PG&E halted water releases from Lake Spaulding during repairs, which significantly reduced water deliveries from Rollins Reservoir, a primary source of water for PCWA. The agency coordinated with regional water utilities to minimize disruptions, but customers experienced water reductions.

To help mitigate the impacts of the ongoing shortages:

• Customers receiving one miner’s inch or more had their summer canal water delivery orifice reduced by approximately 20%, with a corresponding adjustment to the commodity portion of their bill.
• Customers receiving one-half miner’s inch or untreated meter service did not have their canal water delivery orifice reduced but were asked to voluntarily reduce water use by 20%.
• Rotating canal outages were not necessary as repairs were completed on time.
• Treated water customers were asked to use water as efficiently as possible.

Untreated water customers receiving one miner’s inch or more had their orifice reduced by approximately 20 percent. PCWA also asked for voluntary reductions or temporary suspension in canal water deliveries. All canal water customers were asked to reduce water use by 20 percent. All customers were asked to be as efficient with their water use as possible.

PG&E halted water deliveries from Lake Spaulding during repairs. Conservation efforts were essential to help ensure that the limited water available could meet everyone's needs through the hot summer months and until full water deliveries were restored.

PCWA’s proactive planning for scenarios like this played a significant role in PCWA’s ability to deliver water reliably. PCWA has backup supplies from the American River and groundwater, and interties with neighboring water providers.

However, additional pumping from the American River during the outage significantly increased costs. We needed your help to ensure that the water available in Rollins Reservoir lasted through the duration of the reservoir's recovery.

The water delivery issue began in March 2024, when PG&E identified critical infrastructure damage at Spaulding Powerhouse No. 1 and halted water releases from Lake Spaulding. The full recovery of water deliveries occurred in August 2025.

PCWA provided updates through its website and other communication channels. Customers were encouraged to check the website periodically for updates on the ongoing situation and any necessary actions they may need to take.

The Drum-Spaulding system is the primary water supply for parts of west Placer County. This water is delivered from a historic canal system that begins at a reservoir in the Yuba watershed and meanders through Placer County.

From the time PG&E purchased the gold rush-era reservoirs on the South Yuba River in the early 1900s, until 1967, PG&E was the primary water retailer in Placer County. During that time, the Placer County region was one of the leading producers of tree fruits in the nation. The same canals that were originally used to transport water to the productive lands of the county also became part of PG&E’s Drum-Spaulding hydroelectric facilities.

In 1967, PG&E decided to exit the retail water business, and PCWA purchased its western water system with overwhelming support from voters. We did this to bring more affordable water to our customers and to ensure the water system received the best possible operation and maintenance.

Then, in 1983, PG&E sold the upper portion of their retail system, from Alta to Auburn, to PCWA. By this time, PG&E had exited the retail water business, and PCWA took over the duty to continue delivering water to the people of Placer County.

Importantly, through both of these water system sales, PG&E has been bound by long-term contracts to ensure the continued delivery of water from the Drum-Spaulding system to PCWA, in order to supply the same customers and lands historically served by PG&E.