Box Springs Mutual Water Company celebrated the completion of a new 1.3-million-gallon water storage reservoir on August 12, marking a major milestone in the Company’s century-long history of serving the Moreno Valley community. The celebration included the official presentation of the reservoir’s keys to General Manager Mark Iverson by the Board of Directors.
The new reservoir will significantly enhance the Company’s resiliency and ability to reliably serve customers during peak demand and emergency conditions. The project was funded through a $2.3 million California Department of Water Resources (DWR) grant for drought resiliency, ensuring the construction cost was not passed on to Box Springs’ customers.
Box Springs is fortunate to have the support of its larger partner, Western Heights Mutual Water Company, a valued CalMutuals Charter member. This partnership offers part-time leadership and resource sharing to better serve the 750 shareholders in a severely disadvantaged community of Riverside County.
The project was also celebrated by CalMutuals President Lisa Yamashita-Lopez and Vice President Dave Armstrong. “Projects like this reservoir show what’s possible when small mutual water companies have access to the right resources and support,” said Yamashita-Lopez. “Securing grant funding like this grant is exactly the kind of outcome CalMutuals works to make more accessible for members statewide. We hope other mutuals will follow the example of Western Heights and Box Springs in elevating what mutuals can achieve together.”
Armstrong, leader of the CalMutuals Disaster Information Taskforce, echoed that sentiment: “Mutual water companies, like Box Springs, are the backbone of water delivery in many California communities, often operating with limited staff and resources compared to larger public agencies. As Box Springs moves forward, this is exactly the kind of long-term planning CalMutuals supports through its educational and operational resources.”
Looking ahead, Box Springs plans to continue investing in infrastructure to fortify its water supply for the community, including a planned production well and PFAS treatment system.