – Modern pumping equipment, surge control, and electrical systems increase energy efficiency and reduce long-term operational costs.
- Public Safety & Fire Protection – Higher pumping capacity supports system pressures necessary for fire flow protection across SCVWA service areas.
- Economic Benefits – Construction generates local jobs, engages subcontractors and vendors, and invests in infrastructure that supports ongoing development.
- Sustainability & Community Confidence – Demonstrates SCVWA’s commitment to proactive infrastructure investment, reinforcing public trust in the reliability of local water supplies
How Caliagua Approaches Work in 2026
Reliability First: We execute work with the understanding that these facilities are active operating systems where performance during and after construction matters. Experience in Active Systems: Our work frequently occurs within live facilities. We plan and sequence construction to maintain service, manage constraints, and minimize operational risk. Coordinated, Multi-Discipline Execution: Civil, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and SCADA scopes are closely interconnected. We focus on coordination so systems function as intended over their full operating life. Front-End Planning: We emphasize early planning to identify constraints, coordinate sequencing, and manage risk before construction begins. Public Accountability: Public infrastructure demands consistency and care. We approach this work with attention to transparency, durability, and long-term value.Close
At the start of 2026, the direction of regional investment is clear: renew what matters, strengthen reliability, and reduce risk over time. The work underway reflects a shared effort among agencies, engineers, contractors, and trade partners, and together it represents what can be achieved through steady collaboration and long-term focus.